The bill establishes the Hathaway career and technical institution scholarship, aimed at providing financial assistance to eligible students attending career and technical institutions in Wyoming. It defines "career and technical institution" as a postsecondary educational entity that offers training and education in various fields to prepare students for employment. The scholarship will cover costs associated with obtaining industry-recognized credentials, certificates, or associate degrees, with awards contingent on available funding. Eligibility criteria include maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.50 and achieving a specified score on a national examination or a career technical aptitude test. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Education in administering the scholarship, including rulemaking and reporting requirements.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to incorporate the new scholarship program, specifying that the term "eligible institution" will now include career and technical institutions for the purpose of awarding these scholarships. It modifies the distribution of funds from the Hathaway scholarship expenditure account, ensuring that a portion is allocated to the new scholarship. The reporting requirements are expanded to include career and technical institutions, which must report on the use of scholarship funds. The first cohort of students eligible for this scholarship will graduate in the 2025-2026 school year, and the act will take effect immediately upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0246 v0.3: 21-16-1301, 21-16-1302, 21-16-1309, 21-16-1311