Bill > HB1049

This bill establishes a new scholarship program for law students who commit to working as full-time deputy prosecuting attorneys or public defenders in Indiana after graduation. The program, administered by the Commission for Higher Education, will provide scholarships of up to $20,000 per year for full-time law students and $15,000 per year for part-time law students, with a maximum total scholarship of $60,000 per recipient. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in an Indiana-based law school approved by the American Bar Association, agree to work as a full-time deputy prosecuting attorney or public defender in Indiana for at least five consecutive years after being admitted to the bar, and complete a specific curriculum that includes Indiana-specific legal studies. Scholarship recipients who fail to meet these requirements will be required to repay all or a portion of the scholarship. The bill creates a dedicated scholarship fund that will be financed through state appropriations and potential gifts or grants, with unused funds rolling over each fiscal year. The commission will be responsible for developing promotional materials, establishing application protocols, and managing the program, and must submit an annual report detailing the scholarship's implementation and outcomes.