HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1555, 1711 PRINTER'S NO. 1818
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1150
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MARTIN, K. WARD, PITTMAN, AUMENT, ARGALL,
PENNYCUICK, LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, MASTRIANO, REGAN, STEFANO,
VOGEL AND J. WARD, APRIL 26, 2024
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JULY 11, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An <--
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," establishing the Grow Pennsylvania
6 Scholarship Grant Program; and imposing powers and duties on
7 the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
8 AMENDING THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), ENTITLED "AN <--
9 ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, INCLUDING CERTAIN
10 PROVISIONS APPLICABLE AS WELL TO PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL
11 SCHOOLS; AMENDING, REVISING, CONSOLIDATING AND CHANGING THE
12 LAWS RELATING THERETO," IN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER
13 EDUCATION, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS AND PROVIDING
14 FOR GROW PENNSYLVANIA MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; PROVIDING
15 FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, FOR GROW PENNSYLVANIA
16 SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM AND FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS;
17 IN READY-TO-SUCCEED SCHOLARSHIP, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR
18 AGENCY; AND MAKING A REPEAL.
19 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
20 hereby enacts as follows:
21 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known <--
22 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
23 article to read:
24 ARTICLE XXVI-M
 1 GROW PENNSYLVANIA SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM
2 Section 2601-M. Definitions.
3 The following words and phrases when used in this article
4 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5 context clearly indicates otherwise:
6 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
7 Agency.
8 "Approved course of study." A program offered by an
9 institution of higher education that provides instruction in
10 agriculture, computer science, criminal justice, business,
11 education, special education, STEM education, engineering,
12 nursing, allied health, trades or other in-demand occupations
13 approved by the agency in consultation with the Independent
14 Fiscal Office.
15 "Grant." A Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant awarded under
16 this article.
17 "In-demand occupation." A job that is in demand by employers
18 in this Commonwealth, requires a high level of skill and is
19 likely to provide family sustaining wages.
20 "Institution of higher education." Either of the following:
21 (1) An institution of higher learning that is located in
22 this Commonwealth and approved by the agency for enrollment
23 of grant recipients under the act of January 25, 1966 (1965
24 P.L.1546, No.541), referred to as the Higher Education
25 Scholarship Law.
26 (2) An institution of higher education established under
27 Article XIX-G.
28 "Program." The Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program
29 established under this article.
30 "STEM." Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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 1 "Student." A resident of this Commonwealth who attends or is
2 about to attend an institution of higher education.
3 "Trade." A program offered by the Pennsylvania College of
4 Technology and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
5 Section 2602-M. Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program.
6 The Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program is
7 established within the agency.
8 Section 2603-M. Agency duties.
9 The agency shall:
10 (1) Administer the program and, in its sole discretion,
11 award grants to students who submit a completed application
12 and satisfy the eligibility criteria in paragraph (4). The
13 agency shall develop an application form that students may
14 use to apply for a grant. The application of a student under
15 18 years of age must include the signature of a parent or
16 guardian.
17 (2) Use money appropriated for the purpose of awarding
18 grants.
19 (3) Award a grant to a student in an amount of $5,000
20 per academic year or a lesser amount if the total amount of
21 Federal and State grants available to the student exceeds the
22 educational cost as determined by the agency.
23 (4) Establish eligibility criteria in order for a
24 student to receive a grant. The criteria shall, at a minimum,
25 include that a student must:
26 (i) Be a resident of this Commonwealth as defined by
27 the agency.
28 (ii) Be enrolled in person in an approved course of
29 study, except that a person may take occasional online
30 courses.
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 1 (iii) Enter into a written agreement with the agency
2 to:
3 (A) Satisfy all degree requirements and other
4 requirements under this article.
5 (B) Commence employment in this Commonwealth
6 within one year after completion of an approved
7 course of study culminating in a bachelor's or
8 associate's degree. The employment must be in an in-
9 demand occupation, as determined by the agency, for a
10 period of 15 months for each academic year the
11 student received a grant, unless the agency
12 determines that there are extenuating circumstances.
13 (C) Reimburse the Commonwealth the aggregate
14 amount of a scholarship received under this article
15 if the student fails to comply with clauses (A) and
16 (B). The agency, in its discretion, may charge
17 interest. For a student who partially satisfies the
18 work requirement, the agency shall prorate the
19 required reimbursement.
20 (5) Monitor and verify a student's compliance with the
21 agreement and enforce repayment of all grants for a student
22 who does not comply with the provisions of this section,
23 including use of all lawful collection procedures. Nothing
24 under this paragraph shall be construed to require an
25 institution of higher education to enforce any provision of
26 this article relating to repayment of funds for failure to
27 comply with the provisions of this section.
28 Section 2604-M. Term of grant.
29 A grant shall be for a maximum of four academic years.
30 Section 2605-M. Grant priority.
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 1 Grants shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
2 and in subsequent years first priority for awarding grants shall
3 be given to renewal applicants.
4 Section 2606-M. Limitations.
5 The number of grants shall be limited to the amount of money
6 appropriated to the agency for the program.
