RI
Rhode Island Senate Bill S0077

Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0077 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
11
22
33
44
5-2023 -- S 0077 AS AMENDED
5+2023 -- S 0077
66 ========
77 LC001193
88 ========
99 S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT
1616 PROGRAM ACT
17-Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Gallo, DiPalma, Zurier, Murray, Mack, Valverde, and
18-Cano
17+Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Gallo, DiPalma, Zurier, Murray, Mack, and Valverde
1918 Date Introduced: February 01, 2023
2019 Referred To: Senate Finance
2120
2221
2322 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2423 SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
2524 adding thereto the following chapter: 2
2625 CHAPTER 112 3
2726 RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT PROGRAM ACT 4
2827 16-112-1. Short title. 5
2928 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot 6
3029 Program Act". 7
3130 16-112-2. Legislative findings and purpose. 8
3231 (a) The general assembly finds and declares that: 9
3332 (1) Education is critical for the state's young people to achieve their aspirations and develop 10
3433 their talents; 11
3534 (2) The state's economic success depends on a highly educated and skilled workforce; 12
3635 (3) The state's future prosperity depends upon its ability to make educational opportunities 13
3736 beyond high school available for all students; 14
3837 (4) The coronavirus has inflicted undue hardships on students and their families, creating 15
3938 barriers to a four (4) year college degree; 16
4039 (5) A merit-based tuition reduction program will help make a four (4) year college degree 17
4140 available to all students; 18
4241
4342
44-LC001193 - Page 2 of 8
43+LC001193 - Page 2 of 9
4544 (6) Rhode Island college offers students a feasible opportunity to obtain a four (4) year 1
4645 degree, but remains an underutilized resource in the state; and 2
47-(7) The State of Rhode Island's motto is "Hope". 3
46+ (7) The State of Rhode Island’s motto is "Hope". 3
4847 (b) In order to address the findings set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the purpose 4
4948 of this chapter is to increase the number of students enrolling in and completing four (4) year 5
5049 degrees and certificates on time from Rhode Island college, and to promote more graduates in high-6
5150 need fields such as nursing, pre-k through grade twelve (12) education, and the trades, which are 7
5251 fields for which Rhode Island college provides a strong and affordable education. 8
5352 (c) The purpose of the pilot program is also to determine whether a scholarship program 9
5453 for Rhode Island college that is modeled on the promise scholarship program established in chapter 10
55-107 of title 16 would be successful in attaining the goals set forth in this section.". 11
54+107 of title 16 would be successful in attaining the goals set forth in this section. 11
5655 16-112-3. Establishment of scholarship program. 12
57-There is hereby established the Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program. The general 13
58-assembly shall annually appropriate the funds necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter 14
59-for the periods of the pilot program. Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated 15
60-to support and advance the Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program. In addition to 16
61-appropriation by the general assembly, charitable donations may be accepted into the scholarship 17
62-program. 18
56+Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2023, there is hereby established the 13
57+Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program. The general assembly shall annually appropriate the 14
58+funds necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter for the periods of the pilot program. 15
59+Additional funds beyond the scholarships may be appropriated to support and advance the Rhode 16
60+Island hope scholarship pilot program. In addition to appropriation by the general assembly, 17
61+charitable donations may be accepted into the scholarship program. 18
6362 16-112-4. Definitions. 19
6463 When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 20
65-(1) "ADA" means the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., as may 21
66-be amended from time to time. 22
67-(2) "Certificate" means any certificate program with labor market value as defined by the 23
68-postsecondary commissioner. 24
69-(3) "College-level credit" means credit awarded by a college or university for completion 25
70-of its own courses or other academic work. 26
71-(4) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. 27
72-(5) "General education coursework" means the educational foundation of knowledge, 28
73-skills, and attitudes that prepare students for success in their majors and their personal and 29
74-professional lives after graduation. It includes, but is not limited to, the required coursework of all 30
75-degrees developed by each eligible postsecondary institution that is approved by the council on 31
76-postsecondary education that is intended to ensure that all graduates of a state institution have a 32
77-balanced core of competencies and knowledge. This does not necessarily include coursework 33
78-specifically required for one's major. 34
64+(1) "Certificate" means any certificate program with labor market value as defined by the 21
