(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible student" means an individual who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The individual is an Ohio resident.
(b) The individual is enrolled in an eligible school.
(c) The individual has passed a drug test.
(d) The individual does not have more than three moving violations in two consecutive years. If an individual who the eligible school has determined is an eligible student has three moving violations in two consecutive years while participating in the program, the individual shall no longer be considered eligible for continued participation in the program.
(e) The individual has not plead guilty to or been convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse under section4511.19of the Revised Code in the past twelve months. If an individual who the eligible school has determined is an eligible student pleads guilty to or is convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse while participating in the program, the individual shall no longer be considered eligible for continued participation in the program.
(f) The individual meets any additional eligibility criteria established under rules adopted by the chancellor, in consultation with the director of public safety, under division (F) of this section.
(2) "Eligible school" means either of the following:
(a) A commercial driver training school certified by the director of public safety as holding a license issued pursuant to section4508.03or4508.09of the Revised Code, rules adopted under either of those sections, and other necessary standards and procedures as determined by the director;
(b) A program exempted from licensure by the director of public safety under section4508.07of the Revised Code but approved to be a commercial driver training school by the chancellor and the director for purposes of the student aid program at any of the following:
(i) A state institution of higher education, as defined in section3345.011of the Revised Code;
(ii) A career college or school in this state that holds a certificate of registration from the state board of career colleges and schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code;
(iii) A private, nonprofit institution in this state that holds a certificate of authorization pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;
(iv) A private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section3333.046of the Revised Code, if the program has a certificate of authorization pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;
(v) A career-technical center, joint vocational school district, comprehensive career-technical center, or compact career-technical center offering adult training.
No commercial driver training school that charges employers recruiting fees shall be certified under this division.
(3) "Employed in this state" means either of the following:
(a) An individual is employed as a truck driver by an entity that has a valid mailing address in the state.
(b) An individual is self-employed as a truck driver using a valid mailing address in the state.
(4) "Moving violation" has the same meaning as in section4510.01of the Revised Code.
(B) The commercial truck driver student aid program is hereby established. Under the program, the chancellor of higher education shall make awards to eligible schools. Schools that receive such awards shall distribute to an eligible student who commits to reside in and be employed in this state for a minimum of one year upon completion of a commercial driver training program a combination of a grant and a loan in the amounts prescribed by the chancellor under division (D) of this section to pay for the costs of a commercial driver training program at an eligible school.
(C) There is hereby established in the state treasury the commercial truck driver student aid fund, which shall consist of funds appropriated by the general assembly for purposes of this section and funds received as repayment for loans awarded under this section.
The fund shall be used by the chancellor for grants and loans made under this section and for expenses of creating and administering the program.
(D)(1) The chancellor shall determine the grant and loan amount awarded to an eligible student.
Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, the chancellor also shall award a loan to an eligible student in the same amount as the grant. A loan for an eligible student's program costs under this section shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. The total amount of a grant and a loan awarded to an eligible student under this section shall not exceed the cost of tuition and related expenses for an eligible school's commercial driver training program.
(2) If, for any academic year, the amounts available for support of the program are inadequate to provide grants and loans to all eligible students who apply for participation or are participating in the program, the chancellor shall proportionately reduce the amount of each grant and loan to be awarded for the academic year.
(E)(1) The chancellor shall be responsible for making deposits and withdrawals and maintaining records pertaining to the student aid program.
(2) Each eligible student who accepts a grant or loan under division (B) of this section shall sign a promissory note payable to the state in the event the student fails to do either of the following:
(a) Satisfy the residency and employment requirement under that division;
(b) Complete the commercial driver training program in which the student was enrolled.
(3) The amount payable under the note shall be the amount of the grant or loan accepted by the student plus interest accrued annually beginning either one calendar year after the student completes a commercial driver training program or immediately after the student disenrolls from, or does not complete, a commercial driver training program. The chancellor shall determine the interest rate and period of repayment under the note. The chancellor may consult with the attorney general and the treasurer of state when determining the interest rate and period of repayment.
(4) The note shall stipulate that the obligation to make payments under the note is canceled once either of the following applies to the student:
(a) The student completes a commercial driver training program and meets the residency and employment requirement under division (B) of this section.
(b) The student dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled.
(F) The chancellor, in consultation with the director of public safety, shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, necessary for the operation of the program, including rules for all of the following:
(1) Terms and conditions for loans under the program;
(2) Requirements for certification of commercial driver training schools;
(3) Additional eligibility criteria that the chancellor determines necessary for individuals participating in the program.
Last updated January 20, 2022 at 9:02 AM