Section 3434A - Administration of the program(a) The Office shall administer the Program. The Office shall coordinate with the Department and each institution of higher education to provide resources and assistance to eligible students and to achieve the purposes of the Program.(b) In implementing the Office's role in administering the Program, the Office shall do all of the following: (1) Serve as the primary contact for students participating in the Program.(2) Coordinate eligibility verification for the Program.(3) Assist eligible students with identifying additional direct and indirect costs of higher education to determine whether any additional sources of funding are required.(4) Coordinate with the Department and each institution of higher education to ensure the institution has policies and procedures in place for application of the waiver, scholarships and grants, and any additional costs and fees, as well as housing and food access during school breaks for students eligible for on-campus housing.(5) Coordinate with the Department and the Department's contracted independent living providers to assist students in addressing issues related to participation in the Program.(6) Maintain a record of students participating in the Program and coordinate with each institution of higher education to report by April 1 of each year to the Controller General and the Office of Management and Budget the number of students who are receiving a waiver under this subchapter.(7) Include in the Office's annual summary to the Governor and the General Assembly, as required by § 9005A(11) of Title 29, the number of recipients of the tuition waiver, the institutions attended by the recipients, and such other information as the Office deems useful. The summary may not include identifying or confidential information on recipients.(8) Adopt rules and regulations as the Office deems necessary and proper to administer the Program.(c) In implementing the role of the institutions of higher education in administering the Program, each institution of higher education shall designate an appropriate staff person to serve as the point of contact for the Office and for students participating in the Program who are attending the institution. The point of contact, and staff designated to assist the point of contact, shall do all of the following: (1) Ensure contact information for the point of contact is posted on the publicly accessible internet website of the institution of higher education.(2) Assist students with obtaining verification of eligibility for the Program from the Office.(3) Assist eligible students to access available federal and state financial aid resources and identify further scholarship and grant opportunities. Notwithstanding this paragraph (c)(3), the institution of higher education shall coordinate with the Office before any eligible student applies for or receives loans.(4) Provide students participating in the Program with information and referrals for on-campus and off-campus support services and resources.(5) Maintain a record of students participating in the Program and provide those records to the Office so the Office may comply with paragraph (b)(6) of this section.Amended by Laws 2023, ch. 509,s 4, eff. 10/25/2024.Added by Laws 2021 , ch. 255, s 1, eff. 10/21/2021.