(a) Full-time educational assistance grants.--Grants awarded under this subchapter to full-time students shall be determined by the agency without regard to financial need and shall not exceed for each academic year the lesser of:

(1) the tuition rate of the approved institution of higher learning for the number of credit hours per semester or its equivalent for the approved program of education in which the eligible member is enrolled; or

(2) the annual tuition rate charged by a State System of Higher Education institution for the academic year.

(b) Part-time student assistance grants.--

Grants awarded under this subchapter to part-time students who may or may not possess a baccalaureate degree shall be determined by the agency without regard to financial need and shall not exceed for each academic year or period the lesser of:

(1) the tuition charged by the approved institution of higher learning for the number of credit hours per semester or its equivalent in which the eligible member is enrolled; or

(2) the annual tuition rate charged by a State System of Higher Education institution for the number of credit hours per semester or its equivalent in which the eligible member is enrolled for the same academic year or period.

(b.1) Part-time student assistance grants for stduents possessing baccalaureate degrees.--(Deleted by amendment).

(1) (Deleted by amendment).

(2) (Deleted by amendment).

(c) Other grants and financial aid.--

(1) The agency shall not reduce the amount of other agency grants or aid for which the eligible member qualifies on account of the eligible member's eligibility for or receipt of grants under this subchapter.

(2) Prior to making a grant under this subchapter, the approved institution of higher learning shall first consider any Federal tuition assistance received by the eligible member and then shall award a grant under this subchapter if the eligible member requires additional financial aid to cover the costs of attendance for an approved program of higher education. A grant under this subchapter shall be paid or refunded to the eligible member for approved costs of attendance. Grants authorized under this subchapter shall be reduced so that the total of all Federal and State military education benefits, as administered by the Pennsylvania National Guard, do not exceed 100% of the costs of attendance.

(d) Adjustments.--If the agency and the Adjutant General determine that the amount appropriated for the program in any year will be insufficient to provide grants in the amounts set forth in this section to all eligible members, the agency and the department may reduce the maximum amount of the grants proportionately or set a limit on the number of participants to ensure that sums expended do not exceed appropriations.

(e) Limit on charges.--Eligible members attending a State System of Higher Education institution shall not be charged additional tuition above the annual tuition rate.

(May 10, 2000, P.L.36, No.11, eff. July 1, 2000; July 7, 2006, P.L.598, No.87, eff. 60 days; June 26, 2014, P.L.791, No.78, eff. July 1, 2014; June 26, 2014, P.L.807, No.82, eff. 60 days; July 1, 2019, P.L.233, No.32, eff. imd.)

2019 Amendment. Act 32 amended subsecs. (a), (b) and (c), added subsec. (e) and deleted subsec. (b.1).