Whereas, the ability of students of this State to attend institutions of higher education may be adversely affected if financial assistance is not available at the beginning of the academic year; 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. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. D, §11, is amended to read:

F. Two percent of the total gross slot machine income must be forwarded by the board to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund created in Title 20-A, section 11631 10909;

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §10909 is enacted to read:

§10909. University of Maine System Scholarship Fund

The University of Maine System Scholarship Fund is created and established as a nonlapsing fund under the jurisdiction and control of the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System.__All revenues credited to this fund must be distributed as need-based scholarships for students attending the University of Maine System.__These scholarships may be awarded only to those students who are residents of the State.__The fund may not be used for the costs of administering the scholarships.__Fees credited from the University of Maine System registration plate pursuant to Title 29-A, section 456 may not be distributed as scholarships to students attending the University of Maine System.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA c. 419-B, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §456, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 645, Pt. A, §2 and affected by §18, is further amended to read:

A. Fourteen dollars to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund established in Title 20-A, section 11631 10909; and