Until the 2018-2019 school year, the department shall pay 50% of the in-state tuition for the first 6 credit hours taken each semester by a student at an eligible institution and up to 12 credit hours per academic year. The eligible institution may not make any additional tuition charges for the course but may impose fees and charges, other than tuition, that are ordinarily imposed on students not covered by this chapter. Funds appropriated to the department to carry out the purposes of this chapter must be in addition to the customary and ongoing amounts appropriated for general purpose aid for local schools. [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. C, §8 (AMD).]

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the department shall reimburse each eligible institution the cost of in-state tuition up to the maximum rate, calculated as follows: 50% of the average in-state tuition rate for the highest and lowest in-state tuition rates established by the University of Maine System for eligible institutions within the system for the first 6 credit hours taken each semester by a student at an eligible institution and up to 12 credit hours per academic year. The eligible institution may not make any additional tuition charges for the course but may impose fees and charges, other than tuition, that are ordinarily imposed on students not covered by this chapter. Funds appropriated to the department to carry out the purposes of this chapter must be in addition to the customary and ongoing amounts appropriated for general purpose aid for local schools. [PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. C, §8 (NEW).]