24 LC 49 1635/AP
House Bill 970 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Dickey of the 145
th
, Knight of the 134
th
, Erwin of the 32
nd
, Dempsey of
the 13
th
, Mathis of the 149
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 4 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH)2
Scholarship, so as to provide that victims of human trafficking are eligible for such3
scholarship; to provide for the designation of REACH scholars; to provide for funding; to4
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Part 4 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,8
relating to the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship, is 9
amended by revising paragraph (3) of Code Section 20-3-497, relating to establishment of10
REACH scholarship and student requirements, as follows:11
"(3) Qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program or be a victim of human
12
trafficking;"13
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SECTION 2.
14
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-499, relating to selection of15
REACH scholars, as follows:16
"20-3-499.17
(a) REACH participating school systems shall select each student for the program in the18
spring of the student's seventh grade year or in the fall of his or her eighth grade year, for19
participation beginning in the eighth grade year. REACH participating school systems20
shall develop a rigorous application process to select REACH scholars, including but not21
limited to:22
(1) Identifying all students eligible for federal free or reduced price lunch by:23
(A) Completing the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals form from24
the Georgia Department of Education; or25
(B) Direct certification by meeting one of the following criteria:26
(i) Live in a family unit receiving SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits;27
(ii) Live in a family unit receiving TANF benefits;28
(iii) Identify as homeless;29
(iv) Identify as foster; or30
(v) Identify as migrant;31
(1.1) Identifying eligible students who are victims of human trafficking;
32
(2) Nominating qualified students to apply. Nominations can be made by counselors,33
principals, superintendents, or any individual within the REACH participating school34
system who is able to identify students most in need of the REACH scholarship;35
(3) Requiring nominated students to complete the REACH student application, which36
includes an academic recommendation and a community recommendation;37
(4) Reviewing student packets, including the nomination form, proof of eligibility for38
federal free or reduced lunch or as a victim of human trafficking, citizenship and39
residency requirements, and grade, attendance, and discipline reports; and40
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(5) Interviewing all nominated students by a student selection committee established by
41
the REACH participating school system.42
(b) REACH participating school systems shall be eligible to designate REACH scholars
43
each school year, the number of which shall be subject to available appropriations. the44
following number of REACH scholars:45
(1) For school systems with five or more high schools, 12 REACH scholars; and46
(2) For school systems with less than five high schools, seven REACH scholars."47
SECTION 3.48
Said part is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-499.2, relating49
to funding procedures for scholarships, as follows:50
"(b) Each year thereafter, the REACH participating school system will be responsible for51
providing $1,000.00 for each REACH scholar enrolled in such school system and the52
authority shall be responsible for providing $9,000.00 for each REACH scholar enrolled53
in such school system. a proportionate share of the scholarship. The REACH participating54
school system's proportionate share shall be based on the tier designated by the Department55
of Community Affairs pursuant to Code Section 48-7-40 for the county in which the school56
system is located and the population of such county, according to the United States57
decennial census of 2010 or any future such census. The term of the tier designation shall58
be five years; provided, however, that in any subsequent year within the five-year59
designation period in which the county of the local school system is designated with a60
lower tier, a REACH participating school system may reduce its tier designation61
commensurately and utilize such designation for the remainder of the five-year period. 62
Through Fiscal Year 2022, the 2016 Department of Community Affairs tier designation63
shall be used to define the proportionate share, as adjusted pursuant to the foregoing. The64
REACH participating school system's proportionate share shall be as follows:65
(1) A proportionate share of $1,000.00 per REACH scholar for:66
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(A) Tier 1 counties; and67
(B) Tier 2 counties with populations equal to or less than 20,000;68
(2) A proportionate share of $2,000.00 per REACH scholar for:69
(A) Tier 2 counties with populations greater than 20,000; and70
(B) Tier 3 counties with populations equal to or less than 20,000;71
(3) A proportionate share of $3,000.00 per REACH scholar for tier 3 counties with72
populations greater than 20,000; and73
(4) A proportionate share of $4,000.00 per REACH scholar for tier 4 counties."74
SECTION 4.75
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.76
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