AL
Alabama Senate Bill SB175

Alabama 2023 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Bill SB175 Compare Versions

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44 By Senators Orr, Albritton, Livingston, Butler, Allen,
55 Waggoner, Roberts, Jones
6-RFD: Conference Committee on SB175
6+RFD: Finance and Taxation Education
77 First Read: 05-Apr-23
8-2023 Regular Session
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16-Enrolled, An Act,
15+SYNOPSIS:
16+Existing law does not provide a financial
17+incentive for an adult learner who has earned some
18+college credits to return to college to complete their
19+degree.
20+This bill would establish the ReEngage Alabama
21+Grant Program, administered through the Alabama
22+Commission on Higher Education, to provide grant award
23+payments to assist eligible adult learners returning to
24+college to complete a degree that is linked to
25+Alabama's high demand workforce needs.
26+A BILL
27+TO BE ENTITLED
28+AN ACT
1729 To establish the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program; to
1830 provide grant award payments to eligible adult learners; to
1931 provide eligibility standards, and to provide for
20-administration by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education;
21-relating to grants for short-term credentials; to establish
22-the Alabama Short-Term Credential Scholarship Program to
23-provide grants to Alabama residents to help them earn
24-short-term credentials; to determine eligible recipients; to
25-establish procedures for administering the program; to set
26-forth the process by which the program will be funded; and to
27-repeal the Alabama Apprenticeship Tax Credit Act commencing
28-with Section 40-18-422, Code of Alabama 1975.
32+administration by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
2933 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
30-Section 1. This article shall be known and may be cited
31-as the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program.
32-Section 2. The purpose of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
34+Section 1. The purpose of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
3335 Program is to do all of the following:
3436 (1) Increase the number of Alabama adults with college
35-degrees.
36-(2) Encourage adults who have earned some college
37-credit hours to return to college, enroll, and complete a
38-college degree program that is connected with workforce
39-development needs and aligned with Alabama's high demand
40-occupations list.
41-(3) Provide financial assistance to adult learners of
42-the state for postsecondary education in the state.
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72-Section 3. For the purposes of this article the
73-following terms have the following meanings:
66+degrees.
67+(2) Encourage adults who have earned some college
68+credit hours to return to college, enroll, and complete a
69+college degree program that is connected with workforce
70+development needs and aligned with Alabama's high demand
71+occupations list.
72+(3) Provide financial assistance to adult learners of
73+the state for postsecondary education in the state.
74+Section 2. For the purposes of this act the following
75+terms shall have the following meanings:
7476 (1) ACADEMIC TERM. A portion of an academic year, such
7577 as a quarter or semester, during which an institution of
7678 higher education holds classes including, but not limited to,
7779 fall, winter, spring, or summer semesters.
7880 (2) ADULT LEARNER. An individual who is 25 years of age
7981 or older and returning to college.
8082 (3) ALABAMA RESIDENT. An individual who has been
8183 classified as an in-state resident by an authorized
8284 institution, who has established residency within this state
8385 for at least a 12-month period prior to the beginning of the
8486 term for which financial assistance is requested, and who is
8587 in this state for other than a temporary purpose.
8688 (4) APPROVED INSTITUTION. A state-supported institution
8789 of higher education or a private nonprofit institution of
8890 higher education that satisfies all of the following:
8991 a. Is accredited by the Southern Association of
90-Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or the Council on
91-Occupational Education.
92+Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
9293 b. Is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid
93-program funds.
94-c. Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.
95-(5) AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION. An approved institution
96-that files a signed agreement with the commission to comply
97-with all rules and procedures of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
98-Program as provided by the commission.
99-(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
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123+program funds.
124+c. Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.
125+(5) AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION. An approved institution
126+that files a signed agreement with the commission to comply
127+with all rules and procedures of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
128+Program as provided by the commission.
129+(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
129130 Education.
130131 (7) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT. When an adult learner is
131132 making academic progress toward degree completion without a
132133 stop-out in enrollment of more than one consecutive semester
133134 or quarter, such as Fall/Winter to Spring, Spring to
134135 Summer/Fall, or Summer to Fall.
135136 (8) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM. A nonsectarian, secular
136137 educational program that is aligned with Alabama's high demand
137138 workforce needs adopted by the Alabama Committee on
138139 Credentialing and Career Pathways.
139140 (9) ELIGIBLE STUDENT. An individual who completed the
140141 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), who is in
141142 pursuit of his or her first associate or baccalaureate degree,
142143 who satisfies the criteria set out in this act, and who is
143144 found to be eligible by rules adopted by the commission.
144145 (10) GRANT. A financial award by the State of Alabama
145146 to defray the cost of tuition and mandatory fees to an
146147 eligible adult learner who is currently enrolled in an
147148 authorized institution.
148149 (11) PROGRAM. The ReEngage Alabama Grant Program
149150 created by this act.
