1 Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Administer, at no cost to the state, the social services scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

2 New Section; Social Services Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:

21-N:8-c Social Services Scholarship Program Established.

I. There is hereby established a social services scholarship program for high school students who elect to pursue careers in social services, including but not limited to, nursing and care of children and the elderly, which shall be administered by the higher education commission. The purpose of this program is to provide public postsecondary education and training opportunities to every graduate of a public secondary school in New Hampshire by providing a full tuition scholarship for a maximum of 4 years to any student who is a resident of this state and who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in the social services. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.

II. A student who is interested in pursuing a degree in a social services field at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire and who graduated in the top 20 percent of his or her graduating class shall be eligible to apply for the scholarship. An eligible student shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.

III. Applicants who are selected to receive a scholarship under this program shall maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet such other criteria as may be established in this section. Applicants selected shall receive a full tuition scholarship for the applicable tuition and fees, reduced by the amount of any other scholarship aid they may receive. The scholarship shall be for a maximum of 4 years. Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 4 years after graduation or shall repay the scholarship amount received in full.

IV. All funds in the social services scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.

V. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the social services scholarship fund. The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose. In addition, the higher education commission may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section. The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the higher education commission. The fund shall be expended by the higher education commission to award scholarships to selected students in accordance with this section. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.

VI. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

(a) Instituting a scholarship application process.

(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.

(c) Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.

(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.

3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Social Services Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:

(334) Moneys deposited in the social services scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the social services scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

1 Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:

(10) Administer, at no cost to the state, the social services scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

2 New Section; Social Services Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:

21-N:8-c Social Services Scholarship Program Established.

I. There is hereby established a social services scholarship program for high school students who elect to pursue careers in social services, including but not limited to, nursing and care of children and the elderly, which shall be administered by the higher education commission. The purpose of this program is to provide public postsecondary education and training opportunities to every graduate of a public secondary school in New Hampshire by providing a full tuition scholarship for a maximum of 4 years to any student who is a resident of this state and who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in the social services. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.

II. A student who is interested in pursuing a degree in a social services field at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire and who graduated in the top 20 percent of his or her graduating class shall be eligible to apply for the scholarship. An eligible student shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.

III. Applicants who are selected to receive a scholarship under this program shall maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet such other criteria as may be established in this section. Applicants selected shall receive a full tuition scholarship for the applicable tuition and fees, reduced by the amount of any other scholarship aid they may receive. The scholarship shall be for a maximum of 4 years. Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 4 years after graduation or shall repay the scholarship amount received in full.

IV. All funds in the social services scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.

V. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the social services scholarship fund. The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose. In addition, the higher education commission may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section. The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the higher education commission. The fund shall be expended by the higher education commission to award scholarships to selected students in accordance with this section. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.

VI. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

(a) Instituting a scholarship application process.

(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.

(c) Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.

(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.

3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Social Services Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:

(334) Moneys deposited in the social services scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the social services scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.