SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1056        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 678

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Eileen M. Donoghue

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act reforming the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1056        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 678

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 656 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

An Act reforming the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 19E the following section:-

Section 19F. John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program

(a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Eligible institution,” an institution within the system of public institutions of higher education as identified in Section 5 of Chapter 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws.

“Eligible program,” any state-supported undergraduate degree program offered by an eligible institution.

“Eligible student,” an undergraduate student who:

(1) graduated from or under the auspices of a high school located in Massachusetts;

(2) finished the eleventh grade in the top 10 percent of the student’s high school class in terms of cumulative grade point average;

(3) is a permanent resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the start of the academic year and is eligible for in-state tuition;

(4) is enrolled full time in an eligible program;

(5) has not previously earned a bachelor’s degree;

(6) maintains a cumulative 3.0 GPA on all academic coursework at the eligible institution awarding the degree; or if transferring, has maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA on all academic coursework at the transfer institution;

(7) annually files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (hereafter, FAFSA);

(8) maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress in accordance with institutional standards;

(9) is in compliance with applicable law regarding Selective Service Registration;

and (10) is not in default with applicable law regarding any federal or state student education loans for attendance at any institution or owes a refund for any previous financial aid received.

“Scholarship,” the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship established in subsection (b).

(b) There shall be a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship awarded to eligible students. The award shall be equal to the cost of tuition and fees for the eligible program in which the eligible student is enrolled. The scholarship shall be awarded to an eligible student for a maximum of eight semesters which shall occur within six years of the eligible student’s graduation from high school; provided, however, that these semesters shall not include summer terms. The scholarship shall be awarded by eligible institutions at no cost to said eligible institutions.

(c) Within one month of the end of each academic year, each high school located in Massachusetts shall provide the Office of Student Financial Assistance with a list of students who finished the eleventh grade in the top 10 percent of their high school class in terms of cumulative grade point average. Within three months of the end of the academic year, the Office of Student Financial Assistance shall provide the identified students with a letter informing them that their grade point average makes them eligible for the scholarship, provided that they meet the other eligibility requirements. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall annually provide each eligible institution with a list of students who finished the eleventh grade in the top 10 percent of their high school class in terms of cumulative grade point average. Institutions may use this list to verify student eligibility for the scholarship.

(d) Each student shall be responsible for submitting documentation of eligibility for the scholarship to the eligible institution where the student will enroll. Upon verifying the student’s eligibility, the eligible institution shall award the scholarship.

(e) Each eligible institution shall maintain documentation of each scholarship recipient’s eligibility for the scholarship. The commissioner shall require each campus to furnish annually to the Board of Higher Education a report detailing specific information regarding recipients of the scholarship. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall coordinate specification and procedures for this report. All financial books, records and documents pertaining to this program shall at all times be open to inspection, review, and audit by the commissioner, the state auditor, or their authorized representatives, who shall have access to the premises wherever such books, records, and documents are located. Each eligible institution shall retain such financial books, records, and documents for seven years. An eligible institution may retain such records for a period of five years if approval is received from the Records Conservation Board in accordance with section 42 of chapter 30.

(f) The Board of Higher Education shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of this program to determine if adjustments to the eligibility criteria are necessary. The Board of Higher Education shall also conduct an annual comprehensive evaluation to assess the program’s effectiveness, the results of which shall be reported to the Department of Higher Education, the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Ways and Means.