65+postsecondary commissioner. 22
66+(2) "College-level credit" means credit awarded by a college or university for completion 23
67+of its own courses or other academic work. 24
68+(3) "FAFSA" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. 25
69+(4) "General education coursework" means the educational foundation of knowledge, 26
70+skills, and attitudes that prepare students for success in their majors and their personal and 27
71+professional lives after graduation. It includes, but is not limited to, the required coursework of all 28
72+degrees developed by each eligible postsecondary institution that is approved by the council on 29
73+postsecondary education that is intended to ensure that all graduates of a state institution have a 30
74+balanced core of competencies and knowledge. This does not necessarily include coursework 31
75+specifically required for one’s major. 32
76+(5) "Mandatory fees and tuition" means the costs that every student is required to pay in 33
77+order to enroll in classes, and does not include room and board, textbooks, program fees that may 34
7978
8079
81-LC001193 - Page 3 of 8
82-(6) "Mandatory fees and tuition" means the costs that every student is required to pay in 1
83-order to enroll in classes, and does not include room and board, textbooks, program fees that may 2
84-exist in some majors, course fees that may exist for some specific courses, meal plans, or travel. 3
85-(7) "On track to graduate on time" means the standards determined by Rhode Island college 4
86-in establishing the expectation of a student to graduate with a bachelor's degree within four (4) 5
87-years of enrollment, or the prescribed completion time for a student completing a certificate 6
88-(recognizing that some students, including students who require developmental education, are 7
89-double majors, or are enrolled in certain professional programs may require an extended time period 8
90-for degree completion). 9
91-(8) "Reasonable accommodations" means any necessary modifications or adjustment to a 10
92-facility, equipment, program, or manner of operation as required by the Americans with Disabilities 11
93-Act ("ADA") and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 791, as may be 12
94-amended from time to time; 13
95-(10) "Recipient student" means a student attending Rhode Island college who qualifies to 14
96-receive the Rhode Island hope scholarship pursuant to § 16-112-6. 15
97-(9) "Pilot program" and "scholarship program" means the Rhode Island hope scholarship 16
98-pilot program that is established pursuant to § 16-112-3. 17
99-(11) "State" means the State of Rhode Island. 18
100-(12) "Student with a disability" means any student otherwise eligible pursuant to this 19
101-chapter who has a physical, developmental, or hidden disability or disabilities, as defined in § 42-20
102-87-1, that would create a hardship or other functional obstacles preventing participation in this 21
103-program. 22
104-16-112-5. Administration of scholarship program. 23
105-(a) The financial aid office at Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the admissions 24
106-office or their respective equivalent offices at Rhode Island college, shall administer the scholarship 25
107-program for state residents seeking bachelor's degrees and/or certificates who meet the eligibility 26
108-requirements in this chapter. 27
109-(b) An award of the scholarship program shall cover the cost of up to two (2) years of 28
110-tuition and mandatory fees, for the junior and senior years of the student, or in the case of an adult 29
111-student, who has attained at least sixty (60) credit hours, then the award may cover tuition and 30
112-mandatory fees over a duration of not more than two (2) years. In all instances, these awards shall 31
113-be reduced by the amount of federal and all other financial aid monies available to the recipient 32
114-student. None of any grants received by students from the department of children, youth and 33
115-families' higher education opportunity incentive grant as established by chapter 72.8 of title 42 or 34
80+LC001193 - Page 3 of 9
81+exist in some majors, course fees that may exist for some specific courses, meal plans, or travel. 1
82+(6) "On track to graduate on time" means the standards determined by Rhode Island college 2
83+in establishing the expectation of a student to graduate with a bachelor’s degree within four (4) 3
84+years of enrollment, or the prescribed completion time for a student completing a certificate 4
85+(recognizing that some students, including students who require developmental education, are 5
86+double majors, or are enrolled in certain professional programs may require an extended time period 6
87+for degree completion). 7
88+(7) "Recipient student" means a student attending Rhode Island college who qualifies to 8
89+receive the Rhode Island hope scholarship pursuant to § 16-112-6. 9
90+(8) “Pilot program” and "scholarship program" means the Rhode Island hope scholarship 10
91+pilot program that is established pursuant to § 16-112-3. 11
92+ (9) "State" means the State of Rhode Island. 12
93+16-112-5. Administration of scholarship program. 13
94+(a) The financial aid office at Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the admissions 14
95+office or their respective equivalent offices at Rhode Island college, shall administer the scholarship 15
96+program for state residents seeking bachelor’s degrees and/or certificates who meet the eligibility 16
