AL
Alabama House Bill HB271

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB271 Compare Versions

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1+HB271INTRODUCED
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33 HB271
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55 By Representative Collins
66 RFD: Ways and Means Education
77 First Read: 13-Feb-25
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12-5 HB271 Engrossed
12+5 J5KQFNN-1 02/07/2025 KMS (L)cr 2025-453
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1414 First Read: 13-Feb-25
15+SYNOPSIS:
16+Under existing law, the ReEngage Alabama Grant
17+Program administered by the Alabama Commission on
18+Higher Education provides grant award payments to adult
19+learners pursuing a first associate or baccalaureate
20+degree to assist them in earning short-term
21+credentials.
22+This bill would decrease the minimum age of an
23+adult learner from 25 to 22 years of age and older.
24+This bill would also include as an eligible
25+student an individual who, in addition to other
26+specific criteria, has not previously received a grant
27+award and is pursuing a first baccalaureate degree
28+following a two-year stop-out period after receiving
29+his or her first associate degree.
1530 A BILL
1631 TO BE ENTITLED
1732 AN ACT
18-Relating to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education
33+Relating to the Alabama Commission on Higher Educatio
1934 and the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program; to amend Sections
2035 16-33D-3 and 16-33D-6, Code of Alabama 1975, to decrease the
2136 minimum age of an adult learner from 25 to 22 years of age and
22-older; and to provide further for the definition of an
23-eligible student.
24-BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
25-Section 1. Sections 16-33D-3 and 16-33D-6 of the Code
26-of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
27-"§16-33D-3
28-For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
29-have the following meanings:
30-(1) ACADEMIC TERM. A portion of an academic year, such
31-as a quarter or semester, during which an institution of
32-higher education holds classes including, but not limited to,
33-Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer semesters.
34-(2) ADULT LEARNER. An individual who is 25 22 years of
35-age or older and returning to college.
36-(3) ALABAMA RESIDENT. An individual who has been
37-classified as an in-state resident by an authorized
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66+minimum age of an adult learner from 25 to 22 years of age and
67+older; and to provide further for the definition of an
68+eligible student.
69+BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
70+Section 1. Sections 16-33D-3 and 16-33D-6 of the Code
71+of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
72+"§16-33D-3
73+For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
74+have the following meanings:
75+(1) ACADEMIC TERM. A portion of an academic year, such
76+as a quarter or semester, during which an institution of
77+higher education holds classes including, but not limited to,
78+Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer semesters.
79+(2) ADULT LEARNER. An individual who is 25 22 years of
80+age or older and returning to college.
81+(3) ALABAMA RESIDENT. An individual who has been
6782 classified as an in-state resident by an authorized
6883 institution, who has established residency within this state
6984 for at least a 12-month period prior to the beginning of the
7085 term for which financial assistance is requested, and who is
7186 in this state for other than a temporary purpose.
7287 (4) APPROVED INSTITUTION. A state-supported institution
7388 of higher education or a private nonprofit institution of
7489 higher education that satisfies all of the following:
7590 a. Is accredited by the Southern Association of
7691 Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges , or the Council on
7792 Occupational Education.
7893 b. Is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid
7994 program funds.
80-c. Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.
81-(5) AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION. An approved institution
82-that files a signed agreement with the commission to comply
83-with all rules and procedures of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
84-Program as provided by the commission.
85-(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
86-Education.
87-(7) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT. When an adult learner is
88-making academic progress toward degree completion without a
89-stop-out in enrollment of more than one consecutive semester
90-or quarter, such as Fall/Winter to Spring, Spring to
91-Summer/Fall, or Summer to Fall.
92-(8) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM. A nonsectarian, secular
93-educational program that is aligned with Alabama's high demand
94-workforce needs adopted by the Alabama Committee on
95-Credentialing and Career Pathways.
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124+program funds.
125+c. Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.
126+(5) AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION. An approved institution
127+that files a signed agreement with the commission to comply
128+with all rules and procedures of the ReEngage Alabama Grant
129+Program as provided by the commission.
130+(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
131+Education.
132+(7) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT. When an adult learner is
133+making academic progress toward degree completion without a
134+stop-out in enrollment of more than one consecutive semester
135+or quarter, such as Fall/Winter to Spring, Spring to
136+Summer/Fall, or Summer to Fall.
