PRINTER'S NO. 1558
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1153
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, MARTIN, K. WARD, PITTMAN, AUMENT,
ARGALL, LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, MASTRIANO, REGAN, STEFANO,
VOGEL AND J. WARD, APRIL 26, 2024
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 26, 2024
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in the State System of Higher
Education, providing for educational opportunities for foster
and adopted children.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 2022-A. Educational Opportunities for Foster and
A dopted Children.--(a) An institution shall provide each
eligible nonresident student who enrolls with a fostering
independence waiver for undergraduate courses beginning with the
semester starting in fall 2024.
(b) To be eligible for a fostering independence waiver an
individual must:
(1) B e eligible for a Chafee Education and Training Grant
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under the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-
169, 113 Stat. 1822).
(2) I dentify as a youth who has experienced foster care at
sixteen years of age or older or, after attaining sixteen years
of age, exited foster care to adoption or permanent legal
custodianship.
(3) A pply for Federal and State grants.
(c) The fostering independence waiver shall be available for
up to five years, whether or not consecutive, or until the
individual reaches twenty-six years of age, whichever occurs
first.
(d) An institution shall annually report the number of
students who enroll and receive a fostering independence waiver
under this section to the system, and the system shall report
the information to the Governor, the Department of Education,
the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Appropriations
Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the House of
Representatives.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "fostering
independence waiver" means an amount equal to the waiver of
tuition and mandatory fees after the subtraction of the amount
of any Federal grants, State grants and other scholarships or
grants an individual receives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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