PRINTER'S NO. 2980
No. 2372 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY COWELL, D. R. WRIGHT, STAIRS, ROBINSON, HERMAN,
BATTISTO, MUNDY, HALUSKA, CURRY, STURLA, DALEY, TULLI,
RAYMOND, CARONE, E. Z. TAYLOR, COLAFELLA, COY, LESCOVITZ,
KENNEY, LEVDANSKY, MIHALICH, McCALL, TRELLO, COLAIZZO,
PETRARCA, MERRY, MASLAND, ARGALL, SANTONI, BUXTON, FARGO,
ARMSTRONG, CAWLEY, GIGLIOTTI, KUKOVICH, SCRIMENTI, FAJT,
HANNA, TRICH, VAN HORNE, LAUGHLIN, CESSAR, BAKER, PISTELLA,
MANDERINO, PRESTON, SURRA, YANDRISEVITS, SEMMEL, MELIO,
LUCYK, DURHAM, FREEMAN, CIVERA, CAPPABIANCA, THOMAS, ROONEY,
WOGAN, JOSEPHS AND GORDNER, DECEMBER 14, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 14, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541),
2 entitled "An act providing scholarships and providing funds
3 to secure Federal funds for qualified students of the
4 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial assistance to
5 attend postsecondary institutions of higher learning, making
6 an appropriation, and providing for the administration of
7 this act," further providing for the amount of scholarships
8 and for eligibility for scholarships.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. Section 3 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965
12 P.L.1546, No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships and
13 providing funds to secure Federal funds for qualified students
14 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial
15 assistance to attend postsecondary institutions of higher
16 learning, making an appropriation, and providing for the
17 administration of this act," is amended to read:
1 Section 3. As used in this act--
2 (1) "Financial need" means the need of the full-time student
3 or the student enrolled on a less than full-time basis, but
4 enrolled on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the
5 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or according to
6 standards and tests of financial need approved by the agency.
7 (2) "Approved institution of higher learning." Approved
8 institution of higher learning shall mean any institution of
9 higher learning approved by the agency.
10 (3) "Approved high school." Approved high school means any
11 public high school located in the Commonwealth, and any public
12 or private secondary school, whether designated as a high
13 school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise, located in
14 the Commonwealth or elsewhere, which in the judgment of the
15 Department of Public Instruction, provides a course of
16 instruction, at the secondary level, and maintains standards of
17 instruction substantially equivalent to those of the public high
18 schools located in the Commonwealth.
19 (4) "Full-time student." The term shall have the meaning
20 given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or
21 standards.
22 (5) "Half-time student." The term shall have the meaning
23 given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or
24 standards.
25 Section 2. Section 4(a)(4) and (d) of the act, amended
26 December 18, 1969 (P.L.383, No.169), are amended to read:
27 Section 4. (a) Any student is eligible for consideration
28 for a State scholarship providing:
29 * * *
30 (4) He is enrolled, or will be enrolled in the fall semester
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1 immediately following his secondary school graduation or his
2 date of application, as a full-time student or as less than a
3 full-time student, but as at least a half-time student, at an
4 institution of higher learning: Provided, however, That failure
5 to enroll in the fall semester immediately following secondary
6 school graduation shall not render ineligible a student who
7 entered service in the military forces of the United States, the
8 Peace Corps or Volunteers in Service to America, during the fall
9 semester immediately following his secondary school graduation;
10 * * *
11 (d) Undergraduate awards granted during the first year under
12 this act will be limited to freshmen students at institutions of
13 higher learning. Awards will be renewable for the next three
14 academic years. In the case of students enrolled in five-year
15 undergraduate academic programs approved by the agency and
16 established by institutions of higher learning, awards may be
17 renewed for the next four academic years. In the case of
18 students enrolled in five year work study programs, approved by
19 the agency and established by institutions of higher education,
20 awards may be renewed for the next four academic years, provided
21 that the total scholarship funds awarded to any student during
22 the five year period shall not exceed the amount to which such
23 student would have been entitled had his educational program
24 been completed in a period of four academic years.
25 Section 3. Section 7(a) of the act, amended December 20,
26 1989 (P.L.652, No.80), is amended to read:
27 Section 7. (a) All scholarship awards will be based on the
28 applicant's financial need[, the]. The minimum scholarship award
29 [being one hundred dollars ($100) per academic year, the] shall
30 be determined annually by the board of directors of the agency.
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1 The maximum scholarship [shall not exceed two thousand five
2 hundred dollars ($2,500) per academic year and the maximum
3 scholarship award] shall be established annually by the board of
4 directors of the agency at a [maximum] level not to exceed [two
5 thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)] three thousand dollars
6 ($3,000) so as to keep expenditures within the funds available
7 through reenactment of appropriations as provided for under the
8 act of March 28, 1974 (P.L.228, No.50), relating to the forward
9 funding of PHEAA grant program and/or from funds appropriated or
10 made available from State, Federal or other sources for grants
11 during any fiscal year.
12 * * *
13 Section 4. Section 8(a) of the act is amended to read:
14 Section 8. (a) Each State scholarship is renewable until
15 the [course] program of study is completed, but not to exceed an
16 additional three academic years beyond the first year of the
17 award[.] or beyond an additional four academic years for
18 students enrolled in five-year undergraduate programs of study
19 approved by the agency. These may not necessarily be consecutive
20 years and the scholarship will be terminated if the student
21 receives his degree in a shorter period of time. Qualifications
22 for renewal will include maintaining satisfactory academic
23 standing, making normal progress toward completion of the course
24 of study, and continued eligibility as determined by the agency
25 including continual legal residency.
26 * * *
27 Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
28 Section 8.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of this act
29 relating to otherwise eligible students who are enrolled on a
30 less than full-time but at least a half-time basis as defined by
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1 the agency or who are enrolled for a fifth academic year in
2 five-year undergraduate programs of study, the board of
3 directors of the agency shall annually determine the eligibility
4 of students within these categories based on the appropriations
5 approved pursuant to this act.
6 Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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