Whereas, this legislation makes changes to the Educators for Maine Program, which provides tuition assistance for future teachers; and

Whereas, this legislation addresses inequities in the program that do not allow child development students to take full advantage of the program; and

Whereas, the program is now taking applications for the next school year; and

Whereas, child development students will not be able to take advantage of the provisions of this legislation for the next school year if this bill does not become effective until the effective date of legislation passed in this session, estimated to be sometime in July 2000; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §11670, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. OOO, §5, is amended to read:

§11670. Quality Child Care Education Scholarship fund

The Quality Child Care Education Scholarship Fund is created and established as a nonlapsing fund under the jurisdiction and control of the Finance Authority of Maine. All revenues credited to this fund must be distributed as scholarships based on financial need for residents of the State who are enrolled in one or more courses related to early childhood education or child development at accredited institutions of higher education or at course-offering institutions that have articulated agreements with accredited institutions of higher education. The Finance Authority of Maine shall award scholarships and adopt rules for determining eligibility, amounts, terms and conditions of scholarships. Interest earned on amounts in the fund may be used for the costs of administering the scholarships. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.