2017 -- H 5773

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LC001943

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Serpa, Kennedy, O`Grady, and Casey

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 107

RHODE ISLAND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP ACT

     16-107-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Promise Scholarship

Act."

     16-107-2. Legislative findings and purpose.

     (a) The general assembly finds and declares that:

     (1) Education is critical for the state's young people to achieve their dreams and develop

their talents;

     (2) The state's economic success depends on a highly educated and skilled workforce;

and

     (3) The state's future prosperity depends upon its ability to make educational

opportunities beyond high school available for all students as part of a free public education.

     (b) In order to address the findings set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the purposes

of this chapter are to increase:

     (1) The number of students enrolled at the universities, colleges and other postsecondary

institutions in the state; and

     (2) The number of students who complete their degree on time at these institutions.

     16-107-3. Establishment of scholarship program.

     Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2017, it is hereby established the

Rhode Island promise scholarship program. Initial funding for this is to be seeded by the general

assembly and sustained by partnerships with public and private entities that engage in a

memorandum of understanding that internships will be provided for the students receiving

education or field of training, including the vocational trade schools, in exchange for fees that

shall be paid into the program for intern hours by participating entities. Funds shall be placed into

a restricted receipt account at each eligible postsecondary institution to implement the purposes of

this chapter. In addition to appropriation by the general assembly, charitable donations may be

accepted into the scholarship program. Students shall be required to enter into a memorandum of

understanding that their internships are a requirement of free tuition. Municipalities, state

agencies, higher educational facilities, open & closed shop trades, nonprofits, as well as private

industry shall be eligible to enter into this proposed educational program for interns/apprentices.

     16-107-4. Definitions.

     When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     (1) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means any of the universities, colleges and other

postsecondary institutions in the state.

     (2) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.

     (3) "Mandatory fees and tuition" means the costs that every student is required to pay in

order to enroll in classes at the eligible postsecondary institutions, and does not include room and

board, textbooks, meal plans or travel.

     (4) "On track to graduate on time" means the standards determined by the applicable

eligible postsecondary institution in establishing the expectation of a student to graduate with:

     (i) An associate's degree within two (2) years of enrollment; and

     (ii) A bachelor's degree within four (4) years of enrollment.

     (5) "Scholarship program" means the Rhode Island promise scholarship program that is

established pursuant to §16-107-3.

     (6) "State" means the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

     16-107-5. Administration of scholarship program.

     (a) The financial aid office in conjunction with the office of enrollment, or their

respective equivalent offices, at the applicable eligible postsecondary institution, under the

supervision of the council on postsecondary education, shall administer the scholarship program

for state residents seeking associate and bachelor degrees at eligible postsecondary institutions

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who meet the eligibility requirements in this chapter.

     (b) An award of the scholarship program shall cover the cost of two (2) years of tuition

and mandatory fees at the eligible postsecondary institution less federal and all other financial aid

monies available to the recipient-student.

     (c) The scholarship program limits one award per student.

     16-107-6. Eligibility for scholarship.

     (a) Beginning with the students who enroll at an eligible postsecondary institution in the

fall of 2017, to be considered for the scholarship, a student:

     (1) Must qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by

the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise

modified from time to time ("residency policy"); provided, that, the student must have satisfied

the high school graduation/equivalency diploma condition prior to reaching nineteen (19) years of

age; provided, further, that in addition to the option of meeting the requirement by receiving a

high school equivalency diploma as described in the residency policy, the student can satisfy the

condition by receiving other certificates or documents of equivalent nature from the state or its

municipalities as recognized by applicable regulations promulgated by the council on elementary

and secondary education;

     (2)(i) In the case of a recipient-student with regard to the Community College of Rhode

Island, must be admitted to, and must enroll to, attend the institution on a full-time basis by the

fall immediately following high school graduation or receipt of the high school equivalency

diploma; or

     (ii) In the case of a recipient-student with regard to students enrolled at the other

universities, colleges and other postsecondary institutions in the state, must be a currently

enrolled full-time student who has declared a major and accumulated a minimum of sixty (60)

credit hours towards a bachelor's degree at the student's current institution;

     (iii) Must complete the FAFSA by the deadline prescribed by the applicable eligible

postsecondary institution for each academic year in which the student seeks to receive funding

under the scholarship program;

     (iv) Must continue to be enrolled on a full-time basis;

     (v) Must maintain a minimum of two (2.0) grade point average at the applicable eligible

postsecondary institution;

     (vi) Must remain on track to graduate on time at the applicable eligible postsecondary

institution; and

     (vii) Must not have already received an award under the scholarship program.

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     (b) Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements under §§16-107-6(a) ("specified

conditions"):

     (1) In the case of a student who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence

from an eligible postsecondary institution and is unable to satisfy one or more specified

conditions because of the student's medical or personal circumstances, the student may continue

to receive an award under the scholarship program upon resuming the student's education at the

eligible postsecondary institution so long as the student continues to meet all other applicable

eligibility requirements; and

     (2) In the case of a student who is a member of the national guard or a member of a

reserve unit of a branch of the United State military and is unable to satisfy one or more specified

conditions because the student is or will be in basic or special military training, or is or will be

participating in a deployment of the student's guard or reserve unit, the student may continue to

receive an award under the scholarship program upon completion of the student's basic or special

military training or deployment.

     16-107-7. Rules and procedures.

     The council on postsecondary education is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and

establish appeal procedures for the award, denial or revocation of funding under the scholarship

program, and to otherwise effectuate the purposes of this chapter. The rules shall be promulgated

in accordance with §16-59-4.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP

***

     This act would establish a postsecondary education scholarship program to be funded in

part by the state and in partnership with public and private entities that engage in a memorandum

of understanding that internships would be provided for students receiving the education or field

of training. This would include the vocational trade schools. Students would be required to enter

into a memorandum of understanding that their internships are a requirement of free tuition.

Municipalities, state agencies, higher educational facilities, open and closed shop trades, non-

profits, as well as private industry would be able to enter into this proposed educational program

for interns/apprentices. Funding for this program will be a mixture of state funds and fees paid

into the program for intern hours by participating entities.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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