7 Section 2607-M. Termination.
8 (a) General rule.--If a student terminates enrollment in the
9 approved course of study during the academic year or prior to
10 completion of the approved course of study, the institution of
11 higher education shall notify the agency in writing and shall
12 return any unused portion of the grant to the agency.
13 (b) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
14 construed to change a student's eligibility for a grant if the
15 student terminates enrollment in one approved course of study
16 and enrolls in a different course of study.
17 Section 2608-M. Reimbursed and returned money.
18 Money reimbursed and returned under sections 2603-M and 2607-
19 M shall be used to provide additional grants.
20 Section 2609-M. Exception.
21 The agency shall postpone the work requirement under section
22 2603-M for extenuating circumstances, as determined by the
23 agency, or if the student enrolls in a higher level degree
24 program. A student that enrolls in a higher level degree program
25 must provide the agency with documentation showing continual
26 status as a full-time student in order to be given a
27 postponement by the agency under this section.
28 Section 2610-M. Taxation.
29 Grants received by a student shall not be considered taxable
30 income for purposes of Article III of the act of March 4, 1971
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 1 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
2 Section 2611-M. Construction.
3 Nothing in this article shall be construed to disqualify an
4 institution of higher education from receipt of money under the
5 act of July 18, 1974 (P.L.483, No.174), known as The
6 Institutional Assistance Grants Act.
7 Section 2612-M. Duties of Independent Fiscal Office.
8 The Independent Fiscal Office shall provide advice to the
9 agency with regard to the identification of in-demand
10 occupations. No later than December 31, 2024, and each year
11 thereafter, the Independent Fiscal Office shall develop and
12 transmit a list of in-demand occupations to the agency. In the
13 development of the list of in-demand occupations, the
14 Independent Fiscal Office shall consult with the Department of
15 Labor and Industry, business and industry trade associations,
16 employee organizations and other parties that may provide
17 information beneficial to the development of the list.
18 Section 2613-M. Public outreach.
19 The system shall actively advertise and market the program to
20 resident students and include information about the program on
21 the home page of the system's publicly accessible Internet
22 website.
23 Section 2614-M. Report.
24 The agency shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the
25 General Assembly no later than December 31, 2025, and no less
26 than every three years thereafter, a report detailing the
27 operation of the program. The report shall, at a minimum,
28 include:
29 (1) A list of the in-demand occupation for what grants
30 may be sought.
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 1 (2) The number of grant applicants.
2 (3) The number of grants awarded to students.
3 (4) The number of grants awarded to students by approved
4 course of study.
5 (5) The number of grants awarded to students by
6 institution of higher education.
7 (6) The average value of a grant award.
8 (7) The number of grant recipients that are employed and
9 meeting the work requirement under section 2603-M(4)(iii)(B).
10 (8) The number of grant recipients that are employed and
11 meeting the work requirement by occupation.
12 (9) The number of grant recipients that have not met the
13 work requirement.
14 (10) The amount of money reimbursed to the Commonwealth
15 by grant recipients that have not met the work requirement.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
17 SECTION 1. SECTION 2001-A OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 <--
18 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, IS
19 AMENDED TO READ:
20 SECTION 2001-A. DEFINITIONS.--THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND
21 PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
22 ARTICLE, HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS, RESPECTIVELY, EXCEPT IN
23 THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES A DIFFERENT
24 MEANING:
25 [(1)] "AFFILIATED ENTITY" SHALL MEAN A PRIVATE NONPROFIT
26 CORPORATION WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BENEFITING THE STATE SYSTEM
27 OF HIGHER EDUCATION OR A STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITY.
28 "AGENCY" SHALL MEAN THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION
29 ASSISTANCE AGENCY.
30 "APPROVED COURSE OF STUDY" SHALL MEAN A PROGRAM OFFERED BY AN
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 1 INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE, COMPUTER
2 SCIENCE, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, STEM EDUCATION,
3 ENGINEERING, NURSING, ALLIED HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR OTHER
4 PROGRAMS ALIGNED TO IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS APPROVED BY THE
5 AGENCY.
6 [(1.1)] "BOARD" SHALL MEAN THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
7 STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
8 "CAMPUS POLICE" SHALL MEAN ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL
9 EMPLOYED BY THE SYSTEM WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A CAMPUS
10 POLICE COURSE OF TRAINING APPROVED UNDER 53 PA.C.S. CH. 21
11 SUBCH. D (RELATING TO MUNICIPAL POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING).
12 [(2)] "CHANCELLOR" SHALL MEAN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
