| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| HOUSE BILL |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, B. BOYLE, K. BOYLE AND BRADFORD, MARCH 2, 2011 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 2, 2011 |
| |
| |
| |
| AN ACT |
| |
1 | Establishing a Statewide academic scholarship program to be |
2 | known as the Reliable Educational Assistance for College |
3 | Hopefuls Scholarship for Community College; and providing for |
4 | the powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education |
5 | Assistance Agency. |
6 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
7 | hereby enacts as follows: |
8 | Section 1. Short title. |
9 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Reliable |
10 | Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls Scholarship for |
11 | Community College Act. |
12 | Section 2. Purpose. |
13 | The purpose of this act is to reward educational excellence |
14 | and provide an incentive to Pennsylvania students to pursue |
15 | higher education at a community college within this |
16 | Commonwealth. |
17 | Section 3. Definitions. |
18 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
19 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
|
1 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
2 | "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance |
3 | Agency. |
4 | "Community college." A public college or technical institute |
5 | established under Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 |
6 | (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949. |
7 | "Fund." The REACH Scholarship Fund for Community College |
8 | established in section 6. |
9 | "Grade point average." The numbered grade average calculated |
10 | using a 4.0 scale. |
11 | "REACH Scholarship for Community College." The Reliable |
12 | Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls Scholarship for |
13 | Community College established under section 4. |
14 | "Student." A school-age resident of this Commonwealth who |
15 | attends or is about to attend a community college located in |
16 | this Commonwealth. |
17 | Section 4. REACH Scholarship for Community College. |
18 | (a) Establishment.--The REACH Scholarship for Community |
19 | College is established within the agency. |
20 | (b) Issuance of scholarships.-- |
21 | (1) The agency shall provide scholarships, which may be |
22 | referred to as REACH Scholarships for Community College, to |
23 | all students who meet the requirements of subsection (d) or |
24 | (f). The scholarships may be issued to a student only upon |
25 | confirmation from the community college to which the student |
26 | has enrolled full time. |
27 | (2) The scholarships shall be available for two years or |
28 | upon completion of an associate degree or certificate |
29 | program, whichever occurs earlier. |
30 | (3) The scholarships shall only be used for tuition and |
|
1 | mandatory fees. |
2 | (4) The scholarships shall be awarded solely on the |
3 | basis of merit and without regard to need. |
4 | (5) The scholarships shall only be awarded to students |
5 | who are high school seniors during or after the school year |
6 | in which this section takes effect. |
7 | (c) Calculation of award.--Each eligible student who will |
8 | attend or attends a community college within this Commonwealth |
9 | shall receive a full-tuition scholarship. |
10 | (d) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship under this |
11 | section, a student must meet all of the following requirements: |
12 | (1) Pennsylvania residency for at least three years |
13 | prior to application for the REACH Scholarship for Community |
14 | College. |
15 | (2) Pennsylvania residency during the term of the |
16 | scholarship. |
17 | (3) Cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 or |
18 | higher for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high |
19 | school. If the student does not graduate from high school or |
20 | completes a home study program meeting the requirements of |
21 | section 1327.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), |
22 | known as the Public School Code of 1949, the agency shall |
23 | determine the eligibility of the student. |
24 | (4) Graduation in the top ten percentile of the |
25 | graduating class. If the student does not graduate from high |
26 | school or completes a home study program meeting the |
27 | requirements of section 1327.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 |
28 | (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, the |
29 | agency shall determine the eligibility of the student. |
30 | (5) Cumulative high school attendance of at least 90% |
|
1 | for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high school |
2 | unless the agency determines there are extenuating |
3 | circumstances, including, but not limited to, approved |
4 | medical or personal leave of absence. If the student does not |
5 | graduate from high school but completes a home study program |
6 | meeting the requirements of section 1327.1 of the Public |
7 | School Code of 1949, the agency shall determine the |
8 | eligibility of the student. |
9 | (6) Satisfactory disciplinary record or conduct record |
10 | for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high school. If |
11 | the student does not meet this requirement but meets or |
12 | exceeds all other requirements under this subsection, the |
13 | agency shall determine eligibility of the student. |
