Bill Text: PA SB239 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for definitions and for scholarships.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-19 - Referred to EDUCATION [SB239 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB239-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 244
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 239 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, GREENLEAF, WONDERLING, ORIE, EARLL, ERICKSON, ALLOWAY, BROWNE, RAFFERTY, SMUCKER, BOSCOLA, MUSTO, FONTANA, O'PAKE, WOZNIAK, KASUNIC, WAUGH, LOGAN, WILLIAMS, WASHINGTON, STOUT, HUGHES, FERLO AND D. WHITE, FEBRUARY 19, 2009
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 19, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 23, 1999 (P.L.159, No.22), entitled "An
act providing for scholarships for persons entering into the
field of science and technology," further providing for
definitions and for scholarships.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the act of June 23,
1999 (P.L.159, No.22), known as the New Economy Technology
Scholarship Act, amended June 22, 2000 (P.L.383, No.51), are
amended to read:
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency (PHEAA).
"Approved course of study." A program or curriculum offered
by a postsecondary educational institution that provides
instruction in science, technology and related fields and has
been approved by the Department of Education in consultation
with the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board.
"Approved educational institution." A postsecondary
educational institution located in this Commonwealth that is
authorized to provide approved courses of study and grant
degrees and has been approved by the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency as an institution in which students
may enroll to participate in the New Economy Technology
Scholarship Program.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
Domicile." The state where an individual intends to
permanently or indefinitely reside and does actually reside.
["Incumbent worker." A person who has been a resident of
this Commonwealth for one year and who has been employed full
time in this Commonwealth for a period of one year while
pursuing an associate degree or its equivalent.]
"Program." The New Economy Technology Scholarship Program
established under section 4.
"Student." An individual domiciled in this Commonwealth who
attends [or is about to attend a secondary school or] a
postsecondary educational institution located in this
Commonwealth.
"Work requirement." Postgraduate, full-time employment [with
an employer located] in this Commonwealth in an occupation
related to an approved course of study required under section 4.
The term does not include a paid student internship, graduate
assistantship, a paid fellowship, volunteer service or
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employment before graduation.
Section 4. New Economy Technology Scholarship Program.
(a) Establishment of program.--There is hereby established
the New Economy Technology Scholarship Program within the
agency, to consist of the SciTech Scholarship and the Technology
Scholarship.
(b) Issuance of grants.--The agency may provide scholarship
grants to an eligible student [who is a resident of this
Commonwealth] upon certification from an approved educational
institution that the student is enrolled in an approved course
of study. Scholarship grants shall only be for the amount set
forth in sections 5(a) and 6(a).
(c) The department, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania
Workforce Investment Board, shall establish a list of approved
courses of study for the program.
(d) Other funding.--Prior to making a grant under this act,
the agency shall first apply Federal Pell Grant and State grants
available to educational costs, as determined by the agency,
related to an undergraduate program prior to determining the
amount of the scholarship grant.
(e) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship grant under this
section, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Graduation from high school or earning a general
educational development (GED) diploma or the equivalent
thereof.
(2) Maintenance of domicile in Pennsylvania during the
term of the scholarship grants.
(3) Compliance with any conditions placed on the
scholarship grant by the agency or by the department in
consultation with the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment
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Board.
(4) Maintenance of [a] an annual cumulative grade point
average of [3.0] 2.75 or higher, on a scale of 4.0, or its
equivalent as verified by the educational institution, for
continued eligibility.
(5) Entering into a written agreement with the agency
to:
(i) Satisfy all degree, diploma or certificate
requirements and other requirements under this act.
(ii) Commence [employment] the work requirement in
this Commonwealth within one year after completion of an
approved bachelor's or associate's degree or certificate
program for a period of one year for each academic year
the student received a scholarship grant under this act
unless the agency determines that there are extenuating
circumstances.
(iii) Reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts
received under this act and interest thereon, as
determined by the agency, if the student fails to comply
with subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
(f) Application.--A student shall apply to the agency for a
scholarship grant as prescribed by the agency, to include the
provision of all information and documentation required by the
agency. The application of a student under 18 years of age shall
include the signature of a parent or guardian. The application
shall include a [verified] statement of cumulative grade point
average from the appropriate educational institution as required
in this act.
(g) Work requirement.--The work requirement under subsection
(e)(5)(ii) shall begin after the receipt of a bachelor's or an
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associate's degree or another appropriate certificate from an
approved educational institution.
(h) Termination.--If a student terminates enrollment in the
approved educational institution during the academic year or
prior to completion of the approved course of study, the
approved education institution shall notify the agency in
writing and shall return all unused portions of the scholarship
grant. Returned amounts shall be used to fund other scholarship
grants under this act.
(i) Transfer.--A scholarship under this act is only
transferrable to another approved educational institution if
approved by the agency.
(j) Limitation.--Grants awarded under the program shall be
limited to funds appropriated for that purpose. First priority
for awarding grants shall be given to renewal applicants.
Thereafter, grants shall be awarded on a first-come, first-
served basis.
