PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1007, 1082 PRINTER'S NO. 1111
No. 900 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, THOMPSON, TILGHMAN, HELFRICK, WAGNER,
COSTA, O'PAKE, CONTI, STOUT, DENT, EARLL, WHITE, MELLOW,
LOEPER, MUSTO, GERLACH, CORMAN AND HART, MAY 3, 1999
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, MAY 11, 1999
AN ACT
1 Providing for scholarships for persons entering into the field
2 of science and technology.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the New Economy
7 Technology Scholarship Act.
8 Section 2. Purpose.
9 The purpose of this act is to provide an incentive to
10 Pennsylvania students to pursue higher education and training in
11 science and technology fields which are essential to economic
12 development in this Commonwealth. Further, the act is intended
13 to create a sustained pool of highly trained technology workers
14 which will improve this Commonwealth's ability to attract and
15 retain business.
16 Section 3. Definitions.
17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
1 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
2 context clearly indicates otherwise:
3 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
4 Agency (PHEAA).
5 "Approved course of study." A program or curriculum offered
6 by a postsecondary educational institution that provides
7 instruction in science, technology and related fields and has
8 been approved by the Department of Education in consultation
9 with the Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment Council.
10 "Approved educational institution." A postsecondary
11 educational institution located in this Commonwealth that is
12 authorized to provide approved courses of study and grant
13 degrees, and has been approved by the Pennsylvania Higher
14 Education Assistance Agency as an institution in which students
15 may enroll to participate in the New Economy Technology
16 Scholarship Program.
17 "Department." The Department of Education of the
18 Commonwealth.
19 "Incumbent worker." A person who has been a resident of this
20 Commonwealth for one year and who has been employed full-time in
21 this Commonwealth for a period of one year while pursuing an
22 associate degree or its equivalent.
23 "Program." The New Economy Technology Scholarship Program
24 established under section 4.
25 "Student." An individual domiciled in this Commonwealth who
26 attends or is about to attend a secondary school or
27 postsecondary educational institution located in this
28 Commonwealth.
29 "Work requirement." Postgraduate, full-time employment with
30 an employer located in this Commonwealth in an occupation
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1 related to an approved course of study required under section 4.
2 The term does not include a paid student internship, a paid
3 fellowship, volunteer service or employment before graduation.
4 Section 4. New Economy Technology Scholarship Program.
5 (a) Establishment of program.--There is hereby established
6 the New Economy Technology Scholarship Program within the
7 agency, to consist of the SciTech Scholarship and the GI Bill
8 for the New Economy.
9 (b) Issuance of grants.--The agency may provide scholarship
10 grants to an eligible student who is a resident of this
11 Commonwealth upon confirmation from an approved educational
12 institution that the student is enrolled in an approved course
13 of study. Scholarship grants shall only be for the amount set
14 forth in sections 5(a) and 6(a) and shall only be used for
15 tuition and mandatory fees.
16 (c) The department, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania
17 Human Resources Investment Council, shall establish a list of
18 approved courses of study for the program.
19 (d) Other funding.--Prior to making a grant under this act,
20 the agency shall first apply Federal Pell Grant and State grants
21 available to tuition and mandatory fees related to an
22 undergraduate program prior to determining the amount of the
23 scholarship grant.
24 (e) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship grant under this
25 section, a student shall meet all of the following requirements:
26 (1) Graduation from a high school in this Commonwealth,
27 or earned general educational development (GED) diploma or
28 the equivalent thereof.
29 (2) Maintenance of domicile in Pennsylvania during the
30 term of the scholarship grants.
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1 (3) Compliance with any conditions placed on the
2 scholarship grant by the agency or by the department in
3 consultation with the Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment
4 Council.
5 (4) Maintenance of a grade point average of 3.0 or
6 higher, on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent, beginning with
7 the first semester of the freshman year and through the term
8 of the scholarship or in the last year of high school if the
9 student is applying under section 5 or 6.
10 (5) Enter into a written agreement with the agency to:
11 (i) Satisfy all degree, diploma or certificate
12 requirements and other requirements under this act.
13 (ii) Commence employment in this Commonwealth within
14 one year after completion of an approved undergraduate
15 degree or certificate program for a period of one year
16 for each academic year the student received a scholarship
17 grant under this act unless the agency determines that
18 there are extenuating circumstances.
19 (iii) Reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts
20 received under this act and interest thereon, as
21 determined by the agency, if the student fails to comply
22 with subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
23 (f) Application.--A student shall apply to the agency for a
24 scholarship grant as prescribed by the agency, to include the
25 provision of all information and documentation required by the
26 agency. The application of a student under 18 years of age shall
27 include the signature of a parent or guardian. The application
28 shall include a verified statement of grade point average from
29 the appropriate educational institution.
30 (g) Work requirement.--The work requirement under subsection
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1 (e)(5)(ii) shall begin after the receipt of bachelor's or
2 associate's degree or other appropriate certificate from an
3 approved educational institution.
4 (h) Termination.--If a student terminates enrollment in the
5 approved educational institution during the academic year or
6 prior to completion of the approved course of study, the
7 approved education institution shall notify the agency in
8 writing and shall return all unused portions of the scholarship
9 grant. Returned amounts shall be used to fund other scholarship
10 grants under this act.
11 (i) Transfer.--A scholarship under this act is only
12 transferrable to another educational institution if approved by
13 the agency.
