A. The bureau may provide a grant of temporary assistance not to exceed $2,000 to a veteran currently a resident of this State who has filed a valid claim for a veteran’s pension, pending notification of the award of such a pension. For purposes of this paragraph, “claim for a veteran’s pension” means a claim filed with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to 38 United States Code, Chapter 15. [PL 2017, c. 419, §6 (NEW).]

B. The bureau may provide a grant of temporary assistance not to exceed $2,000 to a veteran currently a resident of this State who demonstrates to the bureau’s satisfaction a financial need and suffers an emergency, including but not limited to:

C. A veteran who requests temporary assistance under this subsection and is denied such assistance by the bureau may request a reconsideration and review of this decision. Requests for reconsideration of a claim must be reviewed by the director and the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, and the decision after the reconsideration is final and may not be appealed to a court. [PL 2017, c. 419, §6 (NEW).]

D. The bureau may contract with an organization incorporated in the State as a nonprofit corporation in accordance with Title 13?B or an organization with tax-exempt status under 26 United States Code § 501(c) for the purpose of providing temporary financial assistance to veterans as described in this subsection. A contract authorized under this subsection may provide only for the distribution of direct temporary financial assistance to veterans and may not provide for compensation for personnel costs of the organization, funding of positions of employment within the organization or administrative costs of the organization except those directly related to the distribution of temporary financial assistance grants to veterans. [PL 2017, c. 419, §6 (NEW).]

E. The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A. [PL 2017, c. 419, §6 (NEW).]

F. For the purposes of this subsection, “veteran” means any person who:

A. As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

B. [PL 2001, c. 662, §66 (RP).]

C. [PL 2001, c. 662, §66 (RP).]

D. [PL 2001, c. 662, §66 (RP).]

E. Spouses of veterans who are attending state-supported postsecondary vocational schools or institutions of collegiate grade must be admitted free of tuition including mandatory fees and lab fees for a certificate program or an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree program. Room and board may not be waived. Spouses are entitled to receive up to 120 credit hours of educational benefits and have 10 years from the date of first entrance to complete the program. This paragraph applies to all spouses enrolled in the educational benefits program as of September 1, 2007. [PL 2007, c. 521, §4 (AMD); PL 2007, c. 521, §6 (AFF).]

F. A child of a veteran who is attending state-supported postsecondary vocational schools or institutions of collegiate grade must be admitted free of tuition including mandatory fees and lab fees for certificate programs, associate degree programs and bachelor’s degree programs. The tuition waiver provided under this paragraph may not exceed the cost of 120 undergraduate credit hours at the in?state tuition rate at the University of Maine campus located at Orono and may be reduced by an amount necessary to ensure that the value of this waiver, combined with all other grants and benefits received by the student, does not exceed the total cost of education. Room and board may not be waived. A child of a veteran has 10 academic years from the date of first entrance to complete 120 credit hours. For degree programs that require more than 120 credit hours, the state-supported postsecondary vocational school or institution of collegiate grade may grant a tuition waiver beyond 120 credit hours. If such a waiver is granted, the state-supported postsecondary vocational school or institution of collegiate grade shall notify the director. The director may waive the limit of 10 consecutive academic years when the recipient’s education has been interrupted by severe medical disability, learning disability, illness or other hardship, making continued attendance impossible. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 or “C” grade point average to continue receiving educational benefits. If a student’s grade point average falls below 2.0 or a “C,” then the student has one semester to bring the grade point average up to at least 2.0 or a “C.” If after that semester the student’s grade point average is below 2.0 or a “C,” the student loses educational benefits under this paragraph until the student achieves a grade point average of at least 2.0 or a “C.” [PL 2019, c. 377, §5 (AMD).]

G. In order to be eligible for benefits under this subsection, a student must apply for a Federal Pell Grant under 20 United States Code § 1070a. The director shall estimate the number of students anticipated that will use this program and provide the estimate to state institutions upon request. [PL 2013, c. 237, §1 (AMD).]

H. A school that provides tuition assistance pursuant to this subsection shall provide any information, such as enrollment verification, current contact information, semester grade point average, accumulated credit hours and transcripts, to the bureau as necessary for the bureau to properly administer the educational benefits described in this subsection in accordance with current laws. [PL 2009, c. 406, §10 (NEW).]

A. A valid state driver’s license; [PL 2007, c. 521, §5 (NEW).]

B. A valid state-issued identification card; [PL 2007, c. 521, §5 (NEW).]

C. A current state motor vehicle registration form; [PL 2007, c. 521, §5 (NEW).]

D. A current state fishing or hunting license; and [PL 2007, c. 521, §5 (NEW).]

E. Items other than those listed in paragraphs A to D that allow the bureau to reasonably determine residency. [PL 2007, c. 521, §5 (NEW).]