Pennsylvania Act 1994-83 — FINANCIAL AID FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION - AMEND

Act text

Session of 1994

No. 1994-83

HB 2372

AN ACT

Amending the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships and providing funds to secure Federal funds for qualified students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial assistance to attend postsecondary institutions of higher learning, making an appropriation, and providing for the administration of this act," further providing for the amount of scholarships and for eligibility for scholarships.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 3 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships and providing funds to secure Federal funds for qualified students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial assistance to attend postsecondary institutions of higher learning, making an appropriation, and providing for the administration of this act," is amended to read:

Section 3. As used in this act--

(1) "Financial need" means the need of the full-time student , or the student enrolled on a less than full-time basis but enrolled on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or according to standards and tests of financial need approved by the agency.

(2) "Approved institution of higher learning." Approved institution of higher learning shall mean any institution of higher learning approved by the agency.

(3) "Approved high school." Approved high school means any public high school located in the Commonwealth, and any public or private secondary school, whether designated as a high school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise, located in the Commonwealth or elsewhere, which in the judgment of the Department of Public Instruction, provides a course of instruction, at the secondary level, and maintains standards of instruction substantially equivalent to those of the public high schools located in the Commonwealth.

(4) "Full-time student." The term shall have the meaning given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or standards except that it shall not include individuals incarcerated in a penal institution.

(5) "Half-time student." The term shall have the meaning given to it by the agency in its rules, regulations or standards except that it shall not include individuals incarcerated in a penal institution.

Section 2. Section 4(a)(4) and (d) of the act, amended December 18, 1969 (P.L.383, No.169), are amended to read:

Section 4. (a) Any student is eligible for consideration for a State scholarship providing:

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(4) He is enrolled, or will be enrolled in the fall semester immediately following his secondary school graduation or his date of application, as a full-time student or as less than a full-time student but as at least a half-time student, at an institution of higher learning: Provided, however, That failure to enroll in the fall semester immediately following secondary school graduation shall not render ineligible a student who entered service in the military forces of the United States, the Peace Corps or Volunteers in Service to America, during the fall semester immediately following his secondary school graduation;

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(d) Undergraduate awards granted during the first year under this act will be limited to freshmen students at institutions of higher learning. Awards will be renewable for the next three academic years. In the case of students enrolled in five-year undergraduate academic programs approved by the agency and established by institutions of higher learning, awards may be renewed for the next four academic years. In the case of students enrolled in five year work study programs, approved by the agency and established by institutions of higher education, awards may be renewed for the next four academic years, provided that the total scholarship funds awarded to any student during the five year period shall not exceed the amount to which such student would have been entitled had his educational program been completed in a period of four academic years.

Section 3. Section 7(a) of the act, amended December 20, 1989 (P.L.652, No.80), is amended to read:

Section 7. (a) All scholarship awards will be based on the applicant's financial need[, the] . The minimum scholarship award [being one hundred dollars ($100) per academic year, the] shall be determined annually by the board of directors of the agency. The maximum scholarship [shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per academic year and the maximum scholarship award] shall be established annually by the board of directors of the agency at a [maximum] level not to exceed [two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)] three thousand dollars ($3,000) so as to keep expenditures within the funds available through reenactment of appropriations as provided for under the act of March 28, 1974 (P.L.228, No.50), relating to the forward funding of PHEAA grant program and/or from funds appropriated or made available from State, Federal or other sources for grants during any fiscal year.

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Section 4. Section 8(a) of the act is amended to read:

Section 8. (a) Each State scholarship is renewable until the [course] program of study is completed, but not to exceed an additional three academic years beyond the first year of the award[.] or beyond an additional four academic years for students enrolled in five-year undergraduate programs of study approved by the agency. These may not necessarily be consecutive years and the scholarship will be terminated if the student receives his degree in a shorter period of time. Qualifications for renewal will include maintaining satisfactory academic standing, making normal progress toward completion of the course of study, and continued eligibility as determined by the agency including continual legal residency.

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Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 8.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of this act relating to otherwise eligible students who are enrolled on a less than full-time but at least a half-time basis as defined by the agency or who are enrolled for a fifth academic year in five-year undergraduate programs of study, the board of directors of the agency shall annually determine the eligibility of students within these categories based on the appropriations approved pursuant to this act.

Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 5th day of October, A. D. 1994.

ROBERT P. CASEY