74-32,151. Workforce development loan program act; board of regents; contributions and appropriations; qualifications. (a) This section and K.S.A. 74-32,152 through 74-32,159, and amendments thereto, shall be known and may be cited as the workforce development loan program act.

(b) As used in the workforce development loan act, "postsecondary educational institution" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto by K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto.

(c) Within the limits of appropriations and private contributions therefor, and in accordance with the provisions of this act, the state board of regents may award such loans to Kansas residents who are enrolled in or admitted to a technical college, community college, the institute of technology at Washburn university or associate degree programs at postsecondary educational institutions and who enter into a written agreement with the state board of regents as provided in K.S.A. 74-32,152, and amendments thereto.

(d) The board of regents may accept any private contributions to the program. The chief executive officer of the board of regents shall turn such contributions over to the state treasurer who shall deposit such moneys into the workforce development loan fund.

(e) After consultation with the secretaries of the Kansas department for children and families and the department of commerce, the board may establish a list of education programs in which an applicant must enroll to be eligible for a loan under this program.

(f) The loans shall be awarded on a priority basis to qualified applicants who have the greatest financial need with the highest priority given to those applicants with the greatest financial need who were in foster care on their 18th birthday or were released from foster care prior to their 18th birthday after having graduated from high school or completing the requirements for a general educational development (GED) certificate while in foster care. All loans shall be awarded to resident students attending technical colleges, community colleges, the institute of technology at Washburn university or associate degree programs at postsecondary educational institutions. Special preference shall also be established for residents drawing unemployment compensation or such residents who were laid off from employment within the prior six months. The board may also establish preferences for workers deemed to be eligible for North American free trade agreement transition assistance under United States department of labor standards or the Kansas department of labor standards.

(g) Loans awarded under this program shall be awarded on an annual basis and shall be in effect for one year unless otherwise terminated before the expiration of such period of time. Such loans shall be awarded for the payment of tuition, fees, books, room and board and any other necessary school related expenses.

History: L. 2002, ch. 127, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 154, § 29; L. 2004, ch. 179, § 99; L. 2005, ch. 186, § 19; L. 2011, ch. 97, § 42; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 298; July 1.

Revisor's Note:

Section was amended twice in the 2004 session, see also 74-32,151a.