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PRINTER'S NO. 3356
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2308
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY ROZZI, BULLOCK, DONATUCCI, McNEILL, MURT, HOWARD,
ULLMAN, KENYATTA, HARKINS, SCHLOSSBERG, HANBIDGE, KINSEY,
HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, GALLOWAY, WARREN, GAINEY, BURGOS,
SANCHEZ, T. DAVIS, READSHAW, FREEMAN, LEE, SHUSTERMAN,
SCHWEYER, MARKOSEK, KIM AND GILLEN, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 24, 2020
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 preliminary provisions, providing
for homeless and foster youth at institutions of higher
education.
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 129. Homeless and Foster Youth at Institutions of
Higher Education.--(a) Each institution of higher education
that maintains student housing facilities shall give priority
for housing to current and former homeless youth and current and
former foster youth. The following shall apply:
(1) Each institution of higher education that maintains
student housing facilities open for occupation during school
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breaks or on a year-round basis shall give first priority to
current and former homeless youth and current and former foster
youth for residence in the housing facilities that are open for
uninterrupted year-round occupation and provide housing to
current and former homeless youth and current and former foster
youth at no extra cost during academic or campus breaks and next
give priority to current and former homeless youth and current
and former foster youth for housing that is open for occupation
during the most days in the calendar year.
(2) Each institution of higher education shall develop a
plan to ensure that current and former homeless youth and
current and former foster youth can access housing resources as
needed during and between academic terms, including during
academic and campus breaks, regardless of whether the campus
maintains student housing facilities.
(b) An institution of higher education shall develop a rapid
rehousing program to assist current and former homeless youth
and current and former foster youth enrolled at the institution
of higher education to provide navigation services on the
institution of higher education's campus to conduct outreach and
assessment and connect current and former homeless youth and
current and former foster youth with housing and other related
services.
(c) An institution of higher education shall designate a
staff member who is employed in the financial aid office, or
another appropriate office or department as determined by the
institution of higher education, to serve as a homeless and
foster youth liaison. The homeless and foster youth liaison
shall be responsible for understanding the financial aid process
and identifying services available and appropriate for current
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and former homeless and foster youth enrolled at the institution
of higher education. The homeless and foster youth liaison shall
assist current and former homeless youth and current and former
foster youth in applying for and receiving Federal and State
financial aid and other available services.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an
institution of higher education may grant resident status to a
student who resides in this Commonwealth and is nineteen (19)
years of age or under at the time of enrollment, regardless of
how long the student has lived in this Commonwealth, if the
student is determined to be a homeless youth or foster youth at
any time during the four years immediately preceding the
student's enrollment.
(e) An institution of higher education shall provide tuition
waivers for current and former homeless youth and current and
former foster youth. The following shall apply:
(1) A current or former homeless youth or current or former
foster youth shall be exempt from paying any tuition at an
institution of higher education, regardless of the current or
former homeless youth or current or former foster youth's
receipt of a scholarship or grant if:
(i) The current or former homeless youth or current or
former foster youth is enrolled at the institution of higher
education on or before the date that the current or former
homeless youth or current or former foster youth reaches twenty-
five (25) years of age.
(ii) The current or former homeless youth or current or
former foster youth is enrolled as a candidate in a degree
program.
(iii) The current or former homeless youth or current or
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former foster youth has filed for Federal and State financial
aid.
(2) If a current or former homeless youth or current or
former foster youth receives a scholarship or grant for
postsecondary education and is enrolled before the recipient
reaches twenty-five (25) years of age as a candidate in a degree
program at an institution of higher education, the scholarship
or grant shall be applied to the tuition for the current or
former homeless youth or current or former foster youth before
applying a waiver under this section to the tuition.
(3) A current or former homeless youth or current or former
foster youth who is exempt from tuition under this subsection
shall continue to be exempt until the earlier of:
(i) five years after first enrolling as a candidate for a
degree program at an institution of higher education; or
(ii) the date that the current or former homeless youth or
current or former foster youth is awarded a degree.
(4) On or before June 1 of each year, an institution of
higher education shall report to the board on the aggregate and
disaggregate number of current or former homeless youth and
current or former foster youth who:
(i) Received a tuition exemption under this subsection
during the prior academic year.
(ii) Received a tuition exemption under this subsection at
any point during the current or former homeless youth's or
current or former foster youth's enrollment at the institution
of higher education.
(iii) Earned a degree from the institution of higher
education during the prior academic year.
(5) On or before September 1 of each year, the board shall:
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(i) Compile the reports received under paragraph (3).
(ii) Submit the compilation of reports to the General
Assembly.
(f) For purposes of this section, a student who is verified
as a former homeless youth under subsection (g) shall retain
that status for a period of six (6) years from the date of
admission to an institution of higher education.
(g) 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:
"Foster youth." An individual under eighteen (18) years of
age, or if a court retains dependency jurisdiction under 42
Pa.C.S. § 6351(j) (relating to disposition of dependent child),
an individual up to twenty-one (21) years of age who is:
(1) under the care and responsibility of the Commonwealth
and is placed in foster care, as defined in 45 CFR 1355.20
(relating to definitions), under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351 or 6352
(relating to disposition of delinquent child); or
(2) placed under a voluntary placement agreement under 55
Pa. Code § 3130.65 (relating to voluntary placement agreement).
"Homeless youth." An individual under twenty-five (25) years
of age, who has been verified, in the case of a former homeless
youth, at any time during the twenty-four (24) months
immediately preceding the receipt of the student's application
for admission by an institution of higher education, as an
unaccompanied youth, under the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (Public Law 100-77, 101 Stat. 482), by at least
one of the following:
(1) A homeless assistance program, as defined by the
Department of Human Services.
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(2) The director, or the director's designee, of a Federal
TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for
Undergraduate Programs program.
(3) A financial aid administrator.
(4) A designated homeless and foster youth liaison or
McKinney-Vento coordinator in a school district or the
Department of Education.
"Institution of higher education." As defined in section
118(c).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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