97+requirements in this chapter. 17
98+(b) An award of the scholarship program shall cover the cost of up to two (2) years of 18
99+tuition and mandatory fees, for the junior and senior years of the student, or in the case of an adult 19
100+student, who has attained at least sixty (60) credit hours, then the award may cover tuition and 20
101+mandatory fees over a duration of not more than two (2) years. In all instances, these awards shall 21
102+be reduced by the amount of federal and all other financial aid monies available to the recipient 22
103+student. None of any grants received by students from the department of children, youth and 23
104+families’ higher education opportunity incentive grant as established by chapter 72.8 of title 42 or 24
105+the college crusade scholarship act as established in chapter 70 of title 16 shall be considered federal 25
106+or financial aid for the purposes of this chapter. 26
107+(c) The scholarship program is limited to one award per student as required by § 16-112-27
108+6(a)(7); provided that, the award may cover the two (2) years which constitute the junior and senior 28
109+years of the student, or the two (2) years for an adult student, and may be dispersed in separate 29
110+installments. 30
111+16-112-6. Eligibility for merit based tuition reduction scholarship at Rhode Island 31
112+college. 32
113+(a) Beginning with the students who enrolled at Rhode Island college in the fall of 2023, a 33
114+student: 34
116115
117116
118-LC001193 - Page 4 of 8
119-the college crusade scholarship act as established in chapter 70 of title 16 shall be considered federal 1
120-or financial aid for the purposes of this chapter. 2
121-(c) The scholarship program is limited to one award per student as required by § 16-112-3
122-6(a)(7); provided that, the award may cover the two (2) years which constitute the junior and senior 4
123-years of the student, or the two (2) years for an adult student, and may be dispersed in separate 5
124-installments. 6
125-16-112-6. Eligibility for merit based tuition reduction scholarship at Rhode Island 7
126-college. 8
127-(a) Beginning with the students who enrolled at Rhode Island college in the fall of 2023, a 9
128-student: 10
129-(1) Must qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by 11
130-the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified 12
131-from time to time ("residency policy"); 13
132-(2) Must be a currently enrolled full-time student who has declared a major and earned a 14
133-minimum of sixty (60) total credit hours towards an eligible program of study, as determined by 15
134-Rhode Island college; 16
135-(3) Must complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification by the deadline 17
136-prescribed by Rhode Island college for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding 18
137-under the scholarship program; provided that, persons who are legally unable to complete the 19
138-FAFSA must complete a comparable form created by Rhode Island college, by the deadline 20
139-prescribed by Rhode Island college, for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding 21
140-under the scholarship program; 22
141-(4) Must enroll or have enrolled full-time as a freshman as a first-time student and continue 23
142-to be enrolled on a full-time basis at Rhode Island college, by the dates indicated within this chapter; 24
143-(5) Must maintain an average annual cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or 25
144-greater, as determined by Rhode Island college, prior to obtaining the scholarship and also as a 26
145-condition of being able to continue to be a scholarship recipient; 27
146-(6) Must remain on track to graduate on time as determined by Rhode Island college and 28
147-must complete both the student's freshman and sophomore years at Rhode Island college, or in the 29
148-case of an adult student, have completed sixty (60) credit hours of tuition and mandatory fees at 30
149-Rhode Island college over a duration of no more than four (4) years; 31
150-(7) Must not have already received an award under this program or under chapter 107 of 32
151-title 16; and 33
152-(8) Must commit to live, work, or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation. 34
117+LC001193 - Page 4 of 9
118+(1) Must qualify for in-state tuition and fees pursuant to the residency policy adopted by 1
119+the council on postsecondary education, as amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified 2
120+from time to time ("residency policy"); 3
121+(2) Must be a currently enrolled full-time student who has declared a major and earned a 4
122+minimum of sixty (60) total credit hours towards an eligible program of study, as determined by 5
123+Rhode Island college; 6
124+(3) Must complete the FAFSA and any required FAFSA verification by the deadline 7
125+prescribed by Rhode Island college for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding 8
126+under the scholarship program; provided that, persons who are legally unable to complete the 9
127+FAFSA must complete a comparable form created by Rhode Island college, by the deadline 10
128+prescribed by Rhode Island college, for each year in which the student seeks to receive funding 11
129+under the scholarship program; 12
130+(4) Must enroll or have enrolled full-time as a freshman as a first-time student and continue 13
131+to be enrolled on a full-time basis at Rhode Island college, by the dates indicated within this chapter; 14
