2024 -- S 2559

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LC004703

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE COLLEGE CRUSADE SCHOLARSHIP

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Valverde, Lawson, Lauria, Pearson, DiPalma, Bissaillon,
Acosta, Murray, and Kallman

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 16-70 of the General Laws entitled "The College Crusade

Scholarship [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 16-70

The College Crusade Scholarship [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of

Education Act]

CHAPTER 16-70

THE ONWARD WE LEARN SCHOLARSHIP ACT

     SECTION 2. Sections 16-70-1, 16-70-3, 16-70-4, 16-70-5 and 16-70-6 of the General

Laws in Chapter 16-70 entitled "The College Crusade Scholarship [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the

Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-70-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “College Crusade Scholarship Act.”

"The Onward We Learn Scholarship Act".

     16-70-3. Program for the support of the college crusade established. Program for the

support of the onward we learn scholarship established.

     The council on postsecondary education is empowered to establish and provide as part of

the operation of the office of the postsecondary commissioner methods and procedures for the

state’s support of the college crusade onward we learn scholarship and provide financial and

technical assistance as needed.

     16-70-4. Council on postsecondary education support program — Powers and duties.

     The council on postsecondary education shall have the following powers and duties:

     (1) To prepare with the assistance of the commissioner of postsecondary education and to

present annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4, as part of the state higher

education budget, a line-item budget request specifically designated as the state’s share of support

for the college crusade of Rhode Island the onward we learn scholarship program. The budget shall

be designated as a specific, line-item budget request and shall be presented as part of the budget of

the postsecondary commissioner.

     (2) To provide, through its office of the postsecondary commissioner, the authority to

designate the college crusade of Rhode Island the onward we learn scholarship program, a 501(c)(3)

nonprofit organization registered with the Rhode Island secretary of state, as the entity that will

administer and operate all program services and manage scholarship resources associated with the

federal GEAR UP program.

     16-70-5. Budget and appropriations.

     The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sums as it deems necessary as the

state’s share for the support and maintenance of the college crusade the onward we learn

scholarship program, including operational and scholarship support, and the state controller is

authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the

appropriations upon receipt by him or her of the proper voucher the office of the postsecondary

commissioner may provide. The office of the postsecondary commissioner shall present the

voucher to the state controller no later than the last day of the first month of the fiscal year for

which the appropriation is made and this appropriation shall be remitted to the accounts of the

college crusade of Rhode Island the onward we learn scholarship program by the state treasurer no

later than the last day of the second month of the fiscal year.

     16-70-6. Audit requirements.

     The college crusade of Rhode Island The onward we learn scholarship program shall

complete an annual audit completed by prior to the employment of private auditors. Audit work

papers of the private auditors shall be made available upon request to the auditor general and/or the

director of administration for their review, at the completion of the audit. The audit report shall be

furnished to the auditor general and the director of administration.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 16-70 of the General Laws entitled “Onward We Learn Scholarship

Act” is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     16-70-4.1. Administration of onward we learn scholarship program.

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     Scholarships that onward we learn program participants receive directly from the onward

we learn scholarship program shall not be considered federal or financial aid in conjunction with

chapter 107 of this title ("Rhode Island Promise Scholarship") or chapter 113 of this title ("Rhode

Island hope scholarship pilot program act").

     16-70-4.2 Access to student information systems.

     To ensure that program participants in the onward we learn scholarship program receive

the best possible services and supports, local education agencies (LEAs) whose students participate

in this program shall provide the organization with individual-level access to student information

systems and other data related to established college readiness metrics including, but not limited

to: attendance, course schedule demographics, discipline, grades, and test results.

     SECTION 4. 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 -- THE COLLEGE CRUSADE SCHOLARSHIP

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     This act would change the name of The College Crusade Scholarship to the Onward We

Learn Scholarship and provide that those scholarships would not be considered federal or financial

aid with regard to the Promise Scholarship or Hope Scholarship Pilot Program. The act would also

require that Local Education Agencies provide the program with individual-level access to student

information systems and other data related to established college readiness metrics.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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