(1) In consultation with the Talent Ready Utah Center created in Section 63N-12-502, and in accordance with Subsection (2), the board shall select employers to be promise partners.

(2) The board may select an employer as a promise partner if the employer: (a) applies to the board to be a promise partner; and (b) meets other requirements established by the board in the rules described in Subsection (5).

(a) applies to the board to be a promise partner; and

(b) meets other requirements established by the board in the rules described in Subsection (5).

(3) An individual employed by a promise partner is eligible to receive a partner award if the individual: (a) applies for a partner award; (b) is admitted to and enrolled in an institution; (c) is a Utah resident; (d) does not have an associate or higher postsecondary degree; (e) meets requirements established by the promise partner related to a partner award; and (f) maintains the eligibility requirements described in this Subsection (3) for the full length of time the individual receives the partner award.

(a) applies for a partner award;

(b) is admitted to and enrolled in an institution;

(c) is a Utah resident;

(d) does not have an associate or higher postsecondary degree;

(e) meets requirements established by the promise partner related to a partner award; and

(f) maintains the eligibility requirements described in this Subsection (3) for the full length of time the individual receives the partner award.

(4) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection (4)(b), the board shall award a partner award to an individual who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3). (b) The board may: (i) award a partner award for up to the portion of tuition and fees for a program at an institution that is not covered by an employer reimbursement described in Subsection (5)(b); and (ii) prioritize awarding partner awards if an appropriation for partner awards is not sufficient to provide a partner award to each individual who is eligible under Subsection (3). (c) The board may continue to award a partner award to a recipient who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3) until the earliest of the following: (i) two years after the individual initially receives a partner award; (ii) the recipient uses a partner award to attend an institution for four semesters; (iii) the recipient completes the requirements for an associate degree; or (iv) if the recipient attends an institution that does not offer associate degrees, the recipient has 60 earned credit hours.

(a) Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection (4)(b), the board shall award a partner award to an individual who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3).

(b) The board may: (i) award a partner award for up to the portion of tuition and fees for a program at an institution that is not covered by an employer reimbursement described in Subsection (5)(b); and (ii) prioritize awarding partner awards if an appropriation for partner awards is not sufficient to provide a partner award to each individual who is eligible under Subsection (3).

(i) award a partner award for up to the portion of tuition and fees for a program at an institution that is not covered by an employer reimbursement described in Subsection (5)(b); and

(ii) prioritize awarding partner awards if an appropriation for partner awards is not sufficient to provide a partner award to each individual who is eligible under Subsection (3).

(c) The board may continue to award a partner award to a recipient who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3) until the earliest of the following: (i) two years after the individual initially receives a partner award; (ii) the recipient uses a partner award to attend an institution for four semesters; (iii) the recipient completes the requirements for an associate degree; or (iv) if the recipient attends an institution that does not offer associate degrees, the recipient has 60 earned credit hours.

(i) two years after the individual initially receives a partner award;

(ii) the recipient uses a partner award to attend an institution for four semesters;

(iii) the recipient completes the requirements for an associate degree; or

(iv) if the recipient attends an institution that does not offer associate degrees, the recipient has 60 earned credit hours.

(5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the board shall make rules that establish: (a) requirements for an employer to seek and receive approval from the board for the employer's employees to receive partner awards; (b) requirements related to an employer providing reimbursement to an employee who receives a partner award for a portion of the employee's tuition and fees; (c) a process for an individual to apply for a partner award; (d) criteria for the board to prioritize awarding partner awards; and (e) a requirement that an institution shall, for a recipient of a partner award: (i) evaluate the recipient's knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment; and (ii) award credit, as applicable, for the recipient's prior learning described in Subsection (5)(e)(i).

(a) requirements for an employer to seek and receive approval from the board for the employer's employees to receive partner awards;

(b) requirements related to an employer providing reimbursement to an employee who receives a partner award for a portion of the employee's tuition and fees;

(c) a process for an individual to apply for a partner award;

(d) criteria for the board to prioritize awarding partner awards; and

(e) a requirement that an institution shall, for a recipient of a partner award: (i) evaluate the recipient's knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment; and (ii) award credit, as applicable, for the recipient's prior learning described in Subsection (5)(e)(i).

(i) evaluate the recipient's knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment; and

(ii) award credit, as applicable, for the recipient's prior learning described in Subsection (5)(e)(i).