| This bill establishes a merit-based scholarship program for  | 
| eligible students who graduate from high school in Maine and who  | 
| are admitted to one of the institutions of the University of  | 
| Maine System or the Maine Community College System.  Students  | 
| must have graduated in the top 10% of their classes in high  | 
| school and family income must be less than $70,000 a year.  The  | 
| scholarships are for the full or partial cost of tuition less any  | 
| financial aid, awards or grants that reduce the level of tuition.   | 
| Students must retain a 3.0 grade point average in college in  | 
| order to remain in the program.  This merit-based scholarship  | 
| program will be administered by the Finance Authority of Maine.   | 
| The Finance Authority of Maine, which is given routine technical  | 
| rule-making authority, may adjust these eligibility requirements  | 
| to control expenditures or increase participation in the program. |