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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, FABRIZIO AND THOMAS, MAY 16, 2012 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 16, 2012 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Establishing a Statewide academic scholarship program to be |
2 | known as the Reliable Educational Assistance for College |
3 | Hopefuls Scholarship for Arts and Culture; and providing for |
4 | the powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education |
5 | Assistance Agency. |
6 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
7 | hereby enacts as follows: |
8 | Section 1. Short title. |
9 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Reliable |
10 | Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls Scholarship for Arts |
11 | and Culture Act. |
12 | Section 2. Purpose. |
13 | The purpose of this act is to reward educational excellence |
14 | and provide an incentive to Pennsylvania students to pursue |
15 | higher education with an emphasis on arts and culture within |
16 | this Commonwealth. |
17 | Section 3. Definitions. |
18 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
19 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
20 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
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1 | "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance |
2 | Agency. |
3 | "Approved course of study." A program or curriculum offered |
4 | at a college or university within this Commonwealth that leads |
5 | to completion of a bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts or |
6 | any other equivalent degree approved by the Department of |
7 | Education. |
8 | "Department." The Department of Education of the |
9 | Commonwealth. |
10 | "Fund." The REACH Scholarship Fund for Arts and Culture |
11 | established in section 6. |
12 | "Grade point average." The numbered grade average calculated |
13 | using a 4.0 scale. |
14 | "Private institution of higher education." An institution of |
15 | higher education located in this Commonwealth that provides an |
16 | organized four-year program of undergraduate instruction toward |
17 | a baccalaureate degree and that is not a State-owned institution |
18 | or State-related institution. |
19 | "REACH Scholarship for Arts and Culture." The Reliable |
20 | Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls Scholarship for Arts |
21 | and Culture established under section 4. |
22 | "State-owned institution." An institution that is part of |
23 | the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of |
24 | the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public |
25 | School Code of 1949. |
26 | "State-related institution." Any of the following: The |
27 | Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, |
28 | Temple University and Lincoln University and their branch |
29 | campuses. |
30 | "Student." A school-age resident of this Commonwealth who |
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1 | attends or is about to attend a State-owned institution, State- |
2 | related institution or private institution of higher education |
3 | located in this Commonwealth and who is enrolled, or plans to |
4 | enroll, in an approved course of study. |
5 | Section 4. REACH Scholarship for Arts and Culture. |
6 | (a) Establishment.--The REACH Scholarship for Arts and |
7 | Culture is established within the agency. |
8 | (b) Issuance of scholarships.-- |
9 | (1) The agency shall provide scholarships, which may be |
10 | referred to as REACH Scholarships for Arts and Culture, to |
11 | all students who meet the requirements of subsection (d) or |
12 | (f). The scholarships may be issued to a student only upon |
13 | confirmation from the State-owned institution, State-related |
14 | institution or private institution of higher education to |
15 | which the student has enrolled full time. |
16 | (2) The scholarships shall be available for four years |
17 | or upon completion of a baccalaureate degree, whichever |
18 | occurs earlier. |
19 | (3) The scholarships shall only be used for tuition and |
20 | mandatory fees. |
21 | (4) The scholarships shall be awarded solely on the |
22 | basis of merit and without regard to need. |
23 | (5) The scholarships shall only be awarded to students |
24 | who are high school seniors during or after the school year |
25 | in which this section takes effect. |
26 | (6) The department shall establish a list of approved |
27 | courses of study for this program. |
28 | (c) Calculation of award.-- |
29 | (1) Each eligible student who will attend or attends a |
30 | State-owned institution and enrolls in an approved course of |
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1 | study shall receive a full-tuition scholarship. |
2 | (2) Each eligible student who will attend or attends a |
3 | State-related institution or private institution of higher |
4 | education and enrolls in an approved course of study shall |
5 | receive the lesser of a full-tuition scholarship or a |
6 | scholarship equal to the average tuition at the State-owned |
7 | institutions as calculated annually by the agency. |
8 | (d) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship under this |
9 | section, a student must meet all of the following requirements: |
10 | (1) Pennsylvania residency for at least three years |
11 | prior to application for the REACH Scholarship for Arts and |
12 | Culture. |
13 | (2) Pennsylvania residency during the term of the |
14 | scholarship. |
15 | (3) Cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 or |
16 | higher for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high |
17 | school. If the student does not graduate from high school or |
18 | completes a home study program meeting the requirements of |
19 | section 1327.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), |
20 | known as the Public School Code of 1949, the agency shall |
21 | determine the eligibility of the student. |
22 | (4) Graduation in the top ten percentile of the |
23 | graduating class. If the student does not graduate from high |
24 | school or completes a home study program meeting the |
25 | requirements of section 1327.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 |
26 | (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, the |
27 | agency shall determine the eligibility of the student. |
28 | (5) Cumulative high school attendance of at least 90% |
29 | for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high school |
30 | unless the agency determines there are extenuating |
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1 | circumstances, including, but not limited to, approved |