132+(5) Must maintain an average annual cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or 15
133+greater, as determined by Rhode Island college, prior to obtaining the scholarship and also as a 16
134+condition of being able to continue to be a scholarship recipient; 17
135+(6) Must remain on track to graduate on time as determined by Rhode Island college and 18
136+must complete both the student’s freshman and sophomore years at Rhode Island college, or in the 19
137+case of an adult student, have completed sixty (60) credit hours of tuition and mandatory fees at 20
138+Rhode Island college over a duration of no more than four (4) years; 21
139+(7) Must not have already received an award under this program or under chapter 107 of 22
140+title 16; and 23
141+(8) Must commit to live, work, or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation. 24
142+(b) Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the office of the postsecondary 25
143+commissioner, shall develop a policy that will secure the commitment set forth in subsection (a) of 26
144+this section from recipient students. 27
145+(c) Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) of this section 28
146+("specified conditions"): 29
147+(1) In the case of a recipient student who has an approved medical or personal leave of 30
148+absence or is unable to satisfy one or more specified conditions because of the student's medical or 31
149+personal circumstances, the student may continue to receive an award under the scholarship 32
150+program upon resuming the student's education so long as the student continues to meet all other 33
151+applicable eligibility requirements; 34
153152
154153
155-LC001193 - Page 5 of 8
156-(b) Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the office of the postsecondary 1
157-commissioner, shall develop a policy that will secure the commitment set forth in subsection (a) of 2
158-this section from recipient students. 3
159-(c) Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) of this section 4
160-("specified conditions"): 5
161-(1) In the case of a recipient student who has an approved medical or personal leave of 6
162-absence or is unable to satisfy one or more specified conditions because of the student's medical or 7
163-personal circumstances, the student may continue to receive an award under the scholarship 8
164-program upon resuming the student's education so long as the student continues to meet all other 9
165-applicable eligibility requirements; 10
166-(2) In the case of a recipient student who is a member of the national guard or a member 11
167-of a reserve unit of a branch of the United States military and is unable to satisfy one or more 12
168-specified conditions because the student is or will be in basic or special military training, or is or 13
169-will be participating in a deployment of the student's guard or reserve unit, the student may continue 14
170-to receive an award under the scholarship program upon completion of the student's basic or special 15
171-military training or deployment; and 16
172-(3) Students enrolled in Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2021, who have attained junior 17
173-status at Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2023, or who enrolled in Rhode Island college as of July 18
174-1, 2022, and who have attained junior status at Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2024, and who 19
175-are otherwise in compliance with this chapter, shall be eligible for a hope scholarship under this 20
176-chapter. 21
177-(4) Any student with a disability, otherwise eligible for a scholarship pursuant to the 22
178-provisions of this section, shall be entitled to access this program and shall be afforded all 23
179-reasonable accommodations, as required by the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including, 24
180-but not limited to, enrolling on a part-time basis and taking longer than four (4) years to graduate 25
181-with a bachelor's degree. 26
182-(d) The decision of whether or not a student has attained junior or senior status by the 27
183-appropriate date shall be determined by the appropriate body of Rhode Island college, subject to 28
184-the rules, regulations, and procedures established pursuant to § 16-112-8. 29
185-16-112-7. Reporting and disbursement. 30
186-(a) On or before November 10, 2023, and on or before November 10 thereafter for every 31
187-year through and including calendar year 2028, Rhode Island college shall submit a report to the 32
188-director of the office of management and budget, the state budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, 33
189-the senate fiscal advisor, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and the chair of the council 34
154+LC001193 - Page 5 of 9
155+(2) In the case of a recipient student who is a member of the national guard or a member 1
156+of a reserve unit of a branch of the United States military and is unable to satisfy one or more 2
157+specified conditions because the student is or will be in basic or special military training, or is or 3
158+will be participating in a deployment of the student's guard or reserve unit, the student may continue 4
159+to receive an award under the scholarship program upon completion of the student's basic or special 5
160+military training or deployment; and 6
161+(3) Students enrolled in Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2021, who have attained junior 7
