SB 53 — An Act amending the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the Higher Education Scholarship Law, further providing for eligibility for State scholarship.

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34 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

94653 THE2017 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFGREENLEAF, PENNSYLVANIASCAVELLO, SENATESCARNATI, BILLVULAKOVICH, SessionJANUARY 12, 2017, BAKER, FONTANA, WARD, COSTA AND HAYWOOD, REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 12, 2017 AN ACT Amending the act of No.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 eligibility for State scholarship.

53 2017 INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, SCAVELLO, SCARNATI, VULAKOVICH, HUGHES, BROWNE AND BREWSTER, JANUARY 12, 2017, HAYWOOD, AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, JUNE 13, 2017 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 eligibility for State scholarship.

(ii) If the institution is headquartered and domiciled through incorporation or charter in this CommonwealthCommonwealth, AND THE <-- INSTITUTION IS AN ELIGIBLE SCHOOL, AS DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM DURING THE 2016-2017 AWARD YEAR, the scholarship recipient shall be eligible for the scholarship award regardless of whether the program of study or the scholarship recipient's term enrollment is 100% online or blended with classroom credits, provided that the scholarship recipient meets all other eligibility requirements as provided in this act and as established by the agency.

(IV) THE AGENCY MAY REQUIRE NECESSARY DATA REPORTING <-- REQUIREMENTS FROM PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, AND THE AGENCY SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGARDING THE IMPACT THAT ONLINE 20170SB0053PN0946 - 2 - EDUCATION HAS ON THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UNDER THIS ACT.

THE REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE, THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE CHAIR AND MINORITY CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(V) THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY CONTROLS, WITH REGARD TO SUBCLAUSES (II) AND (III), TO LIMIT THE IMPACT OF ONLINE EDUCATION AND PROTECT THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UNDER THIS ACT AND AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE AGENCY.

(VI) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "PURCHASING POWER" SHALL BE A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA, AS DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY, THAT COMPARES THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED FOR BY THIS ACT TO THE AVERAGE TUITION AND FEES AS CALCULATED BY THE AGENCY.

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