The bill amends the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship program to make students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the Community College of Rhode Island eligible for financial aid. Key provisions include the introduction of definitions for "accredited certificate" and the requirement for students to graduate with an accredited certificate or associate degree within two years of enrollment, with recognition that some professional programs may require additional time.

The bill outlines eligibility criteria, allowing students who enrolled in a postsecondary institution immediately following high school graduation or receipt of a high school equivalency diploma, and who remained for only one semester, to qualify for the scholarship if they enroll in the Community College of Rhode Island in the subsequent semester. It also permits students to defer initial enrollment for one semester with an approved written request and reason.

The act is set to take effect upon passage, expanding access to the scholarship for students pursuing accredited certificates or associate degrees.