Bill
HB 6139
Amends Rhode Island Promise Scholarship to cover two CCRI years of tuition and mandatory fees, offset by other aid; adds disability accommodations and stricter eligibility rules.
Status: Introduced March 26, 2025; referred to House Finance. Committee action: 05/01/2025 — committee recommended measure be held for further study.
Note: the source materials provided included unrelated text from a Michigan bill. This summary treats only the Rhode Island "Rhode Island Promise Scholarship" provisions contained in HB 6139.
Purpose
- To amend the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship statutes to clarify program definitions, update administration rules, define covered costs, and restate eligibility criteria and reasonable-accommodation exceptions for students—particularly students with disabilities—attending the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).
Key provisions and changes
- Definitions: updates and clarifies several program terms, including ADA, FAFSA, “mandatory fees and tuition” (explicitly excluding room & board, textbooks, program/course fees, meal plans, travel), “on track to graduate on time,” “reasonable accommodations,” “recipient student,” “scholarship program,” and “student with a disability.”
- Administration (§ 16-107-5):
- The CCRI financial aid office, with enrollment management, administers the scholarship.
- An award covers two years of CCRI tuition and mandatory fees, reduced by federal and other financial aid the student receives.
- Grants from the College Crusade Scholarship Act will NOT be treated as federal or other financial aid for purposes of offsetting the Promise award (i.e., those grants do not reduce the Promise award).
- The scholarship is limited to one award per student.
- Eligibility (§ 16-107-6):
- Basic requirements: in-state residency for tuition purposes; high school graduation/equivalency (with some age and accommodation exceptions); admission to and full-time enrollment at CCRI by the semester immediately following high school graduation or receipt of a high school equivalency diploma; completion of FAFSA (or CCRI-created alternative if legally unable to file); maintenance of full-time enrollment; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5; remaining “on track to graduate on time” as determined by CCRI; and a commitment to live, work, or continue education in Rhode Island after graduation (CCRI to develop policy to secure that commitment).
- Program begins with students who enrolled in fall 2017 (statutory baseline).
- Exceptions and accommodations:
- Approved medical or personal leaves of absence and military service interruptions do not forfeit eligibility if other requirements are later met.
- Students with disabilities who were otherwise eligible as of May 15, 2021, are guaranteed access and reasonable accommodations under ADA and §504 (including ability to enroll part‑time, attain a diploma/GED by age 21, and take more than two years to complete a certificate/associate’s degree).
- Students who previously enrolled in a postsecondary institution for only up to one semester may still qualify if they enroll at CCRI in the following semester.
- Initial enrollment may be deferred for one semester after high school graduation (text truncated—see note).
- Administrative/operational detail:
- FAFSA (or CCRI equivalent) must be completed by CCRI-set deadlines each year to receive funding.
- “Mandatory fees and tuition” explicitly excludes many common college costs; scholarship does not cover room/board, textbooks, etc.
Who is affected
- Primary: Rhode Island residents eligible for in-state tuition who enroll at CCRI and meet the program’s academic, enrollment, and administrative requirements.
- Special focus: students with disabilities (expanded protections and explicit accommodations), members of the National Guard/reserve (military exceptions), and students transferring after limited postsecondary enrollment.
- CCRI financial aid and enrollment offices (administration and verification duties).
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced March 26, 2025 by Representatives Azzinaro, Fellela, Diaz, O’Brien, Noret, Corvese, Casimiro, Kazarian, and Kennedy; referred to House Finance. Hearing scheduled April 25, 2025. On May 1, 2025, the committee recommended holding the measure for further study.
- Fiscal impacts are not provided in the text supplied; the award remains capped to two years of tuition/mandatory fees, offset by most other financial aid, which may limit net program cost per student but overall program cost depends on enrollment and state budgeting.
Limitations / caveats
- The supplied bill text is truncated at the end of §16-107-6; there may be additional provisions or technical amendments not reflected here. The source also contained unrelated Michigan legislative text that was not germane to the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship; this summary excludes that material.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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