1Providing for an application fee reduction for high school
2seniors applying to State-owned institutions; and imposing
3duties on the State System of Higher Education.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Short title.

7This act shall be known and may be cited as the College
8"Apportunity" Act.

9Section 2. Legislative intent.

10It is the intent of the General Assembly to facilitate the 
11purpose of the State System of Higher Education of providing
12high quality education at the lowest possible cost to students.
13Specifically, this act seeks to decrease the barriers high 
14school seniors, especially those who aspire to be first-
15generation college students or those who would not otherwise be 
16able to afford application fees, face in applying to colleges.

17Section 3. Definitions.

1The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
2have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
3context clearly indicates otherwise:

4"PASSHE."  The State System of Higher Education.

5"State-owned institution." An institution that is part of
6the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of
7the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
8School Code of 1949.

9Section 4. Application fee discount.

10(a) General rule.--On the third Thursday of October of each
11year, to be known as "College 'Apportunity' Day," every high
12school in this Commonwealth shall provide high school seniors
13with a discount code for the application fee to apply for
14admission to any or all State-owned institutions. The high
15school senior shall write the code on the promotional code
16section of the application for admission. The code shall
17discount the application fee so that the fee for each
18application is $5.

19(b) Discount code.--PASSHE shall provide all high schools
20within this Commonwealth with the universal discount code that
21shall allow high school seniors to apply to State-owned
22institutions for the amount provided under subsection (a).

23(c)  Application.--The following shall apply:

24(1)  Every State-owned institution shall revise its
25application for admission so that it contains a promotional
26code section.

27(2)  Upon receiving an application for admission
28containing the universal discount code provided by PASSHE, a
29State-owned institution shall process the application if the
30application contains the application fee required under

1subsection (a).

2(d)  Advertisement.--Beginning on October 1 of each year,
3PASSHE shall advertise "College 'Apportunity' Day" to high
4school seniors across this Commonwealth. PASHHE may promulgate
5regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this
6subsection.

7 (e) Admission requirements.--The application fee discount
8provided under this section shall not be construed to waive any
9admission requirements of State-owned institutions.

10Section 5. Effective date.

11This act shall take effect in 60 days.