Signed by Governor Jim Justice, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that increases access to career education and workforce training by establishing funding for community college students studying in a high demand field.

Highlights:

• Establishes the WV Invests Grant Program, which will be administered by the vice chancellor for administration (Sec. 18C-9-4).

• Requires the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education to award WV Invests Grants under the following terms and conditions (Sec. 18C-9-4):

• A WV Invests Grant may only be awarded to applicants satisfying the requirements of this code;

• The maximum amount of a WV Invests Grant will be the cost of tuition charged to all students for coursework leading to a completion of the chosen associate degree or certificate, less all other state and federal scholarships and grants for which the student is eligible, and specifies that all other state and federal scholarships and grants for which the grant recipient is eligible will be deducted from the amount of the WV Invests Grant for each student, and further specifies that the amount of a WV Invests Grant will not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees of the community and technical colleges;

• Grant payments will be made directly to the eligible institutions;

• If a grant participant transfers from one eligible institution to another, the grant is transferable only with the approval of the vice chancellor for administration;

• A WV Invests Grant may be used at any eligible institution to seek and associate degree or certificate in an eligible post-secondary program, and an institution is not required to accept a grant recipient for enrollment and may enforce its own admission requirements, standards, and policies; and

• If a WV Invests Grant recipient terminates enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant must be returned by the institution to the Council, which must be transferred to the WV Invests Fund for allocation and expenditure. 

• Specifies that to be eligible to a WV Invests Grant, and individual must satisfy the following requirements (Sec. 18C-9-5):

• Be a legal citizen or legal resident of the United States and have been a resident of West Virginia for at least 1 year preceding the date of application for a grant;

• Have completed a secondary education program in a public, private, or home school;

• Have not been previously awarded a post-secondary degree;

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Meet the admission requirements of, and be admitted into an eligible institution;

• Satisfactorily meet any additional qualifications of enrollment, academic promise, or achievement as established by the Council through rule;

• Have filed a completed free application for federal student aid for the academic year in which the grant award is sought;

• Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary program;

• Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester;

• Have, prior to the start of each semester, satisfactorily passed a drug test administered by the eligible institution, and the applicant will be responsible for the cost of the drug test. 

• Specifies that each grant may be renewed until the course of study is completed as long as the following qualifications, as determined by the vice chancellor for administration and the Council, are satisfied (Sec. 18C-9-5):

• Maintaining satisfactory academic standing, including a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0;

• Making adequate progress toward completion of the eligible post-secondary program;

• Satisfactory participation in a community service program, requiring completion of at least 8 hours of unpaid community service during the time of study; 

• Continued satisfaction of eligibility requirements provided by this code; and

• Satisfaction of any additional criteria established by the Council through legislative rule.

Full Bill Text