HCS/HB 76 - This act establishes the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program" and the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program Fund" to reimburse the costs of eligible students' tuition, books, and fees to certain approved institutions, such as two-year community colleges and technical schools, that offer training programs or eligible programs of study. The act defines an "eligible student" as a student who meets the eligibility requirements for the A+ Schools Program under current law, provided that such student has not received a reimbursement for tuition, books, or fees under the A+ Schools Program.
A "training program" is defined as a program of study that leads to a certificate or degree that does not meet the length-of-program requirements for an eligible program under federal regulations regarding federal grants and loans for postsecondary students. Training programs include but are not limited to certified nurse assistant programs, certified medication technician programs, and commercial driver's license programs.
An "eligible program of study" is a program of instruction that results in the award of a certificate or credential below the graduate level in an area of occupational shortage, as determined annually by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The length of an eligible program of study shall not exceed the equivalent of sixty credit hours.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year and all subsequent years, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish a procedure to reimburse the costs of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC Program Fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program of study or a training program. Tuition reimbursements shall not be provided to an eligible student who enrolls in a private school or training provider if a public community college or vocational or technical school located within a 40-mile radius of such student's domicile offers the same or a substantially similar eligible program of study or training program. Tuition reimbursements shall not exceed the tuition rate charged by a public community college for coursework offered by a two-year private vocational or technical school, virtual institution, or eligible training provider.
Eligibility for reimbursements under the act shall expire upon the earliest of (a) the approved institution's receipt of the reimbursement for the required length of the eligible program of study or training program, (b) a student's successful completion of an eligible program of study or training program, or (c) a student's completion of 150% of the time usually required to complete an eligible program of study or training program.
The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish by rule procedures for the reimbursement of tuition, books, and fees to all approved institutions, provided that no rule established shall prohibit students from attending any training program that does not meet the length-of-program requirements for federal financial aid or that does not participate in federal student aid programs.
OLIVIA SHANNON