137+(8) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM. A nonsectarian, secular
138+educational program that is aligned with Alabama's high demand
139+workforce needs adopted by the Alabama Committee on
125140 Credentialing and Career Pathways.
126141 (9) ELIGIBLE STUDENT. An individual who completed the
127142 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), who is in
128143 pursuit of his or her first associate or first baccalaureate
129144 degree, or who is in pursuit of his or her first baccalaureate
130145 degree following a two-year stop-out period after receiving
131146 his or her first associate degree and who did not previously
132147 receive a grant award, who satisfies the criteria set out in
133148 this chapter, and who is found to be eligible by rules adopted
134149 by the commission.
135150 (10) GRANT. A financial award by the State of Alabama
136151 to defray the cost of tuition and mandatory fees to an
137152 eligible adult learner who is currently enrolled in an
138-authorized institution.
139-(11) PROGRAM. The ReEngage Alabama Grant Program
140-created by this chapter.
141-(12) YEAR. An academic year that shall be divided into
142-Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. The term does not mean
143-calendar or fiscal year.
144-"§16-33D-6
145-(a) The program shall be used to provide grant award
146-payments for eligible adult learners up to the maximum award
147-amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for universities and
148-one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for community
149-colleges per academic semester for a full-time student.
150-Proportional awards shall be given for students taking six to
151-11 hours and students enrolled in less common academic terms,
152-such as quarters, Summer terms, and intersessions.
153-(b) Each grant shall be renewable for the number of
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182+eligible adult learner who is currently enrolled in an
183+authorized institution.
184+(11) PROGRAM. The ReEngage Alabama Grant Program
185+created by this chapter.
186+(12) YEAR. An academic year that shall be divided into
187+Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. The term does not mean
188+calendar or fiscal year.
189+"§16-33D-6
190+(a) The program shall be used to provide grant award
191+payments for eligible adult learners up to the maximum award
192+amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for universities and
193+one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for community
194+colleges per academic semester for a full-time student.
195+Proportional awards shall be given for students taking six to
196+11 hours and students enrolled in less common academic terms,
197+such as quarters, Summer terms, and intersessions.
183198 (b) Each grant shall be renewable for the number of
184199 terms normally required by the institution for the course of
185200 study in which the adult learner is enrolled as long as the
186201 student is continuously enrolled until the student receives an
187202 his or her first associate degree or a his or her first
188203 baccalaureate degree or his or her first baccalaureate degree
189204 following a two-year stop-out period after receiving his or
190205 her first associate degree and did not previously receive a
191206 ReEngage grant award . The commission shall grant a renewal
192207 upon verification that the student remains an eligible
193208 student.
194209 (c) Grant award payments shall be distributed directly
195210 to the approved institution on behalf of the student during
196-the applicable year.
197-(d) The requirements of this chapter are contingent
198-upon available funding for the program.
199-(e) The commission shall determine the necessary
200-procedures for awarding grant award payments if the number of
201-eligible applicants and recipients exceeds available funding.
202-(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be
203-nonreverting.
204-(g) A percentage of the grant program's appropriations
205-may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the
206-program.
207-(h) Each authorized institution that enrolls an adult
208-learner who is eligible for the tuition and mandatory fees
209-benefits provided by this program shall take necessary action
210-to ensure that the student is aware of all other benefits that
211-he or she may be entitled to under any other federal and state
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240+to the approved institution on behalf of the student during
241+the applicable year.
242+(d) The requirements of this chapter are contingent
243+upon available funding for the program.
244+(e) The commission shall determine the necessary
245+procedures for awarding grant award payments if the number of
246+eligible applicants and recipients exceeds available funding.
247+(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be
248+nonreverting.
249+(g) A percentage of the grant program's appropriations
250+may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the
251+program.
252+(h) Each authorized institution that enrolls an adult
253+learner who is eligible for the tuition and mandatory fees
254+benefits provided by this program shall take necessary action
255+to ensure that the student is aware of all other benefits that
241256 he or she may be entitled to under any other federal and state
242257 educational benefits, and any student grant or scholarship. In
243258 order to receive the benefits provided by this program, the
244259 student shall take the necessary steps to utilize all of the
245260 above benefits."
246261 Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
247262 1, 2025.
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255-1, 2025.
256-House of Representatives
257-Read for the first time and referred
258-to the House of Representatives
259-committee on Ways and Means
260-Education
261-................13-Feb-25
262-Read for the second time and placed
263-on the calendar:
264- 1 amendment
265-................27-Feb-25
266-Read for the third time and passed
267-as amended
268-................1-Apr-25
269-Yeas 103
270-Nays 0
271-Abstains 0
272-John Treadwell
273-Clerk
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