Section 2052-L. Agency duties.
The agency shall:
(1) Administer the program and, in its sole discretion, award grants to students who submit a completed application and satisfy the eligibility criteria in paragraph (4). The agency shall develop an application form that students may use to apply for a grant. The application of a student under 18 years of age or a student determined to be a dependent must include the signature of a parent or guardian.
(2) Use money appropriated for the purpose of awarding grants, except that the agency may use up to 5% of money appropriated for the purpose of administrating, implementing and servicing costs associated with the program. ((2) amended Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
(3) Award a grant to a student in an amount of $5,000 per academic year or if the total amount of Federal and State grants available to the student exceeds the educational cost as determined by the agency, whichever is less. The agency, in its discretion, may provide for partial-year awards.
(4) Establish eligibility criteria in order for a student to receive a grant. The criteria shall, at a minimum, include that a student must:
(i) Be a resident of this Commonwealth as defined by the agency.
(ii) Be enrolled in an approved course of study.
(iii) Maintain satisfactory academic progress defined by the agency.
(iv) Not have earned a bachelor's degree or master's degree or the equivalent. ((iv) amended July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(v) Enter into a written agreement with the agency to:
(A) Satisfy all degree requirements and other requirements under this subarticle.
(B) Reside and commence employment in this Commonwealth within one year after completion of an approved course of study culminating in a bachelor's degree, associate's degree or, if enrolled in an accelerated master's degree program, master's degree. The employment must be in an in-demand occupation, as determined by the agency, for a period of 12 months for each academic year the student received a grant, unless the agency determines that there are extenuating circumstances. If the agency determines that there are no extenuating circumstances, residency and employment in this Commonwealth must be maintained for the duration of the qualifying employment. ((B) amended July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(C) Reimburse the Commonwealth the aggregate amount of a scholarship, including interest, received under this subarticle if the student fails to comply with clauses (A) and (B). For a student who partially satisfies the work requirement, the agency shall prorate the required reimbursement. ((C) amended Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
(5) Monitor and verify a student's compliance with the agreement and enforce loan repayment of all grants for a student who does not comply with the provisions of this section, including use of all lawful collection procedures. Nothing under this paragraph shall be construed to require an institution of higher education to enforce any provision of this subarticle relating to repayment of funds for failure to comply with the provisions of this section. ((5) amended Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
(6) Advertise, market and provide outreach to students in traditionally underserved communities and include information about the program on the agency's publicly accessible Internet website.
(7) Not charge more than the three-month U.S. Treasury bill rate for interest on any repayment under paragraph (4)(v)(C). ((7) added Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
(8) Transmit to each institution of higher education a complete list of all approved occupations by standard occupational classification no later than 30 days after the effective date of this paragraph and no later than November 30 of each year. ((8) added July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(9) Review and certify each institution of higher education's list of approved courses of study within 90 days of the effective date of this paragraph. The agency shall each year thereafter review and certify the list prior to an application period being opened. ((9) added July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(10) Establish an appeals process in which a student, with the consent of the institution of higher education, may petition the agency to determine that the student's course of study will result in employment in an in-demand occupation. The appeal may include, but not be limited to, a student enrolled in a general program of study or a pre-major program of study provided that the student and institution of higher education certify in the appeal that the student is not in an undeclared status and the student intends to enroll or is enrolled in a program of study that maps to an approved occupation requiring an associate's degree or bachelor's degree or an occupation related to an approved accelerated master's degree program. ((10) added July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(2052-L added July 17, 2024, P.L.945, No.89)