150-(12) YEAR. An academic year that shall be divided into
151-Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. The term does not mean
152-calendar or fiscal year.
153-Section 4. (a) The program shall be administered by the
154-commission, which may adopt any rules necessary for the
155-administration of the program.
156-(b) The commission shall adopt standards for awarding
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180+(12) YEAR. An academic year that shall be divided into
181+Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. The term does not mean
182+calendar or fiscal year.
183+Section 3. (a) The program shall be administered by the
184+commission, which may adopt any rules necessary for the
185+administration of the program.
186+(b) The commission shall adopt standards for awarding
186187 grant payments to an eligible adult learner who satisfies all
187188 of the following:
188189 (1) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
189190 United States.
190191 (2) Is a resident of Alabama.
191192 (3) Has not attended a postsecondary education
192193 institution for at least two years prior to their current
193194 enrollment.
194-Section 5. To be eligible for the grant award, an
195+Section 4. (a) To be eligible for the grant award, an
195196 applicant shall satisfy all of the following:
196197 (1) Be classified as an undergraduate student with the
197198 completion of at least 36 credit hours for an associate degree
198199 or at least 72 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree of a
199200 college degree program that is connected with workforce
200201 development needs and aligned with Alabama's high demand
201202 occupations list adopted by the Alabama Committee on
202203 Credentialing and Career Pathways.
203204 (2) Show proof of residency.
204205 (3) Have good academic standing as defined by the
205206 institution.
206207 (4) Has been accepted to or is enrolled as a full-time
207-or part-time student in an eligible program in an authorized
208-institution leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree
209-and has not attended a postsecondary education institution at
210-least two years prior.
211-(5) Satisfies continuing eligibility each term by
212-enrolling in six hours or more per term continuously as
213-established by the commission.
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243-Section 6. (a) The program shall be used to provide
237+or part-time student in an eligible program in an authorized
238+institution leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree
239+and has not attended a postsecondary education institution at
240+least two years prior.
241+(5) Satisfies continuing eligibility each term by
242+enrolling in six hours or more per term continuously as
243+established by the commission.
244+Section 5. (a) The program shall be used to provide
244245 grant award payments for eligible adult learners up to the
245246 maximum award amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for
246247 universities and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)
247248 for community colleges per academic semester for a full-time
248249 student. Proportional awards shall be given for students
249250 taking six to 11 hours and students enrolled in less common
250251 academic terms, such as quarters, summer terms, and
251252 intersessions.
252253 (b) Each grant shall be renewable for the number of
253254 terms normally required by the institution for the course of
254255 study in which the adult learner is enrolled as long as the
255256 student is continuously enrolled until the student receives an
256257 associate degree or a baccalaureate degree. The commission
257258 shall grant a renewal upon verification that the student
258259 remains an eligible student.
259260 (c) Grant award payments shall be distributed directly
260261 to the approved institution on behalf of the student during
261262 the applicable year.
262263 (d) The requirements of this act are contingent upon
263264 available funding for the program.
264-(e) The commission shall determine the necessary
265-procedures for awarding grant award payments if the number of
266-eligible applicants and recipients exceeds available funding.
267-(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be
268-nonreverting.
269-(g) A percentage of the grant program's appropriations
270-may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the
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294+(e) The commission shall determine the necessary
295+procedures for awarding grant award payments if the number of
296+eligible applicants and recipients exceeds available funding.
297+(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be
298+nonreverting.
299+(g) A percentage of the grant program's appropriations
300+may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the
300301 program.
301302 (h) Each authorized institution that enrolls an adult
302303 learner who is eligible for the tuition and mandatory fees
303304 benefits provided by this program shall take necessary action
304305 to ensure that the student is aware of all other benefits that
305306 he or she may be entitled to under any other federal and state
306307 educational benefits, and any student grant or scholarship. In
307308 order to receive the benefits provided by this program, the
308309 student shall take the necessary steps to utilize all of the
309310 above benefits.
310-Section 7. (a) The commission shall provide an annual
311-report to the Chair of the House Ways and Means Education
312-Committee and the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation
313-Education Committee to account for the use of funds and the
314-effectiveness of the grant program established under this
315-article.
316-(b) The commission shall consult with the Alabama
317-Commission on the Evaluation of Services to develop
318-performance metrics and other measures of success to include
319-in the annual report required pursuant to subsection (a).
320-During the 2027 Fiscal Year, the program shall undergo an
321-evaluation by the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of
322-Services to determine whether the program is impacting the
323-determined measures of success.
324-Section 8. This article shall be known and may be cited
325-as the Alabama Short-Term Credential Scholarship Program.
326-Section 9. The following words used in this article
327-have the following meanings.
311+Section 6. This act shall become effective on the first
312+day of the third month following its passage and approval by
313+the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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357-(1) ELIGIBLE STUDENT. An Alabama resident who is
358-registered for or intends to register to take a short-term
359-credential program at an institution within the Alabama
360-Community College System.
