Bill Text: DE HB307 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 14 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Financial Assistance For Higher Education For Victims Of Human Trafficking.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-4)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-29 - Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House [HB307 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2023-HB307-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. K. Williams & Rep. Baumbach & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Griffith & Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Poore & Sen. Sturgeon |
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Reps. Chukwuocha, Heffernan, Morrison, Yearick; Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Sokola, Walsh |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 307
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 34, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
Subchapter XVIII. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
§ 3435A. Definitions.
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Eligible costs” mean tuition and all mandatory fees relating to attendance at the institution. Where the institution offers room and board to its students, eligible costs include on-campus housing and a standard meal plan, which shall be made available to waiver recipients year-round, so long as the waiver recipient is registered for a sufficient number of credits in the spring and fall semesters to be eligible for on-campus housing.
(2) “Institution of higher education” or “institution” means University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College.
(3) “Victim of human trafficking” means an individual who is the victim of an offense defined in § 787 of Title 11, or any equivalent provision in the laws of any other state, the United States, any territory, district, or subdivision of the United States, or any foreign jurisdiction regardless of whether a perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted.
§ 3436A. Tuition waiver for victims of human trafficking.
(a) An institution of higher education shall award a tuition waiver to victims of human trafficking that are enrolled in an institution. To qualify for a tuition waiver, the student must be a Delaware resident.
(b) The amount of the waiver shall be total eligible costs of attending the institution, less any grants or scholarships the individual receives. The tuition waiver shall be awarded for up to 5 years if the individual is enrolled full-time.
(c) The student must apply for all appropriate forms of financial aid for which the student is eligible and shall have accepted all such financial assistance offered or awarded to the student, except for loans.
§ 3437A. Administration.
(a) The Department of Justice shall work with institutions in approving applications for a tuition waiver under this subchapter. For purposes of determining eligibility for the tuition waiver, the Department of Justice shall certify that a student applying for a tuition waiver qualifies as a victim of human trafficking as defined by this subchapter. The Department of Justice shall designate an appropriate staff person as the point of contact for institutions seeking certification of an applicant’s eligibility.
(b) The institution shall designate an appropriate staff person as the point of contact for students applying for the tuition waiver. This point of contact shall assist students in applying for the tuition waiver and work with the Department of Justice in determining the student’s eligibility for the waiver.
SYNOPSIS
This Act provides a tuition waiver for victims of human trafficking who are enrolled in the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, or Delaware Technical Community College.
