HB148 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul W. LeeRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Foster care, Dept. of Human Resources to develop and administer, scholarship program for foster children, eligibility, job training courses, scholarship benefits limited, Fostering Hope Scholarship Act, Sec. 40-18-362 repealed

Summary

This bill creates the Fostering Hope Scholarship Act to provide tuition, fees, and job-training funding for Alabama foster youth and replaces the old foster care education program.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Fostering Hope scholarship program run by the Department of Human Resources to pay tuition and required fees at public two-year or four-year colleges in Alabama or to cover approved job-training courses and certifications. It includes a mentor support component and sets limits on how funds are used, including a cap on mentor funding and on total hours paid toward degrees. It also repeals the previous foster care education program and sets eligibility rules, funding conditions, and an effective date of October 1, 2015.

Who It Affects

• Current or former foster youth in Alabama (including those adopted from foster care at age 14 or older) who meet eligibility requirements and could receive scholarships.
• Participants who enroll in public two-year or four-year colleges or publicly funded training programs in Alabama and meet progress, age, and other eligibility conditions.
• The Department of Human Resources, which would develop, administer, and oversee the Fostering Hope program and its rules.
• Public colleges and universities in Alabama, which would receive funds to cover eligible students' tuition, fees, or approved job-training costs.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Fostering Hope Scholarship Act of 2015 and directs the Department of Human Resources to develop and administer the program for designated foster youth and those adopted from foster care at age 14 or older.
• Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, the program may pay tuition and required fees for eligible students at public Alabama two-year or four-year institutions, or pay for approved job training or certifications at public institutions or other publicly funded programs, as first approved by the department.
• A mentor service is included to support participants, with mentors paid by the department.
• Annual state appropriations for the program may allocate up to 10% for the mentor component; funds must be used only for program-related benefits and unspent funds carry over to the next year; the department may limit applications and awards to fit available funds.
• Scholarship payments are capped at 72 academic hours toward an associate's degree or 144 hours toward a bachelor's degree, and only undergraduate programs are eligible for funding.
• Eligibility requires: foster care custody or recent adoption by age 14+, graduation from high school or GED, assets under $30,000, under 26 years old at start of the term, enrollment in a eligible program, progress toward degree/certification, and FAFSA or equivalent aid filing with pursuit of federal aid.
• After the first year, recipients must meet annual volunteer or employment requirements and stay in good academic standing; funds are disbursed only if there is sufficient state funding.
• Scholarship funds must be applied first to tuition and mandatory fees before other aid; if a student already has enough external aid to cover tuition, they may not participate.
• The commissioner may issue rules to implement the act; the act repeals Section 40-18-362 (Act 2014-413) and related provisions.
• The act becomes effective October 1, 2015.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education