2021 -- H 5424

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH

AND FAMILIES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Place, Chippendale, Nardone, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 107.1

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RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

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SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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     16-107.1-1. Short Title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Department of Children,

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Youth and Families Scholarship Program”.

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     16-107.1-2. Establishment of scholarship program.

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     The general assembly shall annually appropriate the funds necessary to implement the

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purposes of this chapter. Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated to support

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and advance the Rhode Island department of children, youth and families scholarship program. In

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addition to appropriation by the general assembly, charitable donations may be accepted into the

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scholarship program.

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     16-107.1-3. Definitions.

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     When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form;

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     (2) "Mandatory fees and tuition" are the costs that every student is required to pay in order

 

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to enroll in classes, and for room and board, textbooks, program fees that may exist in some majors,

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course fees that may exist for some specific courses or travel;

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     (3) "Recipient student" means a student attending Rhode Island College who qualifies to

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receive the Rhode Island department of children, youth and families scholarship pursuant to § 16-

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107.1-5;

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     (4) "Scholarship program" means the Rhode Island department of children, youth and

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families scholarship program that is established pursuant to § 16-107.1-2; and

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     (5) "State" means the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

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     16-107.1-4. Administration of scholarship program.

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     (a) The financial aid office, in conjunction with the office of enrollment management or

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their respective equivalent offices, at Rhode Island College, shall administer the scholarship

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program for recipient students in the care and custody of the department of children, youth and

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families, who meet the eligibility requirements in this chapter.

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     (b) An award of the scholarship program shall cover the cost of tuition, room and board,

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and mandatory fees, less federal and all other financial aid monies available to the recipient student.

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     (c) The scholarship program is limited to one award per student as required by § 16-107.1-

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5(a)(5).

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     16-107.1-5. Eligibility for scholarship.

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     (a) Beginning with the students who enroll at Rhode Island College in fall of 2021, to be

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considered for the scholarship, a student:

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     (1) Must qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by

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the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified

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from time to time ("residency policy"); provided, that, the student must have satisfied the high

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school graduation/equivalency diploma condition prior to reaching nineteen (19) years of age;

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provided, further, that in addition to the option of meeting the requirement by receiving a high

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school equivalency diploma as described in the residency policy, the student can satisfy the

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condition by receiving other certificates or documents of equivalent nature from the state or its

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municipalities as recognized by applicable regulations promulgated by the council on elementary

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and secondary education;

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     (2) Must be admitted to, and must enroll and attend Rhode Island College on a full-time

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basis by the semester immediately following high school graduation or the semester immediately

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following receipt of a high school equivalency diploma;

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     (3) Must complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification by the deadline

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prescribed by Rhode Island College for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding

 

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under the scholarship program;

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     (4) Must continue to be enrolled on a full-time basis; and

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     (5) Must not have already received an award under this scholarship program.

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     16-107.1-6. Rules and procedures.

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     The council on postsecondary education is hereby authorized to promulgate rules to

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effectuate the purposes of this chapter and Rhode Island College shall establish appeal procedures

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for the award, denial, or revocation of funding under the scholarship program. The rules shall be

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promulgated in accordance with § 16-59-4.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH

AND FAMILIES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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     This act would provide that a student in the care and custody of the department of children,

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youth and families may attend Rhode Island College without the payment of tuition and room and

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board as long as they meet admission criteria of Rhode Island College.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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