Chapter 300

2010 -- S 2525

Enacted 06/25/10

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES' HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY INCENTIVE GRANT

          

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2010

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-72.8-2 and 42-72.8-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72.8

entitled "Department of Children, Youth, and Families' Higher Education Opportunity Incentive

Grant" are hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     42-72.8-2. Administration of program. -- (a) Each year the department shall identify

and recommend from among youth in its legal custody, or who were in the Department's legal

custody on their eighteenth (18th) birthday, those students who may be eligible to apply for a

Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant. The department of elementary and secondary

education shall afford all appropriate assistance to the department in the identification of youth

who may be eligible for such grants. Each selected applicant will receive grants to supplement

federal, state and institutional scholarships, and grants and loans awarded to the applicant in an

amount not to exceed the full cost of tuition, fees and room and board charges:

      (b) A grant period shall be limited to two (2) years of full-time study at the Community

College of Rhode Island, four (4) years of full-time study at Rhode Island College, and the

University of Rhode Island, and in no instance shall the grant period exceed a period of four (4)

years. Grant recipients shall be enrolled full-time and shall continue to make satisfactory progress

toward an academic certificate or degree as determined by the school in which they are enrolled;

      (c) The department shall make recommendations for grant awards from among those

youth who:

      (1) Have not yet reached the age of eighteen (18) on the day of recommendation, are in

the legal custody of the department on the day of recommendation and have remained in such

custody for at least twenty-four (24) months prior to the day of recommendation; or, for former

foster care, have reached the age of eighteen (18) prior to the date of recommendation, have not

yet reached the age of twenty-one (21) and were in the custody of the department from their

sixteenth (16th) to their eighteenth (18th) birthdays; and

      (2) Have graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma

not more than one year prior to the date of recommendation; and

      (3) Has not reached his/her twenty-first (21st) birthday.; except that youth who are

participating in this program on the date before his/her twenty-first (21st) birthday may remain

eligible until his/her twenty-third (23rd) birthday, as long as he/she continues to be considered a

full-time student by Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College or University of

Rhode Island, and is making satisfactory progress, as determined by the school in which he/she is

enrolled, toward completion of his/her degree program.

 

     42-72.8-3. Selection of grant recipients. -- (a) There shall be a grant award selection

committee which shall consist of a representative from each of the institutions of higher education

appointed by their respective presidents, two (2) representatives from the department of children,

youth, and families appointed by the director, one representative from the department of

elementary and secondary education appointed by the commissioner, and one representative from

the office of higher education appointed by the commissioner and representatives of other

organizations that the director of department of children, youth and families believes can help

further the goals of the program.

      (b) Grant awards shall be made on the basis of scholastic record, aptitude, financial need

and general interest in higher education. Recipients must comply with all application deadlines

and criteria for admission to the institution to which the recipient is making application and,

further, the recipient must have been granted admission by the admissions office of the

institution. Cumulative grant awards shall not exceed available appropriations in any fiscal year.

The selection committee department shall adopt rules and regulations, which are reasonably

necessary to implement a process of grant recipient selection.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01260

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