162+status at Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2023, or who enrolled in Rhode Island college as of July 8
163+1, 2022, and who have attained junior status at Rhode Island college as of July 1, 2024, and who 9
164+are otherwise in compliance with this chapter, shall be eligible for a hope scholarship under this 10
165+chapter. 11
166+(d) The decision of whether or not a student has attained junior or senior status by the 12
167+appropriate date shall be determined by the appropriate body of Rhode Island college, subject to 13
168+the rules, regulations, and procedures established pursuant to §16-112-8. 14
169+16-112-7. Reporting and disbursement. 15
170+(a) On or before November 10, 2023, and on or before November 10 thereafter for every 16
171+year through and including calendar year 2028, Rhode Island college shall submit a report to the 17
172+director of the office of management and budget, the state budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, 18
173+the senate fiscal advisor, the commissioner of postsecondary education, and the chair of the council 19
174+on postsecondary education, a report detailing the following: 20
175+(1) The number of students eligible to participate in the scholarship program; 21
176+(2) The amount of federal and institutional financial aid anticipated to be received by 22
177+recipient students; 23
178+(3) The aggregate tuition and mandatory fee costs attributable to recipient students; and 24
179+(4) The resulting total cost of the scholarship program to the state. 25
180+(5) The report shall contain such data for both the current fiscal year and the most up-to-26
181+date forecast for the following fiscal year. Data reported shall be subdivided by student-year cohort 27
182+and shall be accompanied by a written explanation detailing the estimating methodology utilized 28
183+and any impact(s) the forecasted data may present to institutional capacity, operational costs, and 29
184+the tuition/fee revenue base of the institution. 30
185+(b) On or before July 1, 2024, and on before July 1 thereafter for every year until through 31
186+and including calendar year 2028, Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the office of the 32
187+postsecondary commissioner, shall submit a report evaluating the program to the governor, speaker 33
188+of the house, and the president of the senate. This evaluation shall include the following: 34
190189
191190
192-LC001193 - Page 6 of 8
193-on postsecondary education, a report detailing the following: 1
194-(1) The number of students eligible to participate in the scholarship program; 2
195-(2) The amount of federal and institutional financial aid anticipated to be received by 3
196-recipient students; 4
197-(3) The aggregate tuition and mandatory fee costs attributable to recipient students; 5
198-(4) The resulting total cost of the scholarship program to the state; and 6
199-(5) The report shall contain such data for both the current fiscal year and the most up-to-7
200-date forecast for the following fiscal year. Data reported shall be subdivided by student-year cohort 8
201-and shall be accompanied by a written explanation detailing the estimating methodology utilized 9
202-and any impact(s) the forecasted data may present to institutional capacity, operational costs, and 10
203-the tuition/fee revenue base of the institution. 11
204-(b) On or before July 1, 2024, and on before July 1 thereafter for every year until through 12
205-and including calendar year 2028, Rhode Island college, in conjunction with the office of the 13
206-postsecondary commissioner, shall submit a report evaluating the program to the governor, speaker 14
207-of the house, and the president of the senate. This evaluation shall include the following: 15
208-(1) The number of students who started in each cohort· 16
209-(2) The number of students in each cohort who have attained a degree or certification in an 17
210-on-time manner; 18
211-(3) The number of students in each cohort who have not attained a degree or certification 19
212-in an on-time manner and an analysis of why that has happened; 20
213-(4) The number of students in each cohort who began the program but have been unable to 21
214-continue or complete the program and an analysis of why that has happened; 22
215-(5) The costs of the program and the costs of continuing the program; 23
216-(6) Suggestions for ways to increase the success of the program; 24
217-(7) Recommendations as to modifying, continuing, expanding, curtailing, or discontinuing 25
218-the program; and 26
219-(8) Any such other recommendations or information as Rhode Island college and the 27
220-commissioner of postsecondary education deem appropriate to include in the evaluation. 28
221-(c) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the office of the 29
222-postsecondary commissioner, shall oversee the apportionment and disbursement of all funds 30
223-appropriated for the purpose of the scholarship program. 31
224-16-112-8. Rules, regulations, and procedures. 32
225-The council on postsecondary education is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and 33
226-regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the residency 34
191+LC001193 - Page 6 of 9
192+(1) The number of students who started in each cohort; 1
193+(2) The number of students in each cohort who have attained a degree or certification in an 2
194+on-time manner; 3
