HB496 By Representatives Wingo, Ainsworth, Ford, Grimsley, Holmes (M), Crawford, Fincher, Drake, Clouse, Sessions, Chesteen, Gaston, Farley, Garrett, Rich, Ledbetter, Williams (JW), Hanes, Patterson, Wood, Rowe, Faulkner, Shedd, Harper, South, Mooney and Whorton (I) RFD Ways and Means Education Rd 1 11-APR-17

SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the Fostering Hope Scholarship Act of 2015 provides for payment of tuition for persons currently or formerly in the foster care program, including children adopted at the age of 14 or older, to attend public two-year or four-year institutions of higher education in the state.

This bill would make the scholarships available for anyone adopted from the state foster care program at the age of seven or more and provide for limited retroactive effect.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to the Fostering Hope Scholarship Act of 2015; to amend Sections 38-12B-2 and 38-12B-6, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the age requirements for scholarships to any person adopted from the state foster care program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Sections 38-12B-2 and 38-12B-6 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§38-12B-2.

"(a) The State Department of Human Resources shall develop and administer Fostering Hope, a scholarship program for designated persons currently or formerly in the state foster care program, including children adopted from the program at the age of 14 seven or older and children adopted in the 12 months preceding the effective date of the act adding this language who were at least seven years of age but less than 14 years of age at the time of adoption. Commencing with the 2016-2017 academic year, the program, on behalf of participants, shall do either of the following:

"(1) Pay for tuition and required fees at any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state.

"(2) Pay required fees for job training courses or skill certifications that are offered by any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state or other publicly funded training programs in the state, and not considered an associate's degree, if the courses or certifications are first approved by the department.

"(b) Payments of tuition and required fees are considered program scholarships.

§38-12B-6.

"(a) To be eligible to participate in the program, a scholarship applicant shall satisfy all of the following:

"(1) Be in the legal custody of the foster care program of the department at the time of graduation from high school or earning a General Educational Development (GED) high school equivalency certification; or in the permanent legal custody of the foster care program of the department when his or her adoption is finalized, at 14 seven years of age or older, and has graduated from high school or earned a GED certification; or was in the permanent legal custody of the foster care program when his or her adoption was finalized, the adoption was finalized in the 12 months preceding the effective date of the act adding this language, and he or she was at least seven years of age but less than 14 years of age at the time of the adoption.

"(2) Have net personal assets worth less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), subject to adjustment by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources to account for inflation.

"(3) Is younger than 26 years of age at the start of the semester, training program, or certification program for which tuition or fees are requested from the program.

"(4) Is accepted for enrollment in a degree-granting, training, or certification program, or is enrolled and working toward a degree, certificate, or completion of a job training program, at a public two-year or four-year institution of higher education or publicly funded training program in the state.

"(5) Is making adequate progress toward the completion of a degree, certification, or training program as determined by rule promulgated by the department.

"(6) Has completed and submitted to the United States Department of Education a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the equivalent, before each year in which he or she receives a Fostering Hope scholarship. He or she shall have applied for all federal student financial aid grants, including Pell grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, and Education and Training Vouchers, identified as being available for the student's application by the department or by Federal Student Aid, an office of the United States Department of Education, or its successor agency.

"(b) To be eligible to participate in the program after the first year of participation, an applicant shall also satisfy all of the following:

"(1) Complete, after the first academic year in which he or she receives a Fostering Hope scholarship, annual volunteer service requirements or employment requirements pursuant to rules promulgated by the department.

"(2) Remain in good standing with the policies established by the college, university, or other training or certification program in the state in which he or she is enrolled.

"(c) Scholarship funds may be disbursed only if sufficient funding for the Fostering Hope program is available."

Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Foster Care

Foster Child

Children

Scholarships

Popular Names

Code Amended