PRINTER'S NO. 2538
No. 100 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY WILT, OCTOBER 26, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, OCTOBER 26, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 16, 1998 (P.L.980, No.129),
2 entitled "An act providing for a waiver of tuition and other
3 fees for children of certain deceased police officers,
4 National Guard members, firefighters and correction employees
5 at community colleges and State-owned and State-related
6 institutions of higher education and for additional powers
7 and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
8 Agency and the Department of General Services," further
9 providing for definitions; and providing for exemptions.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 16, 1998
13 (P.L.980, No.129), known as the Police Officer, Firefighter,
14 Correction Employee and National Guard Member Child Beneficiary
15 Education Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:
16 Section 2. Definitions.
17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19 context clearly indicates otherwise:
20 * * *
21 "Qualified applicant." A person who meets the following
1 criteria:
2 (1) Has completed their associate or baccalaureate
3 degree within five years of the application for loan
4 forgiveness under this act.
5 (2) Has borrowed through the agency-administered
6 Guaranteed Student Loan Programs.
7 * * *
8 Section 2. Section 3(c) of the act is amended and the
9 section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
10 Section 3. Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program.
11 * * *
12 (c) Scope of benefit.--
13 (1) The benefit available under this section shall be
14 provided only for full-time students who are pursuing
15 undergraduate studies leading to an associate degree or a
16 baccalaureate degree, except as otherwise provided for in
17 subsection (c.1).
18 (2) A child becomes eligible for this benefit after he
19 or she has applied for available scholarships and Federal and
20 State grants to cover tuition and room and board costs. The
21 child must provide a record of application for such financial
22 aid to the community college or State-owned or State-related
23 institution to which he or she is applying.
24 (3) A community college or a State-owned or State-
25 related institution shall waive all remaining tuition and
26 room and board charges (total tuition, room and board and
27 fees minus awarded scholarships and Federal and State grants)
28 for an eligible child during the time the child is enrolled
29 as a full-time student provided the child meets all
30 requirements for admission to the community college or State-
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1 owned or State-related institution and during the child's
2 enrollment complies with all requirements of the institution
3 for continued attendance and award of an associate degree or
4 a baccalaureate degree.
5 (c.1) Exemptions.--Individuals who have already completed
6 their associate or baccalaureate degree, prior to the original
7 enactment of this statute, may be eligible for a loan
8 forgiveness program administered by the agency, provided that
9 they have met the provisions of sections 3(b)(1), (2), (3), (4),
10 and (5) and they met the conditions established under the
11 definition of qualified applicants.
12 * * *
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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