PRINTER'S NO. 357

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

102

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, KITCHEN, COSTA AND FONTANA,

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

CHAPTER 1

Section 101. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Fly in Four

Scholarship Act.

Section 102. Declaration of policy.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

20 hours per week during an academic semester to pay for

tuition, fees and related expenses.

Section 103. 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:

"Academic advisor." A dean, counselor or other advisor that

is employed by a participating institution that serves as a

resource in counseling and aiding a student to graduate from the

participating institution.

"Academic map." A personalized, term-by-term academic plan

"Full-time student." A student who is enrolled in a

participating institution pursuing an approved course of study:

equivalent, recognized by the Pennsylvania Higher Education

Assistance Agency as a full-time course of study; or

averaging 30 credit hours, or its equivalent, per academic

year and is on track for on-time graduation.

"Graduation review." A meeting in person between a student

and an academic advisor which occurs two semesters before a

"On-time graduation." Graduation from a participating

institution with a degree in an approved course of study by the

student's target graduation date.

"Participating institution." A postsecondary educational

institution that:

community college in this Commonwealth;

of study; and

Program.

"Target graduation date." The date on which a student will

graduate from a participating institution with a degree in an

approved course of study if the student completes at least 30

credit hours, or its equivalent, per academic year toward

completion of an approved course of study and adheres to an

academic map.

"Work limit." Employment of 20 hours a week or more while

enrolled as a full-time student in an approved course of study.

CHAPTER 3

PROGRAM

(b) Issuance of grants.--The agency may provide a Fly in

Four Scholarship Grant to an eligible full-time student upon

confirmation from a participating institution that the student

is enrolled in an approved course of study, has completed at

least 30 credit hours, or its equivalent, in the preceding

academic year and intends to complete an approved course of

study by the student's target graduation date. A grant may be

awarded to a student previously enrolled in the program who is

not on track to graduate if the student maintained eligibility

under section 302(a) and (b) during the previous academic year.

(c) Limitations.--Scholarship grants are limited to the

scholarship grant accordingly.

Section 302. Student eligibility and requirements.

(a) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship grant, a student

must meet the following requirements:

or completion of general educational development (GED) or its

equivalent.

the term of the scholarship grant.

the first semester of the student's freshman year through the

term of the scholarship grant.

agency.

(b) Agreement.--A student must enter into a written

agreement with the agency prior to receiving a scholarship

grant. The student must agree to:

requirements and any other requirement under this act.

during the term of the scholarship grant, beginning with the

becomes available.

under this act and interest thereon, as determined by the

agency, if the student fails to comply with this section.

(c) Application.--A student must apply to the agency for a

scholarship grant as prescribed by the agency and provide the

information and documentation required by the agency to be

considered for a scholarship grant. The application of a student

student's compliance with an academic map in an approved

course of study in the preceding academic year and intended

compliance in the upcoming academic year.

(d) Petition.--A student may include a written statement

with an application that petitions the agency to disburse all or

part of a scholarship grant directly to a student to pay for

necessary living expenses of the student, as determined by the

agency. The agency in its discretion shall determine whether to

grant the petition.

Section 303. Participating institutions.

any materials required to accompany the application in

section 302(c).

following:

(i) An academic map.

(ii) Academic advising.

(iii) Timely registration for classes.

(iv) Early warning for students whose academic

(v) Appropriate academic course alternatives or

Section 304. Termination.

(a) Notification of agency.--If a student terminates

enrollment in the participating institution during the academic

year or prior to completion of the approved course of study, the

participating institution shall notify the agency in writing.

(b) Transfer.--A scholarship grant is only transferrable for

use at another participating institution if approved by the

agency.

A person under 18 years of age who otherwise qualifies for a

scholarship grant under this chapter shall not be disqualified

based upon age.

Section 306. Ineligibility.

(a) Grounds for denial.--The agency may deny a scholarship

grant to a student who is ineligible for financial assistance

under section 8.2 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546,

No.541), referred to as the Higher Education Scholarship Law.

(b) Fraud.--Any person who knowingly or intentionally

procures, obtains or aids another to procure or obtain a

obtained.

Section 307. Grant amount and term.

(a) Amount.--The agency may award a scholarship grant in an

amount of up to $4,000 per student per academic year.

(b) Term of grant.--A grant shall be awarded beginning no

earlier than the second academic year of enrollment in a

participating institution. The grant shall be for the duration

of the upcoming academic year.

Section 308. Distribution.

The agency shall distribute scholarship grants in the

following manner:

CHAPTER 5

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Section 501. Administration.

(a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify the

fulfillment of the obligations of individual students and

participating institutions under this act.

(b) Enforcement.--The agency may require repayment of all

scholarship grants by a student who fails to comply with the

provisions of this act. The agency may make use of all lawful

collection procedures, including the use of private collection

repayment of a scholarship grant.

Section 502. Tax exemption.

Scholarship grants received by a student shall not be

considered taxable income for the purposes of Article III of the

act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code

of 1971.

Section 503. Construction.

Scholarship grants received, directly or indirectly, by a

student are not considered financial assistance or an

appropriation to the participating institution.

Section 504. Appeals.

(a) Report.--The agency shall publish a report of the

program by September 1, 2017, to evaluate its effectiveness so

that the General Assembly may determine whether the program

shall become permanent. The report shall contain information

regarding the operation of the program, including, but not

limited to, the following:

grants and the number of students receiving scholarship

grants in each approved course of study.