74-32,272. Same; promise scholarship program; rules and regulations; state board of regents' powers and duties; report. (a) There is hereby established the Kansas promise scholarship program. The state board of regents shall administer the program.

(b) On or before March 1, 2022, the state board of regents shall adopt rules and regulations to implement and administer the Kansas promise scholarship program. Such rules and regulations shall establish:

(1) Scholarship application deadlines;

(2) appeal procedures for denial or revocation of a Kansas promise scholarship;

(3) guidelines to ensure as much as is practicable that, if a student who received a Kansas promise scholarship graduates from a promise eligible program and subsequently enrolls in a state educational institution, as defined in K.S.A. 76-711, and amendments thereto, or municipal university, any courses taken by such student shall be transferred to the state educational institution or municipal university and qualify toward the student's baccalaureate degree;

(4) the terms, conditions and requirements that shall be incorporated into each Kansas promise scholarship agreement;

(5) procedures for requesting and approving medical, military and personal absences from an eligible postsecondary educational institution while receiving a Kansas promise scholarship;

(6) criteria for determining whether a student who received a Kansas promise scholarship fulfilled the residency, employment and repayment requirements included in a Kansas promise scholarship agreement as provided in K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-32,276, and amendments thereto; and

(7) criteria for determining when a student who received a Kansas promise scholarship may be released from the requirements of a Kansas promise scholarship, if there are special circumstances that caused such student to be unable to complete such requirements.

(c) The state board of regents shall:

(1) Identify the promise eligible programs offered by each eligible postsecondary educational institution that are:

(A) In any of the following fields of study:

(i) Information technology and security;

(ii) mental and physical healthcare;

(iii) advanced manufacturing and building trades; or

(iv) early childhood education and development; or

(B) designated by the eligible postsecondary educational institution pursuant to K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-32,273, and amendments thereto;

(2) work with community partners, such as community foundations, school districts, postsecondary educational institutions, Kansas business and industry and Kansas economic development organizations to publicize Kansas promise scholarships, including, but not limited to, publicizing eligible postsecondary educational institutions, approved scholarship-eligible educational programs, application procedures and application deadlines;

(3) disburse funds to each eligible postsecondary educational institution for the purpose of awarding Kansas promise scholarships;

(4) request information from eligible postsecondary educational institutions necessary for the administration of this act;

(5) ensure that any student who received a Kansas promise scholarship fulfills the residency, employment and repayment requirements provided in K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-32,276, and amendments thereto; and

(6) beginning in January 2022, annually evaluate the Kansas promise scholarship program and prepare and submit a report to the senate standing committee on education and the house of representatives standing committee on education.

History: L. 2021, ch. 91, § 2; July 1.