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LD 98

An Act To Include School Counselors In The Educators For Maine Program

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Brennan

Expands eligibility for the Educators for Maine Program to include school counselors pursuing postbaccalaureate certification, providing them with financial assistance.

Signed by Governor
#educatorsformaineprogram #financeauthority #programs
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Bill Summary · LD 98

Summary — LD 98: An Act To Include School Counselors in the Educators for Maine Program

  • Bill number: LD 98
  • Title: An Act To Include School Counselors In The Educators For Maine Program
  • Sponsor: Rep. Brennan of Portland
  • Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
  • Introduced: January 8, 2025
  • Status: Signed by Governor (May 2, 2025)
  • Subject classification: Educators for Maine Program; finance authority; programs

Purpose

The bill expands eligibility under the Educators for Maine Program to explicitly include school counselors pursuing postbaccalaureate certification. The intent is to support recruitment and credentialing of school counselors by making them eligible for the same financial assistance already available to other educator certification pursuits.

Key provisions

  • Adds “school counselor” as a recognized postbaccalaureate certification pursuit eligible for financial assistance under the Educators for Maine Program administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
  • No separate appropriation or new funding line is specified in the documents provided.
  • A Committee Amendment ("A", H-59) was adopted during the legislative process; the available summary materials indicate the amended bill as enacted, but the amendment text detail is not included in the fiscal notes provided.

Who is affected

  • Primary: individuals in Maine seeking postbaccalaureate school counselor certification (students, career changers).
  • Administering body: Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), which will implement eligibility changes and administer any financial assistance.
  • Indirectly affected: school districts and students, through potential increases in the supply of certified school counselors.

Fiscal impact

  • Multiple fiscal notes (approved 02/24/25, 03/10/25, 04/23/25) indicate a minor increase in costs to the Finance Authority of Maine.
  • Impact characterized as “minor” and can be absorbed within existing FAME budgeted resources. No state general fund appropriation is identified.

Legislative timeline / actions

  • Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs (Jan 8, 2025). Work session held March 5; bill carried over March 21. Committee recommended OTP-AM; Committee Amendment H‑59 adopted (Apr 22–23). Passed both chambers in late April 2025 (Senate roll call 18–13–4 on Apr 23). Sent to Governor and signed May 2, 2025.

If you want, I can locate and summarize the exact language of Committee Amendment H‑59 or provide the statutory text changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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