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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1280
H.P. 855 House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
Resolve, to Create Pilot Programs to Provide Tuition Assistance and
Grants for Rural Child Care Providers
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative EATON of Deer Isle.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, DODGE of Belfast, HASENFUS
of Readfield, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, OSHER of Orono, RAY of Lincolnville, Senators:
GROHOSKI of Hancock, RENY of Lincoln.
Page 1 - 132LR1948(01)
1Sec. 1. Tuition assistance pilot program. Resolved: That, by July 1, 2026, the
2 Department of Education shall develop a pilot program to provide tuition assistance to
3 students pursuing a degree in early childhood education or a related field. In developing
4 the program, the department shall provide that students awarded assistance must be
5 ineligible for free community college enrollment, must reside in a county with a population
6 under 100,000 and must also apply for federal financial aid.
7Sec. 2. Rural child care development pilot program. Resolved: That, by
8 July 1, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop a pilot program
9 to provide grants to child care providers licensed under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
10 22, section 8301-A, subsection 2 and family child care providers licensed under Title 22,
11 section 8301-A, subsection 3 and located in counties with populations under 100,000 to
12 open or expand child care programs.
13Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
14 appropriations and allocations are made.
15EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
16Higher Education and Educator Support Services Z082
17 Initiative: Provides one-time funding for a pilot program to provide tuition assistance to
18 eligible students pursuing a degree in early childhood education or a related field. Up to
19 $30,000 of the funding may be used by the department to administer the pilot program.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $300,000 $0
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $300,000 $0
20
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $300,000 $0
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $300,000 $0
25HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
32Child Care Services 0563
33 Initiative: Provides one-time funding for a pilot program to provide grants to child care
34 providers in rural areas to establish or expand child care programs. Up to $30,000 of the
35 funding may be used by the department to administer the pilot program.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $300,000 $0
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $300,000 $0
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Page 2 - 132LR1948(01)
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $300,000 $0
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $300,000 $0
1
SECTION TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $600,000 $0
__________ __________
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $600,000 $0
9SUMMARY
10 This bill directs the Department of Education to develop, by July 1, 2026, a pilot
11 program to provide tuition assistance to students pursuing a degree in early childhood
12 education or a related field. In developing the program, the department must provide that
13 students awarded assistance must be ineligible for free community college enrollment,
14 must reside in a county with a population under 100,000 and must also apply for federal
15 financial aid.
21 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop, by July 1,
22 2026, a pilot program to provide grants to child care providers licensed under the Maine
23 Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 8301-A, subsection 2 and family child care providers
24 licensed under Title 22, section 8301-A, subsection 3 and located in counties with
25 populations under 100,000 to open or expand child care programs.
26 This bill also includes a one-time appropriation of $600,000 to implement these pilot
27 programs.
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