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1 H.819
2 Introduced by Representatives Masland of Thetford, Anthony of Barre City,
3 and Beck of St. Johnsbury
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Education; postsecondary education; Vermont Student Assistance
7 Corporation; scholarships and grants
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require grants
9 and scholarships awarded by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
10 (VSAC) to be used at the University of Vermont, Vermont State Colleges, or
11 Vermont independent colleges. It also proposes to require VSAC to issue a
12 written report with information on the amount of funds awarded over the last
13 five fiscal years in grants and scholarships and used at schools located outside
14 Vermont, with the General Assembly considering an appropriation in the
15 average annual amount of such funds to the Vermont State Colleges.
16 An act relating to the portability of Vermont Student Assistance
17 Corporation grants and scholarships VT LEG #373042 v.1
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1 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
2 * * * Incentive Grants * * *
3 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 2841 is amened to read:
4 § 2841. ESTABLISHMENT; RULES
5 A need-based grant program is hereby established to aid students who need
6 financial assistance and are pursuing undergraduate studies and give promise
7 of completing satisfactorily a degree program or who have been accepted for
8 admission to an approved postsecondary education institution for
9 undergraduate studies to the Vermont State Colleges, the University of
10 Vermont, or a Vermont independent college. The Board may establish rules,
11 regulations, and standards for the awards under this subchapter.
12 Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 2842 is amended to read:
13 § 2842. ELIGIBILITY
14 (a) To qualify for an incentive grant for the first year of undergraduate
15 study, a student must be in attendance at an approved postsecondary education
16 institution the Vermont State Colleges, the University of Vermont, or a
17 Vermont independent college or be accepted for admission and be enrolled as a
18 full-time or part-time student at such an institution. For each year following
19 the first year of undergraduate study, the student must have been certified by
20 the institution attended to be in good standing and to give promise of
21 satisfactory completion of a course of study leading to a degree or diploma.
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1 ***
2 Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 2844 is amended to read:
3 § 2844. AMOUNT RECEIVED; PRORATION
4 (a) Each undergraduate student who qualifies for an incentive grant shall
5 apply on forms provided by the Corporation. The Corporation may consider
6 the student for an incentive grant if the student meets the need-based eligibility
7 standards established by the Board. These standards shall give due
8 consideration to all relevant factors affecting the student’s need, including the
9 adjusted gross income and other sources of income of the student’s parents; the
10 adjusted gross income and other sources of income of a nondependent student;
11 the assets of parents and students; the number of a parent’s or nondependent
12 student’s children who are students enrolled in approved postsecondary
13 education institutions at the same time; and any unusual circumstances that
14 affect the family financial strength. Incentive grants shall be awarded on a
15 rolling basis to eligible applicants based upon established need, and in total
16 amount shall not exceed the funds made available from legislative
17 appropriation or other sources. In no case shall a student’s award be larger
18 than that needed to attend the approved postsecondary education institution of
19 the student’s choice.
20 (b) The Corporation may prorate incentive grants on the basis of semesters,
21 other recognized portions of a school year, or course load.
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1 (c) Vermont resident students enrolled at the Medical College of the
2 University of Vermont or enrolled in a program located in Vermont leading to
3 the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine shall be eligible to apply for an
4 incentive grant and shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this
5 section. In addition, veterinary students shall be eligible for grants not to
6 exceed twice the amount of the average grant award made to full-time
7 undergraduate students in the previous year under subsection (a) of this
8 section.
9 * * * Advancement Grants * * *
10 Sec. 4. 16 V.S.A. § 2846 is amended to read:
11 § 2846. ADVANCEMENT GRANTS
12 (a) The Corporation may establish an advancement grant program for
13 residents pursuing nondegree education and training opportunities who do not
14 meet the definition of student in subdivision 2822(3) of this title, and who may
15 not meet the requirements of this subchapter.
16 (b) Advancement grants may be used at institutions that are not approved
17 postsecondary education institutions, provided the institution is located in
18 Vermont.
19 ***
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1 * * * Honor Scholarships * * *
2 Sec. 5. 16 V.S.A. § 2851 is amended to read:
3 § 2851. ESTABLISHMENT
4 Vermont Honor Scholarships are hereby established for secondary school
5 seniors who plan to attend an approved postsecondary education institution the
6 Vermont State Colleges, the University of Vermont, or a Vermont independent
7 college.
8 Sec. 6. 16 V.S.A. § 2854 is amended to read:
9 § 2854. AMOUNT; NUMBER; DISBURSEMENT
10 (a) Each Vermont Honor Scholarship shall be an equal amount and no not
11 less than $1,000.00 as determined by the Board.
12 (b) Each secondary school, or a border school serving Vermont secondary
13 school students, may nominate a senior for a Vermont Honor Scholarship.
14 (c) The Scholarship shall be disbursed to the approved postsecondary
15 education institution at which the recipient enrolls.
16 * * * Portability Savings * * *
17 Sec. 7. PORTABILITY SAVINGS; VERMONT STATE COLLEGES
18 (a) On or before September 1, 2024, the Vermont Student Assistance
19 Corporation shall submit a written report to the General Assembly with the
20 following information for fiscal years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024:
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1 (1) the number of incentive grants used at postsecondary education
2 institutions located outside of Vermont as well as the total number of funds
3 awarded pursuant to such grants;
4 (2) the number of advancement grants used at postsecondary education
5 institutions located outside of Vermont as well as the total number of funds
6 awarded pursuant to such grants; and
7 (3) the number of Honor Scholarships used at postsecondary education
8 institutions located outside of Vermont as well as the total number of funds
9 awarded pursuant to such scholarships.
10 (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to use the data and information
11 from the report required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to consider
12 awarding the annual average amount of funds awarded as incentive grants,
13 advancement grants, and Honor Scholarships and used in postsecondary
14 education institutions located outside Vermont to the Vermont State Colleges.
15 * * * Effective Date * * *
16 Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE
17 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
VT LEG #373042 v.1

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-2842, 16-2844, 16-2846, 16-2851, 16-2854