361-(2) GRANT. A payment made to an institution within the
362-Alabama Community College System to be applied toward an
363-eligible student's qualifying educational expenses for a
364-short-term credential program.
365-(3) QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES. Tuition, fees,
366-books, materials, and supplies required for or on behalf of an
367-eligible student by the Alabama Community College System
368-institution for participation in a short-term credential
369-program.
370-(4) SHORT-TERM CREDENTIAL PROGRAM. A program at an
371-Alabama Community College System institution that can be
372-completed in two semesters or less and that will lead to
373-in-demand career opportunities in the region in which the
374-community college where the course is taken is located. In
375-developing the short-term credential program, each community
376-college shall work with local businesses and regional
377-workforce councils and consult the regional and statewide
378-lists of in-demand occupations to determine the in-demand
379-careers and applicable curriculum.
380-Section 10. (a) There is hereby established a
381-short-term credential program that will provide grants to help
382-pay for qualifying educational expenses for eligible students
383-at any Alabama Community College System institution.
384-(b) An eligible student may receive a grant of up to
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414-four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) that shall be paid
415-to the Alabama Community College System institution where the
416-eligible student enrolls in a short-term credential program
417-and shall be applied toward the eligible student's qualifying
418-educational expenses required to complete a credit or
419-non-credit short-term credential program that provides
420-training for in-demand careers in the relevant region.
421-(c) One-half of the grant shall be paid to the Alabama
422-Community College System institution within five days after
423-the eligible student's first day of class in the short-term
424-credential program, and the other one-half of the grant shall
425-be paid within five days after the eligible student's
426-completion of the short-term credential program. The second
427-one-half of the grant shall not be paid if the eligible
428-student does not complete the course, and in such a situation,
429-the eligible student shall be responsible for paying the
430-outstanding balance of any tuition or other fees owed to the
431-Alabama Community College System institution at which the
432-course was taken. If the eligible student does not complete
433-the short-term credential program within one calendar year
434-from the first day of the program's commencement, that
435-individual must repay the State of Alabama the initial
436-one-half of the grant that was paid to the Alabama Community
437-College System institution on his or her behalf.
438-(d) An eligible student who receives a grant under this
439-article may not receive another grant until one calendar year
440-after he or she completes the short-term credential program
441-for which the prior grant was awarded.
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471-Section 11. The Alabama Community College System shall
472-do all of the following:
473-(1) Adopt any policies and procedures necessary to
474-implement and administer this article.
475-(2) Establish standards for participation and
476-eligibility to receive a grant under this article.
477-(3) Establish the process by which eligible students
478-will apply for a grant.
479-(4) Ensure that grants provided under this article are
480-awarded in a manner that does not discriminate based on
481-gender, race, or disability status of the applicant.
482-(5) Ensure that all grant applicants are residents of
483-the State of Alabama.
484-(6) Ensure that all funding provided under this article
485-is expended for the sole purpose of helping to pay the
486-eligible student's qualifying educational expenses.
487-Section 12. (a) There is created within the State
488-Treasury a fund to be known as the Short-Term Credential
489-Scholarship Fund, which is authorized to accept funds
490-appropriated by the Legislature in the general appropriations
491-act or other appropriations acts.
492-(b) The grants provided under this article shall be
493-effective on January 1, 2024, and shall continue through
494-December 31, 2028, unless extended by an act of the
495-Legislature.
496-Section 13. (a) The Alabama Community College System
497-shall provide an annual report to the Chair of the House Ways
498-and Means Education Committee and the Chair of the Senate
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528-Finance and Taxation Education Committee to account for the
529-use of funds and the effectiveness of the grant program
530-established under this article.
531-(b) The Alabama Community College System shall consult
532-with the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services to
533-develop performance metrics and other measures of success to
534-include in the annual report required pursuant to subsection
535-(a). During the 2027 Fiscal Year, the program shall undergo an
536-evaluation by the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of
537-Services to determine whether the program is impacting the
538-determined measures of success.
539-Section 14. The Apprenticeship Tax Credit, Chapter 18
540-of Title 40, commencing with Section 40-18-422, Code of
541-Alabama 1975, is repealed effective December 31, 2024, unless
542-extended by an act of the Legislature prior to that date for
543-no more than five additional years.
544-Section 15. This act shall become effective on the
545-first day of the third month following its passage and
546-approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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567-________________________________________________
568-President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
569-________________________________________________
570-Speaker of the House of Representatives
571-SB175
572-Senate 27-Apr-23
573-I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
574-the Senate.
575-Senate 01-Jun-23
576-I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
577-the Senate, as amended by Conference Committee Report.
578-Patrick Harris,
579-Secretary.
580-House of Representatives
581-Amended and passed: 25-May-23
582-House of Representatives
583-Passed 01-Jun-23, as amended by Conference Committee Report.
584-By: Senator Orr
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