SB 175 — To establish the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program; to provide grant award payments to eligible adult learners; to provide eligibility standards, and to provide for administration by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education; relating to grants for short-term credentials; to establish the Alabama Short-Term Credential Scholarship Program to provide grants to Alabama residents to help them earn short-term credentials; to determine eligible recipients; to establish procedures for administering the program; to set forth the process by which the program will be funded; and to repeal the Alabama Apprenticeship Tax Credit Act commencing with Section 40-18-422, Code of Alabama 1975.

SB175 ENROLLED A C T #2023 - 6YXW3Z-2 By Senators Orr, Albritton, Livingston, Butler, Allen, WWaggoner, aggoner, Roberts, Jones RFD:

{1)(1) Increase the number of Alabama adults with college degreesdegrees. .

(2) Encourage adults who have earned some college credit hours to return to college.college, enroll, and complete a college degree program that is connected with workforce development needs and aligned with Alabama's high demand occupations list.

enroll, and complete a college degree program that is connected with workforce development needs and aligned with Alabama ’s high demand occupations list.

For the purposes of this article the following terms have the following meanings;meanings:

A portion of an academic year, such as a quarter or semester, during which an institution of higher education holds classes including, but not limited to, Fall, WinterWinter, ,Spring, Spring , or Summer semesters.

(3)ALABAMA(3) ALABAMA RESIDENT.

(4)APPROVED(4) APPROVED INSTITUTION.

aa. .

The Alabama Commission on Higher Page 2 SB175 EEnrolled nrolledEducation. E d u cati.

n (7) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT.

When an adult learner is making academic progress toward degree completion without a stop-out in enrollment of more than one consecutive semester or quarter, such as Fall/Winter to Spring, Spring to Summer/FallSummer/Fall, , or Summer to Fall.

An individual who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), who is in pursuit of his or her first associate or baccalaureate degree.degree, who satisfies the criteria set out in this act, and who is found to be eligible by rules adopted by the commission.

who satisfies the criteria set out in this act, and who is found to be eligible by rules adopted by the commission.

(a) The program shall be administered by the commission.commission, which may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the program.

which may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the program.

(3) Has not attended a postsecondary education institution for at least two years prior to their current enrollmentenrollment. .

95 (1) Be classified as an undergraduate student with the completion of at least 36 credit hours for an associate degree or at least 72 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree of a college degree program that is connected with workforce development needs and aligned with AlabamaAlabama's ’s high demand occupations list adopted by the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways.

(3) Have good academic standing as defined by the institutioninstitution. .

Page 4 SB175 EEnrolled nrolled Section 6.

Proportional awards shall be given for students taking six to 11 hours and students enrolled in less common academic terms, such as quarters, Summer terms, and intersessionsintersessions. .

(f)Any(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be nonrevertingnonreverting. .

(g)A(g) A percentage of the grant program's appropriations may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the Page 5 SB175 EEnrolled nrolledprogram. p ro g r.

m (h) Each authorized institution that enrolls an adult learner who is eligible for the tuition and mandatory fees benefits provided by this program shall take necessary action to ensure that the student is aware of all other benefits that he or she may be entitled to under any other federal and state educational benefits, and any student grant or scholarship.

(a) The commission shall provide an annual report to the Chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee and the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee to account for the use of funds and the effectiveness of the grant program established under this articlearticle. .

Tuition, fees, books, materialsmaterials, , and supplies required for or on behalf of an eligible student by the Alabama Community College System institution for participation in a short-term credential programprogram. .

(c) One-half of the grant shall be paid to the Alabama Community College System institution within five days after the eligible studentstudent's ’s first day of class in the short-term credential program, and the other one-half of the grant shall be paid within five days after the eligible student's completion of the short-term credential program.

The second one-half of the grant shall not be paid if the eligible student does not complete the course, and in such a situation.situation, the eligible student shall be responsible for paying the outstanding balance of any tuition or other fees owed to the Alabama Community College System institution at which the course was taken.

If the eligible student shalldoes benot responsiblecomplete forthe payingshort-term credential program within one calendar year from the outstandingfirst balanceday of anythe tuitionprogram's orcommencement, otherthat feesindividual owedmust repay the State of Alabama the initial one-half of the grant that was paid to the Alabama Community College System institution aton whichhis theor courseher wasbehalf. taken.

If the eligible student does not complete the short-term credential program within one calendar year from the first day of the program ’s commencement, that individual must repay the State of Alabama the initial one-half of the grant that was paid to the Alabama Community College System institution on his or her behalf.

(4) Ensure that grants provided under this article are awarded in a manner that does not discriminate based on gendergender, , race, or disability status of the applicant.

{5)(5) Ensure that all grant applicants are residents of the State of Alabama.

(b) The grants provided under this article shall be effective on January 1, 2024, and shall continue through December 31, 2028, unless extended by an act of the LegislatureLegislature. .

Page 10 SB175 Enrolled ________________________________________________ President and PrPresiding iding Officer of the Senate S________________________________________________ pSpeaker eakof eothe fHouse tof oiiseorRepresentatives I SB175 Senate 27-Apr-23 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed the SenateSenate. .

Senate Ol-Jun-2301-Jun-23 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed the Senate, as amended by Conference Committee Report.

Patrick Harris, SecretarySecretary. .

25-May-23 House of Representatives Passed Ol-Jun-23,01-Jun-23, as amended by Conference Committee Report.

SSenator eOrr nPage a11 tO rr TIME Alabama SecretaryOfState Act Num...:

2023-539 Bill Num..:

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