SB 0168

CHAPTER 366

SB 168-FN – FINAL VERSION

AN ACT establishing tuition waivers for foster children.

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Foster, Dist 13; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. Janeway, Dist 7; Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Cilley, Dist 6; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Burling, Dist 5; Sen. Downing, Dist 22; Rep. Blanchard, Merr 10; Rep. Nord, Rock 1

This bill establishes tuition waivers for foster children at any public postsecondary institution.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT establishing tuition waivers for foster children.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

366:1 New Subdivision; Tuition Waivers for Foster Children. Amend RSA 188-D by inserting after section 42 the following new subdivision:

I. An eligible individual who enrolls full-time in a program leading to a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree at any public postsecondary institution within the state that is approved by the postsecondary education commission pursuant to RSA 188-D shall not be required to pay tuition or fees for attendance at such institution.

II. In this subdivision, an eligible individual is a person who is less than 23 years of age and who is or was:

(a) In state foster care for the immediate 6-month period prior to his or her 18th birthday;

(c) Adopted while in state guardianship or adopted from the care, custody, and control of the department following a surrender of parental rights; or

(d) In an out-of-home placement under the supervision of the division for juvenile justice services at the time of his or her 17th birthday.

III.(a) Eligible individuals interested in a tuition waiver shall annually apply to the postsecondary education commission on a form provided by the commission and within the deadlines established by the commission. No more than 20 tuition waivers per year shall be granted. The postsecondary education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the development of eligibility criteria designed to give the children with the greatest financial need first priority in the tuition waiver program, the creation of an application form, application deadlines, and provisions for continuing eligibility which require continued full-time enrollment as provided in this section and maintaining satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.

(b) Beginning November 1, 2008, and no later than November 1 each year thereafter, the division of children, youth and families shall submit a report to the health and human services oversight committee, established in RSA 126-A:13, and the house children and family law committee, or their successor committees, detailing the status of the tuition waiver program.