Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, § 12996: Maine Credentialed Workforce Program, 2025

1. Establishment; administration. The Maine Credentialed Workforce Program is established to support the credentialing needs of current and future participants in the State's workforce. The authority shall administer the program. The authority's chief executive officer may consult with experts on an ad hoc basis regarding business, education, labor and workforce needs in prioritizing targeted professions. [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] 2. Eligibility requirements. The authority shall establish by rule eligibility requirements for the program, which must include, at a minimum: A. That the applicant has received an associate degree, bachelor's degree or graduate degree or a credential within 5 years of the date of application; [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] B. That the applicant has outstanding student loan debt or eligible student loans; and [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] C. That the applicant is willing to accept and maintain employment in a priority occupation position in the State for a minimum of 4 years in return for repayment by the authority of a portion of that applicant's student loan debt. [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] 3. Application. An application to the program must be made directly to the authority at a time and in a format to be determined by the authority. [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] 4. Maximum loan repayment. The maximum loan repayment amount available to a participant in the program is $25,000 per year for a maximum of 4 years. [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).] 5. Loan repayment agreement; provisions. The authority shall enter into loan repayment agreements with participants in the program on terms and conditions acceptable to the authority, which at a minimum must require the participant and the participant's employer to certify annually, before any payment by the authority under the loan repayment agreement may be made, that the participant has been employed in a priority occupation position for the preceding 12-month period. [PL 2025, c. 324, §1 (NEW).]