195+(3) The number of students in each cohort who have not attained a degree or certification 4
196+in an on-time manner and an analysis of why that has happened; 5
197+(4) The number of students in each cohort who began the program but have been unable to 6
198+continue or complete the program and an analysis of why that has happened; 7
199+(5) The costs of the program and the costs of continuing the program; 8
200+(6) Suggestions for ways to increase the success of the program; 9
201+(7) Recommendations as to modifying, continuing, expanding, curtailing, or discontinuing 10
202+the program; and 11
203+(8) Any such other recommendations or information as Rhode Island college and the 12
204+commissioner of postsecondary education deem appropriate to include in the evaluation. 13
205+(c) The office of management and budget, in consultation with the office of the 14
206+postsecondary commissioner, shall oversee the apportionment and disbursement of all funds 15
207+appropriated for the purpose of the scholarship program. 16
208+16-112-8. Rules, regulations, and procedures. 17
209+The council on postsecondary education is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and 18
210+regulations to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the residency 19
211+policy, and Rhode Island college shall establish appeal procedures for the award, denial, or 20
212+revocation of funding under the scholarship program. The rules and regulations shall be 21
213+promulgated in accordance with § 16-59-4. 22
214+16-112-9. Applicability to current students. 23
215+Currently enrolled students at Rhode Island college who have attained junior status as of 24
216+July 1, 2023, or July 1, 2024, and who otherwise meet the requirements of this chapter, shall be 25
217+eligible for a hope scholarship under this chapter. 26
218+16-112-10. Funding of and sunset of pilot program. 27
219+The Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program shall be funded from July 1, 2023, 28
220+through and including July 1, 2028. There shall be no further funding of the pilot program without 29
221+further action of the general assembly. Any final reports due pursuant to this chapter shall be filed 30
222+pursuant to the dates set forth herein. 31
223+SECTION 2. Section 16-59-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-59 entitled "Council on 32
224+Postsecondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" 33
225+is hereby amended to read as follows: 34
227226
228227
229-LC001193 - Page 7 of 8
230-policy, and Rhode Island college shall establish appeal procedures for the award, denial, or 1
231-revocation of funding under the scholarship program. The rules and regulations shall be 2
232-promulgated in accordance with § 16-59-4. 3
233-16-112-9. Applicability to current students. 4
234-Currently enrolled students at Rhode Island college who have attained junior status as of 5
235-July 1, 2023, or July 1, 2024, and who otherwise meet the requirements of this chapter, shall be 6
236-eligible for a hope scholarship under this chapter. 7
237-16-112-10. Funding of and sunset of pilot program. 8
238-The Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program shall be funded from July 1, 2023, 9
239-through and including July 1, 2028. There shall be no further funding of the pilot program without 10
240-further action of the general assembly. Any final reports due pursuant to this chapter shall be filed 11
241-pursuant to the dates set forth herein. 12
242-SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.13
228+LC001193 - Page 7 of 9
229+16-59-9. Educational budget and appropriations. 1
230+(a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sums it deems necessary for 2
231+support and maintenance of higher education in the state and the state controller is authorized and 3
232+directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the appropriations 4
233+or so much of the sums that are necessary for the purposes appropriated, upon the receipt by him 5
234+or her of proper vouchers as the council on postsecondary education may by rule provide. The 6
235+council shall receive, review, and adjust the budget for the office of postsecondary commissioner 7
236+and present the budget as part of the budget for higher education under the requirements of § 35-3-8
237+4. 9
238+(b) The office of postsecondary commissioner and the institutions of public higher 10
239+education shall establish working capital accounts. 11
240+(c) Any tuition or fee increase schedules in effect for the institutions of public higher 12
241+education shall be received by the council on postsecondary education for allocation for the fiscal 13
242+year for which state appropriations are made to the council by the general assembly; provided that 14
243+no further increases may be made by the board of education or the council on postsecondary 15
244+education for the year for which appropriations are made. Except that these provisions shall not 16
245+apply to the revenues of housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities at the university of Rhode 17
246+Island, Rhode Island college, and the community colleges including student fees as described in 18
247+P.L. 1962, ch. 257 pledged to secure indebtedness issued at any time pursuant to P.L. 1962, ch. 257 19
248+as amended. 20
249+(d) All housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities at all public institutions of higher 21
