PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 837 PRINTER'S NO. 997
No. 708 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, MUSTO, RHOADES, MELLOW, COSTA, ORIE,
KUKOVICH, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE, C. WILLIAMS, GREENLEAF,
WOZNIAK, CORMAN, STACK, LAVALLE, EARLL, MOWERY, FUMO,
A. WILLIAMS, M. WHITE, DENT, LOGAN, O'PAKE, STOUT, HUGHES,
KITCHEN, CONTI, KASUNIC, FERLO, WAGNER, WONDERLING, HELFRICK
AND TOMLINSON, MAY 9, 2003
SENATOR RHOADES, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 18, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 17, 1993 (P.L.487, No.73), entitled
2 "An act providing the Early Childhood Education Professional
3 Loan Forgiveness Program for Pennsylvania residents who
4 graduate from institutions of higher education and who apply
5 their educational training to positions in approved child-
6 care facilities in this Commonwealth," further providing for
7 definitions; and making an appropriation.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 17, 1993
11 (P.L.487, No.73), known as the Early Childhood Education
12 Professional Loan Forgiveness Act, is amended to read:
13 Section 2. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
18 Agency.
1 "Approved child-care facility." A child day-care center
2 [or], group day-care home, family child day-care home or Head
3 Start Program, located in this Commonwealth which is subject to
4 and in compliance with regulations issued by the Department of
5 Public Welfare.
6 "Program." The Early Childhood Education Professional Loan
7 Forgiveness Program.
8 "Qualified applicant." A person who meets the following
9 criteria:
10 (1) Has successfully completed an undergraduate program
11 at an accredited college or university.
12 (2) Has:
13 (i) received a bachelor's degree [and has] in early
14 childhood education;
15 (ii) received a bachelor's degree in elementary
16 education and obtained Pennsylvania State Early Childhood
17 Education Certification (nursery through third grade)
18 [or]; or
19 (iii) received an associate's degree in early
20 childhood education or child development.
21 (3) Has borrowed through [the agency-administered <--
22 Guaranteed Student Loan Programs] AND HAS A CURRENT <--
23 OUTSTANDING BALANCE WITH THE AGENCY-GUARANTEED STAFFORD OR
24 CONSOLIDATED LOAN PROGRAMS.
25 (4) Is a resident of this Commonwealth.
26 (5) Executes a sworn affidavit, under penalty of
27 perjury, that he does not have a delinquent payment owing to
28 any Commonwealth agency.
29 (6) Receives a salary of less than [$18,500] $26,000.
30 Section 2. The sum of $1,250,000, or as much thereof as may
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1 be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Pennsylvania Higher
2 Education Assistance Agency for the fiscal year July 1, 2003, to
3 June 30, 2004, to carry out the provisions of the act.
4 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003, or
5 immediately, whichever is later.
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