13 THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
14 [(3)] "COALITION BARGAINING" SHALL MEAN TWO (2) OR MORE
15 EMPLOYERS BARGAINING JOINTLY WITH ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYES IN A
16 PARTICULAR CATEGORY OR BARGAINING UNIT SO THAT ONE COLLECTIVE
17 PROCESS WOULD DETERMINE THE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL
18 EMPLOYERS IN THE APPROPRIATE UNITS INVOLVED.
19 [(4)] "COMMISSION" SHALL MEAN THE PRESIDENTS OF THE SEVERAL
20 INSTITUTIONS.
21 [(4.1)] "COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA" SHALL MEAN
22 THE INSTITUTION COMPRISED OF BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY OF
23 PENNSYLVANIA, LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND
24 MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AS CONSOLIDATED UNDER
25 SECTION 2002-A.
26 [(5)] "COUNCIL" SHALL MEAN THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF THE
27 INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS.
28 [(6)] "DEFERMENT" SHALL MEAN ANY AUTHORIZED DELAY IN THE
29 PAYMENT BY A STUDENT OF ALL OR PART OF HIS TUITION FEE, CHARGES
30 FOR ROOM AND BOARD, APPLICATION FEE, STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE, OR
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 1 ANY OTHER CHARGE OR FEE.
2 [(6.1)] "EDUCATION RECORD" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IN
3 THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 (PUBLIC
4 LAW 90-247, 20 U.S.C. § 1232G). ((6.1) ADDED JULY 1, 2020,
5 P.L.558, NO.50)
6 [(7)] "EMPLOYER" SHALL MEAN THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
7 STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS THE SUCCESSOR EMPLOYER TO
8 THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
9 [(8)] "GRADUATE ASSISTANT" MEANS A GRADUATE STUDENT
10 APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND ASSIGNED TO A FACULTY OR STAFF
11 MEMBER TO ASSIST IN RESEARCH, INSTRUCTION AND OTHER RELATED
12 PROFESSIONAL DUTIES.
13 "GROUNDS" SHALL MEAN ALL LANDS AND BUILDINGS OWNED,
14 CONTROLLED, LEASED OR MANAGED BY THE SYSTEM AND ALL HIGHWAYS,
15 TRAFFICWAYS AND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES THAT TRAVERSE
16 OR ABUT SUCH LANDS AND BUILDINGS.
17 [(9)] "HIGHER EDUCATION" SHALL INCLUDE ANY ORGANIZED PROGRAM
18 OF INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH OR SERVICE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH A
19 FIELD OF ORGANIZED KNOWLEDGE, RELATED THEORY, AND ASSOCIATED
20 PRACTICE OR APPLICATION OF SKILLS AND WHICH LEADS TO A DEGREE;
21 THAT IS, THE WORK IS CREDITABLE TOWARD A DEGREE.
22 "IN-DEMAND OCCUPATION" SHALL MEAN A JOB THAT IS IN DEMAND BY
23 EMPLOYERS IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF SKILL
24 AND IS LIKELY TO PROVIDE FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES.
25 [(9.1)] "INITIAL MEMBER" SHALL MEAN A TRUSTEE SERVING ON THE
26 COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AS OF JUNE 30, 2022, FOR AN INSTITUTION
27 CONSOLIDATED UNDER SECTION 2002-A THAT HAS BEEN NOMINATED AND
28 APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
29 [(10)] "INSTITUTION" SHALL MEAN EACH OF THE STATE-OWNED
30 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF, OR
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 1 HEREAFTER CREATED, AND INCLUDING ITS PERSONNEL, AND ITS PHYSICAL
2 PLANT, INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT, RECORDS AND ALL OTHER PROPERTY
3 THEREOF.
4 [(10.1)] "INTEGRATED COUNCIL" SHALL MEAN EACH OF THE
5 FOLLOWING:
6 (1) THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY OF
7 PENNSYLVANIA.
8 (2) THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN
9 UNIVERSITY.
10 "MAINTENANCE PROJECTS" SHALL MEAN THOSE ACTIVITIES,
11 MATERIALS, LABOR AND CONTRACTS NECESSARY TO REPLACE, RESTORE,
12 REFURBISH OR ENHANCE REAL PROPERTY WHICH DO NOT ALTER THE
13 ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STRUCTURE,
14 AS FOLLOWS: PAINTING; WINDOW REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT; ROOF REPAIR
15 AND REPLACEMENT; REPOINTING AND MASONRY REPAIR; DOWNSPOUT AND
16 GUTTERS; LANDSCAPING; ROADWAYS, PARKING FACILITIES, TRACK AND
17 ATHLETIC COURT RESURFACING AND RECONSTRUCTION; SIDEWALK AND
18 CURBING RECONSTRUCTION AND REPLACEMENT; ASBESTOS ABATEMENT (IN
19 ACCORDANCE WITH ALL FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS);
20 CAULKING AND INSULATION; AND REPLACEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION AND
21 CONSTRUCTION OF NON-LOAD-BEARING INTERIOR WALLS. NO SUCH PROJECT
22 SHALL AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF ANY EXISTING FACILITY
23 OR UTILITY SYSTEM.
24 "MERIT SCHOLARSHIP" SHALL MEAN THE WAIVER OF AN AMOUNT EQUAL
25 TO THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN TUITION FOR A RESIDENT AND
26 NONRESIDENT STUDENT.
27 [(10.2)] "PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN UNIVERSITY" SHALL MEAN THE
28 INSTITUTION COMPRISED OF CALIFORNIA UNIV