250+learning shall be self-supporting and no funds shall be appropriated by the general assembly to pay 22
251+operating expenses, including principal and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses for 23
252+the facilities, with the exception of the mandatory fees covered by the Rhode Island promise 24
253+scholarship program as established by § 16-107-3 and the Rhode Island hope scholarship 25
254+established by § 16-112-3. Any debt-service costs on general obligation bonds presented to the 26
255+voters in November 2000 and November 2004 or appropriated funds from the Rhode Island capital 27
256+plan for the housing auxiliaries at the university of Rhode Island and Rhode Island college shall 28
257+not be subject to this self-supporting requirement in order to provide funds for the building 29
258+construction and rehabilitation program. The institutions of public higher education will establish 30
259+policies and procedures that enhance the opportunity for auxiliary facilities to be self-supporting, 31
260+including that all faculty provide timely and accurate copies of booklists for required textbooks to 32
261+the public higher educational institution’s bookstore. 33
262+(e) The additional costs to achieve self-supporting status shall be by the implementation of 34
263+
264+
265+LC001193 - Page 8 of 9
266+a fee schedule of all housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities, including but not limited to, 1
267+operating expenses, principal, and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses. 2
268+(f) The board of education is authorized to establish two (2) restricted-receipt accounts for 3
269+the higher education and industry centers established throughout the state: one to collect lease 4
270+payments from occupying companies, and fees from room and service rentals, to support the 5
271+operation and maintenance of the facilities; and one to collect donations to support construction, 6
272+operations and maintenance. All such revenues shall be deposited to the restricted-receipt accounts. 7
273+(g) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (d) of this section or any provisions of this title, to 8
274+the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of any outstanding bonds issued by the Rhode 9
275+Island health and educational building corporation or outstanding lease certificates of participation, 10
276+in either case, issued for the benefit of the university of Rhode Island, the community college of 11
277+Rhode Island, and/or Rhode Island college, to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions 12
278+of any such bonds or certificates of participation, the general assembly shall annually appropriate 13
279+any such sums it deems necessary from educational and general revenues (including, but not limited 14
280+to, tuition) and auxiliary enterprise revenues derived from the university of Rhode Island, the 15
281+community college of Rhode Island and Rhode Island college, to be allocated by the council on 16
282+postsecondary education or by the board of trustees of the university of Rhode Island, as 17
283+appropriate, in accordance with the terms of the contracts with such bondholders or certificate 18
284+holders. 19
285+(h) The board of education is authorized to establish a restricted-receipt account for income 20
286+generated by the Rhode Island nursing education center through the rental of classrooms, 21
287+laboratories, or other facilities located on the Providence campus of the nursing education center. 22
288+All such revenues shall be deposited to the restricted receipt account. 23
289+(i) The board of education is authorized to establish a restricted-receipt account for the 24
290+receipt and expenditure of monies received from IGT Global Solutions Corporation for the purpose 25
291+of financing scholarships relating to studying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at 26
292+an accredited educational institution. This account shall be housed within the budget of the office 27
293+of the postsecondary commissioner and exempt from the indirect cost recovery provisions of § 35-28
294+4-27. 29
295+SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023, and sunset and expire on January 30
296+1, 2029. 31
243297 ========
244298 LC001193
245299 ========
246300
247301
248-LC001193 - Page 8 of 8
302+LC001193 - Page 9 of 9
249303 EXPLANATION
250304 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
251305 OF
252306 A N A C T
253307 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT
254308 PROGRAM ACT
255309 ***
256310 This act would establish the Rhode Island hope scholarship pilot program act. The purpose 1
257311 would be to increase the number of students enrolling in and obtaining degrees in a timely fashion 2
258312 from Rhode Island college, and to promote more graduates in high-need fields and the trades. The 3
259313 hope scholarship would provide the cost of two (2) years of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible 4
260314 students during their junior and senior years. The act would include detailed eligibility requirements 5
261315 for students, and reporting and disbursement requirements for Rhode Island college. In addition the 6
262316 act would permit charitable donations to the scholarship program as well as an annual appropriation 7
263317 by the general assembly. 8
264318 This act would take effect on July 1, 2023, and sunset and expire on January 1, 2029. 9
265319 ========
266320 LC001193
267321 ========
268322