THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MENSCH, PICCOLA, PIPPY, BOSCOLA, BRUBAKER, ERICKSON, STACK, FONTANA, ALLOWAY, BROWNE, LEACH AND BAKER, MARCH 2, 2011

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 2, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing the State Military College Legislative Appointment

Initiative Program.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the State

Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Committee."  A State military college selection committee.

"ECP."  The Early Commissioning Program of the United States

Army.

"ROTC."  Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

"State military college."  A coeducational, postsecondary,

two-year institution, a part of which is located in a county of

the third class, whose mission is to educate students in both an

academic and military environment.

Section 3.  The State Military College Legislative Appointment

Initiative Program.

(a)  Establishment.--The State Military College Legislative

Appointment Initiative Program is established within the General

Assembly.

(b)  State military college selection committee.--Each member

of the General Assembly may establish a State military college

selection committee. The committee shall serve the legislative

district of the member. The State Ethics Commission shall

develop guidelines to govern the establishment and functions of

committees to help ensure that the committees and the

legislative appointments do not create any conflicts of interest

or otherwise violate 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 11 (relating to ethics

standards and financial disclosure) or the act of July 10, 1968

(P.L.316, No.154), known as the Legislative Code of Ethics.

(c)  Appointments.--Each member of the General Assembly may

annually appoint an eligible student who is a resident of the

member's legislative district for guaranteed initial enrollment

in a State military college. Appointments must be made at the

sole recommendation of a State military college selection

committee. A State military college shall offer initial

enrollment to any eligible student appointed under this act.

(d)  Educational funding.--Nothing in this act shall be

construed to establish a scholarship granted or funded by the

Commonwealth.

(e)  Eligibility.--An individual may be recommended by a

committee for appointment if the individual meets all of the

following requirements:

(1)  Graduation from high school or earning a general

educational development diploma or the equivalent thereof.

(2)  Maintenance of domicile within this Commonwealth 

during the term of the appointment.

(3)  Compliance with any conditions placed upon the

appointee by a State military college, including all ECP

admission requirements and requirements deemed necessary to

successfully matriculate at a State military college.

(f)  Application.--A student shall apply to a committee for a

recommendation for appointment in a manner prescribed by the

committee, to include the provision of all information and

documentation required by the committee.

(g)  Termination.--If a student terminates enrollment in a

State military college during an academic year or prior to

completing the two-year program, the State military college

shall notify the appointing legislator in writing.

(h)  Annual report.--Any member of the General Assembly who

establishes a committee under subsection (b) shall file an

annual report with the State Ethics Commission that shall

include the name of each member of the selection committee for

that year, the names and addresses of applicants for appointment

and the name of the applicant who is appointed after final

selection.

Section 4.  Expiration.

This act shall expire June 30, 2016, unless reenacted sooner.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.