PRINTER'S NO. 125
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
151
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, COSTA, FARNESE, BREWSTER, SABATINA,
TARTAGLIONE AND RAFFERTY, JANUARY 20, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 20, 2017
AN ACT
Providing for academic excellence scholarships for individuals
entering a college or university within this Commonwealth;
and conferring powers and imposing duties on 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 Academic
Excellence Scholarship 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:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Approved educational institution." A postsecondary
educational institution located in this Commonwealth that is
authorized to provide approved courses of study and grant
degrees and has been approved by the Pennsylvania Higher
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Education Assistance Agency as an institution in which students
may enroll to participate in the Academic Excellence Scholarship
Program.
"Program." The Academic Excellence Scholarship Program
established by this act.
"Student." An individual domiciled in this Commonwealth who
attends or is about to attend a secondary school or
postsecondary educational institution located in this
Commonwealth and whose annual family income does not exceed
$250,000.
"Work requirement." Postgraduate, full-time employment with
an employer located in this Commonwealth. The term does not
include a paid student internship, a paid fellowship, volunteer
service or employment before graduation.
Section 3. Academic Excellence Scholarship Program.
The Academic Excellence Scholarship Program is established
within the agency to reward academic excellence and provide an
incentive for Pennsylvania students to pursue higher education
and professional opportunities within this Commonwealth.
Section 4. Scholarship grants.
(a) Issuance.--The agency may provide scholarship grants
annually to eligible students who are residents of this
Commonwealth. A scholarship grant may be issued to a student
only upon confirmation from an approved educational institution
that the student has enrolled full time no later than the fall
semester immediately following high school graduation.
(b) Amount.--Scholarship grants shall be for the amount set
forth in section 5(a) and may only be used for tuition and
mandatory fees.
(c) Award.--A scholarship program grant shall be awarded
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solely on the basis of merit.
(d) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship grant under this
act, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Maintenance of Pennsylvania domicile during the term
of the scholarship grant.
(2) Graduation within the top 5% of students from a high
school in this Commonwealth. The student must have attended a
public or private high school within this Commonwealth during
the junior and senior years.
(3) High school cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or
higher, on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent.
(4) A score of no less than 1400 on the SAT or an ACT
score of no less than 32.
(5) Maintenance of a grade point average of 3.0 or
higher, on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent.
(6) Entrance into a written agreement with the agency
to:
(i) Satisfy all degree requirements for graduation.
(ii) Commence employment in this Commonwealth within
one year after completion of an undergraduate degree for
a period of one year for each academic year the student
received a scholarship grant under this act unless the
agency determines that there are extenuating
circumstances.
(iii) Reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts
received under this act and interest thereon, as
determined by the agency, if the student fails to comply
with subparagraph (i) or (ii).
(e) Application.--A student shall apply to the agency for a
scholarship grant as prescribed by the agency and provide all
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information and documentation required by the agency. The
application of a student under 18 years of age shall include the
signature of a parent or guardian. The application shall include
a verified statement of grade point average from the appropriate
educational institution.
(f) Work requirement.--The work requirement under subsection
(d)(6)(ii) shall begin after receipt of a bachelor's degree from
an approved educational institution.
(g) Termination.--If a student who has received a
scholarship grant terminates enrollment in the approved
educational institution during the academic year or prior to
completion, the approved educational institution shall notify
the agency in writing and shall return all unused portions of
the scholarship grant. Returned amounts shall be used to fund
other scholarship grants under this act.
(h) Transfer.--A scholarship grant may only be transferrable
to another approved educational institution if approved by the
agency.
(i) Limitation.--A scholarship grant shall be paid from
funds appropriated for that purpose. First priority for awarding
scholarship grants shall be given to renewal applicants.
Thereafter, the scholarship grants shall be awarded on a first-
come, first-served basis.
(j) Exception.--The agency shall postpone the work
requirement under subsection (f) for extenuating circumstances
or because of the student's enrollment on a full-time basis in a
graduate degree program within one year of the receipt of a
bachelor's degree from an approved educational institution. The
agency shall require documentation of the person's continual
status as a full-time student as defined by the agency. The work
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requirement under subsection (d)(6)(ii) shall begin within one
year after termination of enrollment on a full-time basis in a
graduate degree program.
Section 5. Academic Excellence Scholarships.
(a) Amount of scholarship grants.--The agency shall issue
scholarship grants under the program, which grants may be
referred to as Academic Excellence Scholarships, in the amount
of $5,000 per academic year to a student enrolled full time in
an approved educational institution pursuing a bachelor's
degree. The student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12
semester hours each semester or its equivalent.
(b) Term of grant.--The scholarship grant shall be for a
maximum of four academic years.
(c) Exception.--If the student fails to meet the cumulative
grade point average requirements during a semester and is denied
a scholarship grant, the student may reapply the following year
for a scholarship grant but must continue at the student's
expense for the next year. If the student earns a cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the end of that year,
the student may reapply for the remaining years. If the student
does not obtain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or
higher within the year following dismissal from the program, the
student may not reapply.
Section 6. Administration.
(a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify a
student's fulfillment of all the work requirements under this
act.
(b) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all
scholarship grants for a student who does not comply with the
provisions of this act, including use of all lawful collection
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procedures and the use of private collection agencies.
(c) Exclusion from taxation.--A scholarship grant received
by a student shall not be considered taxable income for purposes
of Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known
as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
(d) Financial assistance.--A scholarship grant received by a
student shall be considered financial assistance or an
appropriation to the approved educational institution.
(e) Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to
2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of
Commonwealth agencies).
(f) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations and
procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 7. Annual report.
(a) Development of report.--The agency shall publish a
report each year containing information regarding the operation
of the scholarship program. The initial report shall be
submitted by September 1 in the year following the first full
academic year in which scholarship grants have been awarded and
by September 1 of each year thereafter. The report shall
include:
(1) Total number of students receiving scholarship
grants, with a breakdown of whether the scholarship is an
initial scholarship grant or a renewal of a scholarship
grant.
(2) Total number of students who withdraw from the
program or work requirements.
(b) Submission.--The annual report shall be submitted to the
Governor and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairperson and
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minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the
House of Representatives, the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee
of the House of Representatives.
Section 8. Effective date.
This act shall take effect July 1, 2017, or immediately,
whichever is later.
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