1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," establishing the Ready to Succeed
6Scholarship Program; and conferring powers and imposing
7duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
8and the Department of Education.

9The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10hereby enacts as follows:

11Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
12as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
13section to read:

14Section 2599.6. Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program.--(a)
15The Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program is established within
16the agency.

17(b) The agency may use funds appropriated for the purpose of
18this section from the General Fund, and may accept donations and
19contributions from all public and private sources, including the

1Federal Government, to provide scholarships for defraying the
2necessary expense of residents of this Commonwealth who are
3students pursuing postsecondary education at an institution of
4higher education.

5(c) The agency, in consultation with the Department of
6Education, shall administer and establish guidelines for the
7program.

8(d) The Department of Education shall consult with the
9agency to identify and provide guidelines for student
10eligibility and renewal criteria. Student eligibility, at a
11minimum, shall require all of the following:

12(1) Total annual household income which does not exceed one
13hundred and ten thousand dollars ($110,000). With each new award
14year, the agency shall annually adjust the total annual
15household income threshold under this paragraph to reflect any
16upward changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
17Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and
18Maryland area.

19(2) At least half-time enrollment in a State-grant-approved
20program of study.

21(3) Demonstration of outstanding academic achievement.

22(4) Compliance with all requirements of the State grant
23program administered by the agency, notwithstanding the
24financial need requirements of the State grant program.

25(e) Scholarship awards shall be established by the agency
26based upon available resources.

27(f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
28shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
29the context clearly indicates otherwise:

30"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance

1Agency.

2"Institution of higher education." A postsecondary
3institution that participates in the State grant program, and is
4domiciled and headquartered with its principal physical location
5in this Commonwealth.

6"Program." The Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program
7established under this section.

8"State grant." A grant or scholarship awarded under the act
9of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the
10Higher Education Scholarship Law.

11Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.