SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2980 PRINTER'S NO. 3817
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, GORDNER, GODSHALL, STEELMAN AND JAMES,
DECEMBER 14, 1993
SENATOR RHOADES, EDUCATION, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 7, 1994
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
1 administration of this act," is amended to read:
2 Section 3. As used in this act--
3 (1) "Financial need" means the need of the full-time student
4 or the student enrolled on a less than full-time basis, but
5 enrolled on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the
6 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or according to
7 standards and tests of financial need approved by the agency.
8 (2) "Approved institution of higher learning." Approved
9 institution of higher learning shall mean any institution of
10 higher learning approved by the agency.
11 (3) "Approved high school." Approved high school means any
12 public high school located in the Commonwealth, and any public
13 or private secondary school, whether designated as a high
14 school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise, located in
15 the Commonwealth or elsewhere, which in the judgment of the
16 Department of Public Instruction, provides a course of
17 instruction, at the secondary level, and maintains standards of
18 instruction substantially equivalent to those of the public high
19 schools located in the Commonwealth.
20 (4) "Full-time student." The term shall have the meaning
21 given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or
22 standards, EXCEPT THAT IT SHALL NOT INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS <--
23 INCARCERATED IN A PENAL INSTITUTION.
24 (5) "Half-time student." The term shall have the meaning
25 given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or
26 standards, EXCEPT THAT IT SHALL NOT INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS <--
27 INCARCERATED IN A PENAL INSTITUTION.
28 Section 2. Section 4(a)(4) and (d) of the act, amended
29 December 18, 1969 (P.L.383, No.169), are amended to read:
30 Section 4. (a) Any student is eligible for consideration
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1 for a State scholarship providing:
2 * * *
3 (4) He is enrolled, or will be enrolled in the fall semester
4 immediately following his secondary school graduation or his
5 date of application, as a full-time student or as less than a
6 full-time student, but as at least a half-time student, at an
7 institution of higher learning: Provided, however, That failure
8 to enroll in the fall semester immediately following secondary
9 school graduation shall not render ineligible a student who
10 entered service in the military forces of the United States, the
11 Peace Corps or Volunteers in Service to America, during the fall
12 semester immediately following his secondary school graduation;
13 * * *
14 (d) Undergraduate awards granted during the first year under
15 this act will be limited to freshmen students at institutions of
16 higher learning. Awards will be renewable for the next three
17 academic years. In the case of students enrolled in five-year
18 undergraduate academic programs approved by the agency and
19 established by institutions of higher learning, awards may be
20 renewed for the next four academic years. In the case of
21 students enrolled in five year work study programs, approved by
22 the agency and established by institutions of higher education,
23 awards may be renewed for the next four academic years, provided
24 that the total scholarship funds awarded to any student during
25 the five year period shall not exceed the amount to which such
26 student would have been entitled had his educational program
27 been completed in a period of four academic years.
28 Section 3. Section 7(a) of the act, amended December 20,
29 1989 (P.L.652, No.80), is amended to read:
30 Section 7. (a) All scholarship awards will be based on the
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1 applicant's financial need[, the]. The minimum scholarship award
2 [being one hundred dollars ($100) per academic year, the] shall
3 be determined annually by the board of directors of the agency.
4 The maximum scholarship [shall not exceed two thousand five
5 hundred dollars ($2,500) per academic year and the maximum
6 scholarship award] shall be established annually by the board of
7 directors of the agency at a [maximum] level not to exceed [two
8 thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)] three thousand dollars
9 ($3,000) so as to keep expenditures within the funds available
10 through reenactment of appropriations as provided for under the
11 act of March 28, 1974 (P.L.228, No.50), relating to the forward
12 funding of PHEAA grant program and/or from funds appropriated or
13 made available from State, Federal or other sources for grants
14 during any fiscal year.
15 * * *
16 Section 4. Section 8(a) of the act is amended to read:
17 Section 8. (a) Each State scholarship is renewable until
18 the [course] program of study is completed, but not to exceed an
19 additional three academic years beyond the first year of the
20 award[.] or beyond an additional four academic years for
21 students enrolled in five-year undergraduate programs of study
22 approved by the agency. These may not necessarily be consecutive
23 years and the scholarship will be terminated if the student
24 receives his degree in a shorter period of time. Qualifications
25 for renewal will include maintaining satisfactory academic
26 standing, making normal progress toward completion of the course
27 of study, and continued eligibility as determined by the agency
28 including continual legal residency.
29 * * *
30 Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
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1 Section 8.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of this act
2 relating to otherwise eligible students who are enrolled on a
3 less than full-time but at least a half-time basis as defined by
4 the agency or who are enrolled for a fifth academic year in
5 five-year undergraduate programs of study, the board of
6 directors of the agency shall annually determine the eligibility
7 of students within these categories based on the appropriations
8 approved pursuant to this act.
9 Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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