Section 37-106-81 - State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship Program created; definitions; use of scholarship funds; mentor service; eligibility requirements; renewal scholarship continuing eligibility requirements(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship Program."(2) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this subsection, unless context of use clearly requires otherwise: (a) "Approved postsecondary educational institution" means any public state-supported institution of higher learning, community or junior college, or any not-for-profit private institution of higher learning in the state. The term does not include proprietary colleges or universities.(b) "Board" means the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established in Section 37-106-9, which is authorized and empowered to administer the provisions of Title 37, Chapter 106, Mississippi Code of 1972.(c) "Director" means the individual designated by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to administer the provisions of the various financial assistance programs by promulgating the necessary rules and regulations for their effective administration.(d) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.(e) "Eligible student" means: (i) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was placed in the legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services by a youth court or through other legal means and who was in the legal custody of the department at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age;(ii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was placed in a qualified residential child care agency by a parent, legal guardian, court of competent jurisdiction, or other person or entity acting in the best interest of the individual and who did reside in a qualified residential child care agency at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age; or(iii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-five (25) years of age who was adopted from the department's legal custody or adopted while residing at a qualified residential child care agency as described in paragraph (f) of this subsection at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age.(f) "Qualified residential child care agency" means an entity that provides a home for children and was licensed by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services at the time that the scholarship applicant was housed by the agency.(g) "Scholarship" means the State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship.(3) The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, with the assistance of the Mississippi Department Child Protection Services shall develop and administer the Kinkade FAITH Scholarship Program for eligible students. Commencing with the 2023-2024 academic year, the board shall approve scholarships to eligible students who meet the general requirements set forth in subsection (8) of this section. Scholarships shall be used to pay up to the cost of attendance at any approved postsecondary educational institution, provided that payments to any not-for-profit private institution of higher learning shall not exceed the average cost of attendance required by all of the public state-supported institutions of higher learning.(4) Payments up to the cost of attendance are considered program scholarships.(5) The Kinkade FAITH Scholarship Program shall include a mentor service administered by the department as a support system for scholarship recipients. This service shall include mentors who shall be compensated by the department, as employees or contractors, to help participants adapt to independent living, academics and other college or university activities.(6)(a) Initial recipients shall be selected from all eligible students based on rules promulgated by the board. In the second and subsequent years of the program, priority consideration shall first be given to renewal applicants.(b) The board shall develop rules for ensuring that expenses of the scholarship program in a fiscal year do not exceed funding for the program in that fiscal year. For that purpose, and any other provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the board may limit the acceptance of scholarship applications and may limit the award of scholarships.(7) The program shall pay up to the student's cost of attendance for up to five (5) years, except as otherwise provided in subsection (10) of this section. In no event shall the cost of attendance be paid pursuant to this section for more than seventy-two (72) credit hours at a community college or one hundred forty-four (144) credit hours at a four-year college. The program shall only pay up to cost of attendance for courses leading to an undergraduate credential or degree. Scholarship funds may be disbursed only if sufficient funding for the scholarship program is available.(8) To participate in the program, a scholarship applicant shall satisfy the following general eligibility requirements:(a) Be an eligible student as defined in subsection (2)(e) of this section;(b) Be accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program at an approved postsecondary educational institution; and(c) Have completed and submitted to the United States Department of Education a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before each year in which he or she receives a scholarship. He or she shall have applied for all federal student financial assistance, including Educational and Training Vouchers.(9) To receive a renewal scholarship, a student shall satisfy the following continuing eligibility requirements: (a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree or certificate as determined by rules promulgated by the board and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters of enrollment; and(b) Remain in good standing with the policies established by the approved postsecondary educational institution.(10) The age limitation under subsection (2)(e) of this section shall be extended by the total number of years during which the student was on active duty status in the United States Armed Forces. The number of months served on active duty status in the United States Armed Forces shall be rounded up to the next higher year to determine the maximum length of eligibility extension allowed.(11) The scholarship will include any costs associated with room and board during institutional holidays at approved postsecondary educational institutions where such accommodations are available.(12) Funds can be combined with any other federal, institutional, or private scholarships to meet the student's full cost of attendance. No other gift aid should be reduced or supplanted by the Kinkade FAITH scholarship. However, in no case shall the FAITH scholarship be combined with other gift aid to exceed cost of attendance.(13) The board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement and administer this section.(14) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:(a) Guarantee acceptance of or entrance into any approved postsecondary educational institution for an eligible student;(b) Limit the participation of an eligible student in any other program of financial assistance for postsecondary education;(c) Require any approved postsecondary educational institution to waive costs or fees relating to room and board; or(d) Restrict any approved postsecondary educational institution, the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, or the Department of Child Protection Services from accessing other sources of financial assistance, except loans, that may be available to an eligible student.Added by Laws, 2022, ch. 440, HB 1313,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2022.