2 | medical or personal leave of absence. If the student does not |
3 | graduate from high school but completes a home study program |
4 | meeting the requirements of section 1327.1 of the Public |
5 | School Code of 1949, the agency shall determine the |
6 | eligibility of the student. |
7 | (6) Satisfactory disciplinary record or conduct record |
8 | for the sophomore, junior and senior years of high school. If |
9 | the student does not meet this requirement but meets or |
10 | exceeds all other requirements under this subsection, the |
11 | agency shall determine eligibility of the student. |
12 | (7) Satisfactory academic progress toward completion of |
13 | an approved course of study at a State-owned institution, |
14 | State-related institution or private institution of higher |
15 | education as provided under subsection (f). |
16 | (8) Entrance into a written agreement with the agency to |
17 | maintain Pennsylvania residency for four years after |
18 | completion of an undergraduate degree. The student shall |
19 | reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts received under this |
20 | act and interest thereon, at a rate equal to the average |
21 | Stafford loan through the term of the scholarship, if the |
22 | student fails to comply with the terms of the written |
23 | agreement. |
24 | (9) Apply for the Free Application for Federal Student |
25 | Aid each year during the term of the scholarship. |
26 | (10) Complete at least 100 hours of community service |
27 | each academic year of high school. The community service must |
28 | be documented by a supervisor and approved by the agency. |
29 | (e) Contents of application.--The application of a student |
30 | who seeks a scholarship as prescribed by the agency must |
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1 | include: |
2 | (1) All information and documentation required by the |
3 | agency. |
4 | (2) If the student is under 18 years of age, the |
5 | signature of a parent or guardian. |
6 | (3) A verified statement of grade point average, |
7 | attendance and disciplinary record or conduct record from the |
8 | appropriate educational institution. |
9 | (f) Maintenance of scholarship.-- |
10 | (1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), a student |
11 | must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during |
12 | each semester at a State-owned institution, State-related |
13 | institution or private institution of higher education |
14 | through the term of the scholarship, unless the agency |
15 | determines that there are extenuating circumstances, |
16 | including, but not limited to, approved medical or personal |
17 | leave of absence. |
18 | (2) In the event that a student receives a grade point |
19 | average below 3.0 during the first or second semester of the |
20 | freshmen or first year at a State-owned institution, State- |
21 | related institution or private institution of higher |
22 | education, the agency shall place the student on scholarship |
23 | probation. |
24 | (3) A student must complete 40 hours of community |
25 | service during each 12-month period during the term of the |
26 | scholarship, which community service must be verified by the |
27 | agency. |
28 | (g) Scholarship termination and transfer.-- |
29 | (1) If a student who has received a scholarship |
30 | terminates enrollment in the educational institution to which |
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1 | the student has enrolled full time during the academic year, |
2 | or enrolls in a program of study that is not an approved |
3 | course of study, the educational institution shall notify the |
4 | agency in writing and shall return all unused portions of the |
5 | scholarship. |
6 | (2) Returned amounts shall be deposited in the REACH |
7 | Scholarship Fund for Arts and Culture. |
8 | (3) A student may transfer a scholarship from one State- |
9 | owned institution, State-related institution or private |
10 | institution of higher education to another. |
11 | (h) Limitation.--A scholarship shall be paid only from the |
12 | REACH Scholarship Fund for Arts and Culture. |
13 | Section 5. Administration. |
14 | (a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify a |
15 | student's compliance with all the requirements under this act. |
16 | (b) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all |
17 | scholarships for a student who does not comply with the |
18 | provisions of this act, to include use of all lawful collection |
19 | procedures and the use of private collection agencies. |
20 | (c) Exclusion from taxation.--No scholarship received by a |
21 | student shall not be considered taxable income for purposes of |
22 | Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as |
23 | the Tax Reform Code of 1971. |
24 | (d) Financial assistance.--No scholarship received by a |
25 | student shall be considered financial assistance or |
26 | appropriations to the approved education institution. |
27 | (e) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations and |
28 | procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. |
29 | Section 6. REACH Scholarship Fund for Arts and Culture. |
30 | (a) Establishment.--The REACH Scholarship Fund for Arts and |
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1 | Culture is established as a separate fund in the State Treasury. |
2 | (b) Administration.--The fund shall be administered by the |
3 | agency. |
4 | (c) Use of fund.--The purpose of the fund shall be to |
5 | provide full tuition scholarships or equivalent scholarships to |
6 | students who have been determined eligible in accordance with |
7 | this act. |
8 | (d) Funding source.-- |
9 | (1) Donations and contributions from all public and |
10 | private sources, including the Federal Government, and any |
11 | appropriations or transfers authorized by the General |
12 | Assembly may be deposited in the fund. |
13 | (2) All interest earned by the fund and all refunds and |
14 | repayments shall be credited to the fund. |
15 | (e) Limit on scholarships.--The agency shall not award more |
16 | than $25,000,000 in scholarships under this act. |
17 | Section 7. Report to General Assembly. |
18 | On or before April 1 following the effective date of this |
19 | section, and in each succeeding year in which REACH Scholarships |
20 | for Arts and Culture are awarded, the agency shall provide a |
21 | report to the General Assembly regarding the implementation and |
22 | administration of this act. |
23 | Section 8. Effective date. |
24 | This act shall take effect July 1, 2011, or immediately, |
25 | whichever is later. |
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