14 (j) Limitation.--Grants awarded under the program shall be
15 limited to funds appropriated for that purpose. First priority
16 for awarding grants shall be given to renewal applicants.
17 Thereafter, grants shall be awarded on a first-come, first-
18 served basis.
19 Section 5. SciTech Scholarships.
20 (a) Amount of grants.--The agency shall award a SciTech
21 Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 per academic year, or a
22 lesser amount following application of Federal and State grants
23 under section 4(d) to a student enrolled full time in an
24 approved educational institution pursuing a bachelor's degree.
25 The student shall take at least 12 semester hours, or its
26 equivalent, in an approved course of study.
27 (b) Term of grant.--A grant shall be awarded beginning no
28 earlier than the second academic year of enrollment in an
29 approved educational institution. The grant shall be for a
30 maximum of three academic years or for up to four academic years
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1 if the student is enrolled in an approved course of study that,
2 according to the agency, requires five academic years to
3 complete. In order to qualify for renewals beyond three years,
4 the student must be in compliance with the requirements of
5 section 4(e) and the agency must determine that the student is
6 making satisfactory progress toward completing a degree.
7 (c) Internship.--A student who accepts a grant under this
8 section shall complete a college-approved or university-approved
9 internship or work experience in a science, technology or
10 related field with an employer located in this Commonwealth
11 prior to receiving a bachelor's degree. The student shall comply
12 with any conditions placed upon the internship by the agency or
13 by the department in consultation with the Pennsylvania Human
14 Resources Investment Council. Proof of completion of the
15 internship or work experience requirements must be submitted to
16 the agency prior to graduation, unless otherwise authorized by
17 the agency.
18 Section 6. GI Bill for the New Economy.
19 (a) Amounts of grants.--The agency shall award a GI Bill for
20 the New Economy scholarship in the amount of $1,000 per academic
21 year or a lesser amount following application of Federal or
22 State grants under section 4(d) to a student enrolled full time
23 in an approved educational institution pursuing an associate's
24 degree or in a private licensed school that has an academic
25 program approved by the agency. A student who is enrolled part
26 time and is an incumbent worker pursuing an associate's degree
27 or other specialized program approved by the agency is eligible
28 for a grant of 20% of tuition and mandatory fees.
29 (b) Term of grant.--The grant shall be for a maximum of two
30 academic years or for up to three academic years if the student
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1 is enrolled in an approved course of study that, according to
2 the agency, requires three academic years to complete. In order
3 to qualify for a grant three times, the student must be in
4 compliance with section 4(d) and the institution must determine
5 that the student is making satisfactory progress toward
6 completing an associate's degree or the requirements of the
7 certificate program.
8 (c) Exception.--The agency may waive the one-year employment
9 requirement for an incumbent worker for extenuating
10 circumstances related to the student's employment within the
11 last year.
12 Section 7. Eligibility.
13 (a) Minors.--A person under 18 years of age who otherwise
14 qualifies for a scholarship grants under section 4 shall not be
15 disqualified based upon age.
16 (b) Ineligibility.--The agency may deny a scholarship grant
17 to a student who is convicted under section 8.2 of the act of
18 January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), known as Providing
19 Scholarships to Qualified Students.
20 (c) Fraud.--Any person who knowingly or intentionally
21 procures, obtains or aids another to procure or obtain a grant
22 under this act through fraudulent means shall be disqualified
23 from participation in the program and shall be liable to the
24 agency for an amount equal to three times the amount obtained.
25 Section 8. Administration.
26 (a) Verification.--The agency shall monitor and verify a
27 student's fulfillment of all internship and work requirements
28 under this act.
29 (b) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all
30 scholarship grants for a student who does not comply with the
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1 provisions of this act, to include use of all lawful collection
2 procedures and the use of private collection agencies.
3 (c) Tax.--Scholarship grants received by a student from the
4 program shall not be considered taxable income for purposes of
5 Article III of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as
6 the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
7 (d) Financial assistance.--Scholarship grants received by a
8 student from the program shall not be considered financial
9 assistance or appropriations to the approved educational
10 institution.
11 (e) Customized job training.--No funds under this act shall
12 be granted to a person enrolled in a customized job training
13 partnership program or continuing education course from a
14 postsecondary educational institution for which an employer is
15 providing over 50% of the financial support, directly or
16 indirectly, and for which the student is not being charged
17 tuition or fees.
18 (f) Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to
19 22 Pa. Code Ch. 121 (relating to student financial aid).
20 (g) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations and
21 procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
22 Section 9. Annual report.
23 (a) Development of report.--The agency shall publish a
24 report by September 1, 2000, and every year thereafter. The
25 report shall include information regarding the operation of the
26 program to include:
27 (1) Total students receiving scholarship grants in both
28 the SciTech Scholarship and the GI Bill for the New Economy
29 programs.
30 (2) Total number of students who withdraw from the
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1 program or internship or work requirements.
2 (3) The number of full-time and part-time students
3 receiving scholarship grants attending four-year educational
4 institutions, community colleges, independent two-year
5 colleges, private licensed schools and certificate programs
6 reported by institution and category of institution.
7 (b) Submission.--The annual report shall be submitted to the
8 Governor, the department and the CHAIRMEN AND MINORITY CHAIRMEN <--
9 OF THE Appropriations and Education Committees of the Senate and
10 the House of Representatives.
11 Section 10. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect July 1, 1999, or immediately,
13 whichever is later.
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