PRINTER'S NO. 1484

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1276

Session of

2019

INTRODUCED BY HICKERNELL, TOOHIL, ROEBUCK, SAYLOR, FEE, STURLA,

MILLARD, GAYDOS, FIEDLER, MENTZER, ZIMMERMAN, MADDEN, SIMS,

B. MILLER, GLEIM, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, McCLINTON,

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Fostering

Independence Through Education 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:

"Adoption." Adoption of an individual who has been in the

care and custody of a county agency and in substitute care.

"Dependent child." The term as defined under 42 Pa.C.S. §

6302 (relating to definitions).

"Fostering independence waiver." A waiver of tuition and

mandatory fees at an institution of higher education.

"Institution of higher education." The term includes any of

the following:

the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the

Public School Code of 1949.

Public School Code of 1949.

incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth and entitled to

confer degrees as provided under 24 Pa.C.S. § 6505 (relating

to power to confer degrees) and as provided for by the

standards and qualifications prescribed by the State Board of

Education under 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 (relating to private

colleges, universities and seminaries).

foreign corporation standards).

"Permanent legal custodian." A person to whom legal custody

of a child has been given by order of a court pursuant to 42

Pa.C.S. § 6351(a)(2.1) (relating to disposition of dependent

child).

"POC." The point of contact designated in section 5.

"Program." The fostering independence waiver program

established in section 3.

"Substitute care." Out-of-home placement in a setting that

provides 24-hour care for a dependent child as defined in 42

of 2020, each institution of higher education shall award a

fostering independence waiver for undergraduate courses at the

institution for each individual who is eligible under subsection

(c). The fostering independence waiver shall have subtracted

from it the amount of any Federal grants, State grants or other

scholarships or grants the individual receives. An individual

shall receive a fostering independence waiver under this act for

five years, whether or not consecutive, or until the individual

reaches 26 years of age, whichever occurs first, as long as the

individual remains eligible under subsection (c).

age and be in or have been in substitute care in this

Commonwealth for at least six months before, on or after the

effective date of this section, including any of the

following:

admission as defined by the institution of higher education

attended.

grants.

(d) Accessibility.--The department shall work with the

agency as well as the Department of Labor and Industry and the

Department of Human Services to ensure that individuals eligible

for the program under subsection (c) apply for all available

following:

thereafter, prepare and provide the information to be

disseminated by county agencies, the department, the

Department of Human Services and institutions of higher

education which:

institution of higher education shall do all of the following:

technical assistance to individuals who are eligible under

section 3(c) in completing admissions applications and

financial aid applications.

subsection (a)(1) to all applicants for admission and to

prospective applicants for admission. An institution of

higher education may comply with this paragraph by including

a paper or electronic copy of the information with other

June 30, 2021, and June 30 each year thereafter all of the

following:

to be provided by an institution of higher education, except

as provided under paragraph (3).

one or more qualified staff members to provide the appropriate

support or expertise required for the duties specified in this

section. The POC shall have or ensure the delegation of the

following duties:

eligibility for the program from the courts, the county

agency or the Department of Human Services.

3(c) in accessing available Federal and State financial aid

resources and in identifying further scholarship and grant

institution who voluntarily disclose that they are eligible

under section 3(c) with information and referrals for on-

campus support services and resources, including admissions,

housing, financial aid, health, mental health, tutoring,

career, academic advising and other services.

institution who are eligible under section 3(c) with

information and referrals as available for off-campus support

services, including transitional housing and medical

insurance and services.

In order to determine and maximize the effectiveness of this

act, the department, in conjunction with the Department of Human

Services, shall collect information obtained from all

institutions of higher education under section 4(b)(3) and

prepare an anonymized report to be submitted by August 31, 2021,

and by August 31 of each year thereafter, to the chairperson and

minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate,

the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education

Committee of the House of Representatives, the chairperson and

minority chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee

1882).

program.

program and have unmet financial needs.

students who are or are potentially eligible for the program.

under section 3(c).

Section 7. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.