PRINTER'S NO. 2615
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2255
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY POLINCHOCK, MOUL, BERNSTINE, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
DRISCOLL, ECKER, KEEFER, KINSEY, PICKETT AND RYAN,
JANUARY 20, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 20, 2022
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in miscellaneous provisions relating
to institutions of higher education, prohibiting scholarship
displacement at public institutions of higher education under
certain circumstances.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 2002-I. Prohibition on scholarship displacement at
public institutions of higher education.
(a) General rule.--A public institution of higher education
may reduce a student's institutional financial aid as a result
of the awarding of private scholarships to the student only
under the circumstances enumerated in subsections (b) and (c).
(b) When institutional financial aid exceeds financial
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need.--If a student's total financial aid from all sources
exceeds the student's financial need, a public institution of
higher education may reduce the student's institutional
financial aid until the student's total financial aid no longer
exceeds the student's financial need.
(c) When approval of organization given.--In addition to the
reduction authorized under subsection (b), a public institution
of higher education may reduce a student's institutional
financial aid if the public institution of higher education
receives approval from the organization that awarded the private
scholarship that caused the reduction authorized under
subsection (b).
(d) Student athletes.--If a student is an athlete at a
public institution of higher education, the public institution
of higher education may reduce the student's institutional
financial aid in order to comply with the individual or team
financial aid restrictions of an athletic association,
conference or other group or organization with authority over
intercollegiate athletics including, but not limited to, the
National Collegiate Athletic Association.
(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Expected family contribution." The expected family
contribution as determined under section 474 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329, 20 U.S.C. ยง 1087nn).
"Financial need." The cost of attendance minus expected
family contribution.
"Institutional financial aid." The sum of all need-based and
merit-based grants, scholarships, tuition waivers and all other
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forms of financial assistance provided to a student by a public
institution of higher education that are not loans or work-study
programs.
"Private scholarship." A scholarship awarded by a business,
private foundation, nonprofit organization or service group.
The term does not include an award funded by a private
organization which is affiliated with a public institution of
higher education and requests the public institution of higher
education's assistance in selecting the recipient of the award.
"Public institution of higher education." Any of the
following:
(1) A community college operating under Article XIX-A
(2) A rural regional college established under Article
XIX-G.
(3) A university within the State System of Higher
Education under Article XX-A.
(4) A State-related institution as defined in section
2001-C.
(5) The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
(6) The Pennsylvania College of Technology.
"Student." An individual enrolled at a public
institution of higher education.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022 or
immediately, whichever occurs first.
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