SB 1194 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in military educational programs, establishing the Military College Educational Assistance Program; and making editorial changes.

PRIORHOUSE AMENDED PRINTER'S NO.

15701904 PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.NOS.

1570, 1758 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

WARD AND COSTA, APRIL 11, 2022 SENATORAS STEFANO,REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNESEPTEMBER 14, 2022 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in military educational programs, establishing the Military College Educational Assistance Program;

and making editorial changes.changes.ational Assistance The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

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

"Early Commissioning Program." The United States Army ROTC program that allows a graduate of a military junior college to become a commissioned officer in thetwo reserveyears componentsin TWOthe <--reserve YEARSor INNational THEGuard RESERVEcomponents. OR NATIONAL GUARD COMPONENTS.

"Full-time student." An eligible member enrolled in an approved institution of higher learning pursuing an approved degree-producing program of education equal to or greater than 12 credit hours per semester or its equivalent that is 20220SB1194PN1904 - 2 - recognized by the agency as a full-time course of study.

20220SB1194PN1758 - 2 - "Military college." The Valley Forge Military College of Pennsylvania.

The term does not include room and board, <-- books or technical fees.fees, BOARD OR BOOKS.

<-- "Program." The Military College Educational Assistance Program established under section 3222 (relating to Military College Educational Assistance Program).

The program shall begin no later than the 2023-2024 2024-2025 academic year.

<-- (b) Funding.--Money in the Educational Assistance Program Fund shall be used to provide benefits under this subchapter and may not be used for any other purpose or be transferred or diverted to any other purpose by administrative action.

An eligible member may apply for participation in the program 20220SB1194PN1904 - 3 - if the eligible member does or meets all of the following:

20220SB1194PN1758 - 3 - (1) Has been a satisfactory participant in Pennsylvania National Guard activities for a minimum service period established by the Adjutant General or is a former eligible member and has received a discharge other than a dishonorable discharge.

The service obligation to the Pennsylvania National Guard shall be two years as a cadet in the military college and six EIGHT years as a commissioned <-- officer.

(8) Provides a militaryletter college Professor of Militaryacceptance <--into Sciencethe letterEarly ofCommissioning recommendation.Program.

(9)20220SB1194PN1904 Provides- a4 letter- of§ acceptance3224. into the Early Commissioning Program.

20220SB1194PN1758 - 4 - § 3224.

(2) An eligible member who voluntarily or involuntarily becomes disenrolled from ROTC and is eligible to continue military service shall remain in the Pennsylvania National 20220SB1194PN175820220SB1194PN1904 - 5 - Guard as an enlisted soldier.

20220SB1194PN175820220SB1194PN1904 - 6 - (c) Amount.--Benefits awarded under this subchapter shall be <-- determined by the agency without regard to financial need and may not exceed for each academic year the lesser of:

(C) AMOUNT.--BENEFITS AWARDED UNDER THIS SUBCHAPTER SHALL <-- BE:

(1) IN YEAR ONE AND TWO, THE RATE OF MILITARY COLLEGE TUITION FOR THE APPROVED ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE-PRODUCING PROGRAM;

AND (2) THEREAFTER, THE ANNUAL TUITION RATE CHARGED BY A STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE ELIGIBLE MEMBER'S FIRST BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

(3) A benefit under this subchapter shall be paid or refunded to the eligible member for approved costs of 20220SB1194PN1904 - 7 - attendance.

(e) Adjustments.--If the agency and the Adjutant General determine that the amount appropriated for the program in any 20220SB1194PN1758 - 7 - year will be insufficient to provide benefits in the amounts specified in this section to each eligible member, the agency and the department may reduce the maximum amount of the benefits proportionately or set a limit on the number of participants to ensure that sums expended do not exceed appropriations.

The Adjutant General shall notify the agency if an eligible member fails to complete the service obligation and the promissory note under section 3225(b) 20220SB1194PN1904 - 8 - (relating to benefit) shall be repaid by the eligible member upon demand of the agency on a schedule as the agency may determine.

(b) Forgiveness of recoupment.--Upon notification by the Adjutant General, the agency shall forgive recoupment of all or part of an eligible member's benefit payments if the Adjutant General determines that the eligible member's failure to fulfill the eight-year service obligation is the result of one of the 20220SB1194PN1758 - 8 - following:

The Adjutant General shall promulgate regulations to carry 20220SB1194PN1904 - 9 - out the provisions of this chapter.

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