HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 290

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO THE STUDENT EXCELLENCE EQUALS DEGREE ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Subchapter XIV, Chapter 34, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3402A. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this subchapter, shall have the meaning ascribed to them except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

‏“‏ ‏ (8)‏ Violent felony” shall mean any felony listed in § 4201(c) of Title 11, except for drug-related offenses set forth in Title 16.

§ 3404A. Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible to participate in the SEED program and to qualify for a grant to pay tuition by the State pursuant to this subchapter for the first semester or other academic unit of post-secondary enrollment at Delaware Technical and Community College or the University of Delaware, Associate in Arts program, a student shall meet all of the following:

(2) The student shall not have been convicted of any violent felony and the student ‏’‏ s parent, legal guardian, or relative caregiver shall certify such fact. [Repealed.]

§ 3406A. Maintaining eligibility.

(a) To maintain continued State payment of tuition once enrolled at Delaware Technical and Community College or the University of Delaware, Associate in Arts program, the student shall meet all of the following:

(4) The student shall certify that he or she has not been convicted of any violent felony. The parent or guardian of a student 17 years of age or under shall also certify that the student has not been convicted of any violent felony.

SYNOPSIS

This Act removes a barrier to higher education by allowing a student who has been convicted of a violent felony to qualify for or maintain eligibility for a SEED scholarship if other eligibility criteria are met.