PRINTER'S NO. 2128
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1376
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, COSTA, GREENLEAF, RAFFERTY AND
HUTCHINSON, OCTOBER 13, 2016
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 13, 2016
AN ACT
Establishing the Pennsylvania Plant A Seed Education Loan
Forgiveness Program; and prescribing powers and duties of the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
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 Pennsylvania
Plant A Seed Education Loan Forgiveness 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:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Approved institution of higher learning." An educational
institution offering a postsecondary program of education,
including vocational schools located in this Commonwealth and
approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
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"Award." A student loan forgiveness award under this act.
"Program." The Pennsylvania Plant A Seed Education Loan
Forgiveness Program established in section 3.
Section 3. Pennsylvania Plant A Seed Education Loan Forgiveness
Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Plant A Seed Education
Loan Forgiveness Program is established and shall be
administered by the agency.
(b) Purpose.--The agency may grant student and training loan
forgiveness awards through the program for the purpose of
alleviating the burden of student loan debt for young farmers,
including students and aspiring young farmers who demonstrate
economic need.
(c) Eligibility criteria.--Awards shall be made on a
competitive basis to applicants who meet the eligibility
criteria with special consideration of applicants who are
economically disadvantaged. The agency shall promulgate rules
and regulations regarding the determination of award recipients.
Section 4. Loan forgiveness eligibility.
To be eligible for an award, an applicant must:
(1) Have graduated with an agricultural-related degree
from an approved institution of higher learning with an
outstanding student loan debt from obtaining the degree.
(2) Have completed and passed an agricultural training
program in this Commonwealth with an outstanding training
loan debt from completing the program.
(3) Operate a farm in this Commonwealth on a full-time
basis.
(4) Agree to operate the farm for no less than five
years.
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(5) Apply for the program within five years of college
graduation or completion of training.
(6) Demonstrate that the applicant is a farmer and at
least two-thirds of the applicant's gross income from all
sources for that fiscal year is from farming.
Section 5. Awards.
At least 10 awards may be granted to qualified applicants in
the amount of up to $10,000 per year, per applicant, not to
exceed a duration of five years and not to exceed the total
amount of such applicant's student training or loan debt. The
agency may grant the awards within the amount appropriated for
awards and based on the availability of funds. No one applicant
may receive more than a total of $50,000 upon the end of a five-
year period.
Section 6. Priority.
(a) First priority.--First priority shall be given to
veterans who apply to receive an award under the program.
(b) Second priority.--Second priority shall be given to
applicants who complete the second, third, fourth or fifth year
of full-time farm operation and reapply to receive an award
under the program.
(c) Third priority.--Third priority shall be given to
applicants who demonstrate economic need but did not receive an
award during the first year of the program's operation.
Section 7. Appropriation.
The General Assembly shall appropriate funds for awards under
this act. A portion of the funds appropriated may be used to pay
the costs associated with this act.
Section 8. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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