§ 16A — High demand targeted scholarship program; eligibility; duties and responsibilities of the board and Massachusetts state scholarship office; annual report

[ Text of section added by 2023, 28, Sec. 12 effective July 1, 2023. See 2023, 28, Sec. 115.]Section 16A. (a) There shall be a scholarship program, subject to appropriation, to be administered by the board, which shall be known as the high demand targeted scholarship program, to provide financial assistance to students in the commonwealth who are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education for an in-demand profession as defined by the executive office of labor and workforce development's study on labor market conditions.(b)(1) Eligibility for the scholarship program shall be limited to students that (i) reside in the commonwealth for at least 1 year prior to the start of the academic year; (ii) agree to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program at a public institution of higher education pursuant to section 5; (iii) maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 annually and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in accordance with institutional standards; (iv) successfully complete an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program at said public institution of higher education; (v) enter into an in-demand occupation, as defined by the executive office of labor and workforce development's study on labor market conditions, in the commonwealth; provided, that said in-demand occupation shall be consistent with the undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate; (vi) commit to working in the commonwealth for a term of not less than 5 years in an in-demand occupation as defined by said study; and (vii) meet any additional criteria required by the board.(2) Scholarships shall be awarded to qualified students to cover the cost of tuition, fees and additional costs of attendance as calculated by the student's public institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, child care and personal expenses associated with obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program at a public institution of higher education.(c) The board, in coordination with the Massachusetts state scholarship office, shall:(1) promulgate guidelines governing the high demand targeted scholarship program;(2) promulgate procedures for repayment of the amount of scholarship benefits for persons who participate in the program but who fail to complete the 5-year commitment pursuant to clause (vi) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b); provided, however, that the procedures shall be designed to ensure there are no disincentives for low-income students to participate in the program and shall consider: (i) the amount of scholarship benefits the participant has received; (ii) the participant's current income if not working in an in-demand occupation; and (iii) the amount of time the participant worked in the commonwealth in the in-demand occupation consistent with their undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate; and(3) establish an outreach plan to attract individuals to in-demand professions through the scholarship program.(d) Annually, not later than July 31, the board shall submit a report detailing activity of the program, including, but not limited to: (i) the number of scholarships awarded by the program; provided, that the board shall categorize the number of scholarship awards by in-demand profession and public institution of higher education; (ii) demographic information of the recipients of the scholarship program; and (iii) the average scholarship award amount, which shall be categorized by in-demand profession and public institution of higher education.