(k) Exception.--The agency shall postpone the work
requirement under subsection (g) for extenuating circumstances
or because of the student's enrollment on a full-time basis in a
graduate degree program or, in the case of a technology
recipient, full-time enrollment in a baccalaureate degree
program within one year of [the receipt of a bachelor's degree
from an approved educational institution.] successful completion
of the program for which scholarship funds were awarded. The
agency shall require documentation of the person's continual
status as a full-time student as defined by the agency. The work
requirement under subsection (e)(5)(ii) shall begin within one
year after termination of enrollment on a full-time basis in [a
graduate] such a degree program.
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Section 5. SciTech Scholarships.
(a) Amount of grants.--The agency shall award a SciTech
Scholarship in the amount of [$3,000] $4,000 per academic year
or a lesser amount following application of Federal and State
grants under section 4(d) to a student enrolled full time in an
approved educational institution pursuing a bachelor's degree
program or its equivalent in an approved course of study. The
student must take at least 12 semester hours per semester, or
its equivalent, in an approved course of study. The grant shall
be used for educational costs related to the undergraduate
program as determined by the agency.
(b) Term of grant.--[A grant shall be awarded beginning no
earlier than the second academic year of enrollment in an
approved educational institution in a bachelor's degree program
or its equivalent in an approved course of study.] The grant
shall be for a maximum of [three] four academic years or for up
to [four] five academic years if the student is enrolled in an
approved course of study that according to the agency requires
five academic years to complete. In order to qualify for
renewals beyond [three] four years, the student must be in
compliance with the requirements of section 4(e) and the agency
must determine that the student is making satisfactory progress
toward completing a degree.
(c) Internship or work experience.--A student who accepts a
grant under this section must complete or must have completed a
college-approved or university-approved internship or work
experience related to the student's approved course of study
with an employer located in this Commonwealth prior to receiving
a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The student must comply
with any conditions placed upon the internship by the agency or
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by the department in consultation with the Pennsylvania
Workforce Investment Board. Proof of completion of the
internship or work experience requirements must be submitted by
the educational institution to the agency prior to graduation
unless otherwise authorized by the agency.
[(d) Grades.--At the time of application, an applicant for a
SciTech Scholarship must have a cumulative grade point average
of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent. The agency
shall annually verify a program participant's maintenance of the
required grade point average.]
Section 6. Technology Scholarship.
(a) Amounts of grants.--
(1) The agency shall award a Technology Scholarship in
the amount of [$1,000] $2,000 per academic year or a lesser
amount following application of Federal or State grants under
section 4(d) to a student enrolled full time in an approved
educational institution pursuing [an associate's degree in]
an approved course of study [or in a private licensed school
that has an academic program approved by the agency.] less
than four years in length. The grant shall be used for
educational costs related to the program as determined by the
agency.
(2) A student who is enrolled part time [or is an
incumbent worker pursuing an associate's degree in an
approved educational institution or other specialized program
approved by the agency is eligible for a grant of 20% of
tuition and mandatory fees.] is eligible for a maximum award
equivalent to 50% of a full-time award.
(b) Term of grant.--The grant awarded under subsection (a)
shall be for a maximum of two academic years or for up to three
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academic years if the student is enrolled in an approved course
of study that according to the agency requires three academic
years to complete. In order to qualify for a grant three times,
the student must be in compliance with section [4(d)] 4(e), and
the institution must determine that the student is making
satisfactory progress toward completing an associate's degree or
the requirements of the certificate program.
[(c) Exception.--The agency may waive the one-year
employment requirement for an incumbent worker for extenuating
circumstances related to the student's employment within the
last year.]
(d) Grades.--The agency shall annually verify a program
participant's maintenance of the required grade point average.
Section 2. Section 7 of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 7. Eligibility.
* * *
(d) Default.--The agency may deny a scholarship under this
act to a student who is in default on any educational financial
aid obligation.
Section 3. Section 8 of the act, amended June 22, 2000 (P.L.
383, No.51), is amended to read:
Section 8. Administration.
(a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify a
student's fulfillment of all internship and work requirements
under this act.
(b) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all
scholarship grants for a student who does not comply with the
provisions of this act, to include use of all lawful collection
procedures and the use of private collection agencies.
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(c) Tax.--Scholarship grants received by a student from the
program shall not be considered taxable income for purposes of
Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as
the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
(d) Financial assistance.--Scholarship grants received by a
student from the program shall not be considered financial
assistance or appropriations to the approved educational
institution.
(e) Customized job training.--No funds under this act shall
be granted to a person enrolled in a customized job training
partnership program or continuing education course from a
postsecondary educational institution for which an employer is
providing over 50% of the financial support, directly or
indirectly.
(f) Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to
22 Pa. Code Ch. 121 (relating to student financial aid)[.] and 1
Pa. Code Pt. II (relating to general rules of administrative
practice and procedure).
(g) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations and
procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 4. The amendment of the act relating to the increase
in award amounts shall apply to the 2009-2010 academic year,
which commences with the Fall 2009 period. The remaining
provisions shall apply to the 2010-2011 academic year, which
commences with the Fall 2010 period of enrollment.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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