14 | (7) Satisfactory academic progress toward completion of |
15 | a course of study at a community college as provided under |
16 | subsection (f). |
17 | (8) Entrance into a written agreement with the agency to |
18 | maintain Pennsylvania residency for two years after |
19 | completion of an associate degree or certificate program. The |
20 | student shall reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts received |
21 | under this act and interest thereon, at a rate equal to the |
22 | average Stafford loan through the term of the scholarship, if |
23 | the student fails to comply with the terms of the written |
24 | agreement. |
25 | (9) Apply for the Free Application for Federal Student |
26 | Aid each year during the term of the scholarship. |
27 | (10) Complete at least 100 hours of community service |
28 | each academic year of high school. The community service must |
29 | be documented by a supervisor and approved by the agency. |
30 | (e) Contents of application.--The application of a student |
|
1 | who seeks a scholarship as prescribed by the agency must |
2 | include: |
3 | (1) All information and documentation required by the |
4 | agency. |
5 | (2) If the student is under 18 years of age, the |
6 | signature of a parent or guardian. |
7 | (3) A verified statement of grade point average, |
8 | attendance and disciplinary record or conduct record from the |
9 | appropriate educational institution. |
10 | (f) Maintenance of scholarship.-- |
11 | (1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), a student |
12 | must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during |
13 | each semester at a community college through the term of the |
14 | scholarship, unless the agency determines that there are |
15 | extenuating circumstances, including, but not limited to, |
16 | approved medical or personal leave of absence. |
17 | (2) In the event that a student receives a grade point |
18 | average below 3.0 during the first or second semester of the |
19 | freshmen or first year at a community college, the agency |
20 | shall place the student on scholarship probation. |
21 | (3) A student must complete 40 hours of community |
22 | service during each 12-month period during the term of the |
23 | scholarship, which community service must be verified by the |
24 | agency. |
25 | (g) Scholarship termination and transfer.-- |
26 | (1) If a student who has received a scholarship |
27 | terminates enrollment in the educational institution to which |
28 | the student has enrolled full time during the academic year, |
29 | the educational institution shall notify the agency in |
30 | writing and shall return all unused portions of the |
|
1 | scholarship. |
2 | (2) Returned amounts shall be deposited in the REACH |
3 | Scholarship Fund for Community College. |
4 | (3) A student may transfer a scholarship from one |
5 | community college to another. |
6 | (h) Limitation.--A scholarship shall be paid only from the |
7 | REACH Scholarship Fund for Community College. |
8 | Section 5. Administration. |
9 | (a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify a |
10 | student's compliance with all the requirements under this act. |
11 | (b) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all |
12 | scholarships for a student who does not comply with the |
13 | provisions of this act, to include use of all lawful collection |
14 | procedures and the use of private collection agencies. |
15 | (c) Exclusion from taxation.--No scholarship received by a |
16 | student shall not be considered taxable income for purposes of |
17 | Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as |
18 | the Tax Reform Code of 1971. |
19 | (d) Financial assistance.--No scholarship received by a |
20 | student shall be considered financial assistance or |
21 | appropriations to the approved education institution. |
22 | (e) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations and |
23 | procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. |
24 | Section 6. REACH Scholarship Fund for Community College. |
25 | (a) Establishment.--The REACH Scholarship Fund for Community |
26 | College is established as a separate fund in the State Treasury. |
27 | (b) Administration.--The fund shall be administered by the |
28 | agency. |
29 | (c) Use of fund.--The purpose of the fund shall be to |
30 | provide full tuition scholarships or equivalent scholarships to |
|
1 | students who have been determined eligible in accordance with |
2 | this act. |
3 | (d) Funding source.-- |
4 | (1) Donations and contributions from all public and |
5 | private sources, including the Federal Government, and any |
6 | appropriations or transfers authorized by the General |
7 | Assembly may be deposited in the fund. |
8 | (2) All interest earned by the fund and all refunds and |
9 | repayments shall be credited to the fund. |
10 | (e) Limit on scholarships.--The agency shall not award more |
11 | than $25,000,000 in scholarships under this act. |
12 | Section 7. Report to General Assembly. |
13 | On or before April 1 following the effective date of this |
14 | section, and in each succeeding year in which REACH Scholarships |
15 | for Community College are awarded, the agency shall provide a |
16 | report to the General Assembly regarding the implementation and |
17 | administration of this act. |
18 | Section 8. Effective date. |
19 | This act shall take effect July 1, 2011, or immediately, |
20 | whichever is later. |
|