HB 2001 — An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for incarcerated students; and abrogating a regulation.

PRINTER'S NO.   2548

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2001
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MADDEN, RIVERA, WAXMAN, HILL-
        EVANS, SANCHEZ, KINKEAD, DALEY, HOHENSTEIN AND CURRY,
        OCTOBER 29, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, OCTOBER 29, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, providing for incarcerated students; and abrogating
 3      a regulation.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Title 24 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 8                                 CHAPTER 67
 9                            INCARCERATED STUDENTS
10   Sec.
11   6701.   Definitions.
12   6702.   State grant eligibility for incarcerated students.
13   6703.   Reporting.
14   § 6701.   Definitions.
15      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
16   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17   context clearly indicates otherwise:
18      "Agency."    The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
 1   Agency.
 2      "Eligible prison education program."        A postsecondary
 3   education program that:
 4             (1)   is offered by a Federal or State correctional
 5      facility;
 6             (2)   leads to a degree or industry-recognized credential;
 7             (3)   is:
 8                   (i)    accredited by a recognized accrediting agency;
 9                   (ii)    in the process of obtaining accreditation; or
10                   (iii)   approved by the Department of Education or the
11             Department of Corrections as meeting standards
12             established by the departments;
13             (4)   is offered within the correctional facility or
14      through secure, authorized remote instruction; and
15             (5)   has been approved by the Federal Bureau of Prisons
16      or the Department of Corrections, as applicable.
17      "Incarcerated student."        An individual who is confined in a
18   Federal or State correctional facility who is enrolled in an
19   eligible prison education program and is otherwise eligible for
20   financial aid under State law.
21      "Recognized accrediting agency."         An accrediting agency that
22   is recognized by the United States Department of Education or
23   the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
24      "State grant."        Financial aid provided by the agency under
25   any State-administered higher education grant or scholarship
26   program, including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania State
27   Grant Program.
28   § 6702.    State grant eligibility for incarcerated students.
29      (a)    Eligibility authorized.--Notwithstanding any other
30   provision of law or regulation to the contrary, including

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 1   section 8.2 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546,
 2   No.541), referred to as the Higher Education Scholarship Law, an
 3   incarcerated student may not be deemed ineligible for a State
 4   grant solely on the basis of incarceration.
 5      (b)     Conditions.--Eligibility under this section shall apply
 6   to an incarcerated student who:
 7             (1)   is within five years of a scheduled release date;
 8             (2)   has been a resident of this Commonwealth for a
 9      period of not less than 12 months prior to the date of
10      incarceration;
11             (3)   is enrolled in an eligible prison education program;
12             (4)   is determined by the Federal Bureau of Prisons or
13      the Department of Corrections to be in good academic and
14      disciplinary standing; and
15             (5)   notwithstanding section 4(a)(4) of the Higher
16      Education Scholarship Law, meets all other eligibility
17      requirements applicable to nonincarcerated applicants under
18      agency rules and regulations.
19      (c)     Prohibition.--A regulation, policy or internal procedure
20   may not be adopted or enforced that restricts eligibility for
21   State grants on the basis of incarceration alone.
22      (d)     Construction.--This chapter shall be broadly construed
23   to ensure access to State grant aid for incarcerated students.
24   No provision of statute or regulation may be interpreted to
25   impose ineligibility for State grants on the basis of
26   incarceration except as explicitly authorized under this
27   chapter.
28   § 6703.    Reporting.
29      (a)     Data collection.--The Department of Corrections, in
30   conjunction with the agency, shall collect and maintain data on

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 1   incarcerated students who receive State grants. The data shall
 2   include, but not be limited to:
 3            (1)   Enrollment and completion rates of eligible prison
 4      education programs.
 5            (2)   Types of degrees or credentials earned.
 6            (3)   Academic progress, including course completion and
 7      grades, as available.
 8            (4)   Employment and continuing education status within
 9      one year of release, to the extent available.
10            (5)   Recidivism rates among formerly incarcerated
11      students who received State grants.
12      (b)   Annual report.--No later than August 1 of each year, the
13   Department of Corrections, in conjunction with the agency, shall
14   submit a joint report to the chairperson and minority
15   chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate, the
16   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee
17   of the House of Representatives, the chairperson and minority
18   chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and the
19   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Judiciary Committee
20   of the House of Representatives. The report shall include the
21   data collected under subsection (a).
22      Section 2.    The provisions of 22 Pa. Code § 121.6(b) are
23   abrogated.
24      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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