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.

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

15ARTICLE XXII-B

16READY TO SUCCEED SCHOLARSHIP

17Section 2201-B. Short Title.

18This article shall be known and may be cited as the Ready to
19Succeed Scholarship Act.

20Section 2202-B. Definitions.

21The following words and phrases when used in this article
22shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
23context clearly indicates otherwise:

24"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
25Agency.

26"State grant." A grant or scholarship awarded under the act
27of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the
28Higher Education Scholarship Law.

29Section 2203-B. Establishment.

30The Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program is established

1within the agency.

2Section 2204-B. Agency.

3(a) General rule.--The agency shall use funds appropriated
4for the purpose of this article from the General Fund, and may
5accept donations from all public and private sources, including
6the Federal Government, to provide scholarships to eligible
7students to defray the cost of attending a State grant-approved
8institution of higher education that is domiciled and
9headquartered with its principal location in this Commonwealth.

10(b) Requirements.--The eligibility criteria developed for
11the receipt of a scholarship under subsection (a) shall, at a
12minimum, require all of the following:

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

19(2) At least half-time enrollment in an approved course
20of study.

21(3) Demonstration of outstanding academic achievement.

22(4) Compliance with all aspects of the State grant
23program except financial need.

24(c) Combination.--A student may be eligible to receive a
25scholarship under subsection (a) if the scholarship award in
26combination with a State grant award for the same academic year
27does not exceed the annually established maximum amount for the
28Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program as established by the
29agency.

30(d) Discretion.--The agency shall make all scholarship

1awards under subsection (a) in its sole discretion.

2Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.