HB2001 HFA 1-21 Caputo and Hornbuckle

            Delegates Caputo and Hornbuckle move to amend the bill on line 21, following the period, by inserting the following new section, designated §18C-1-6, to read as follows:

§18C-1-6. Tuition and fees for state resident coal miners to receive training at state community colleges.

            (a) Any resident of this state who has been employed as a coal miner for ten years or more, and has been laid off from the industry for three or more years in the last ten year period, is eligible to receive a scholarship for tuition and fees at any accredited community and technical college in the state to be retrained in another skill or profession.

            (b) The Higher Education Policy Commission shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility and guidelines for unemployed or underemployed coal miners as defined in subsection (a) to attend any accredited community and technical college in the state for two years as a full time student or a longer period as a part time student to receive an education in a trade, technical field or other profession. The Higher Education Policy Commission may prescribe criteria for eligibility for payment of tuition and fees. The offer of scholarship is contingent upon appropriations being made by the Legislature for the express purpose of this section. A resident unemployed or underemployed coal miner deemed to be eligible pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the rules of the Higher Education Policy Commission, may receive payment for only one certificate, associate degree, or other certificate provided at an approved accredited community and technical college pursuant to this section.

            (c) For any eligible coal miner who is participating in the PROMISE Scholarship program provided in article seven of this chapter, the rules of the Commission may pay directly to the recipient an amount equal to the amount of tuition and fees which otherwise would have been paid to the school.