ME LD1389

Creates the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-school Time Program within the Department of Health and Human Services as a competitive grant program for community-based nonprofits and libraries to expand before-school, after-school, and summer programming for children ages 5-13

Appropriates $5,000,000 in one-time General Fund money for fiscal year 2026-27, with initial grant awards required by December 1, 2026

Prioritizes funding for providers serving at-risk youth, students experiencing homelessness, foster youth, and students with disabilities, as well as those reducing barriers like transportation and enrollment costs

Caps administrative costs at 10% of total grant awards and requires grantees to maintain separate financial accounting for monitoring and auditing purposes

Requires annual reporting to the Legislature beginning February 1, 2027, including data on youth served by grade level, grant amounts by county, and total program expenditures