PA HB2001

Incarcerated students in federal or state correctional facilities would become eligible for Pennsylvania State Grants and other state-administered higher education financial aid, prohibiting denial of grants based solely on incarceration status

Eligibility requires students to be within 5 years of scheduled release, have been Pennsylvania residents for at least 12 months prior to incarceration, maintain good academic and disciplinary standing, and enroll in approved prison education programs leading to degrees or credentials

Eligible prison education programs must be offered at correctional facilities, accredited or in the accreditation process, and approved by the Federal Bureau of Prisons or Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Department of Corrections and PHEAA must collect data on grant recipients including enrollment rates, credentials earned, post-release employment, and recidivism rates, with annual reports due to legislative education and judiciary committees by August 1

Abrogates 22 Pa. Code § 121.6(b) and takes effect 60 days after enactment