Bill > HB867

This bill establishes a pilot financial aid program administered by the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide grants to eligible students attending approved vocational schools in specific beauty and personal care fields, including barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, and nail care. Eligible students must be enrolled or accepted at an in-state, nationally or regionally accredited school, come from an economically disadvantaged background or have a financial aid gap, and meet existing scholarship eligibility requirements. The program will offer a maximum grant of $10,000 per student, with a total annual grant disbursement cap of $50,000. The commission will develop individualized eligibility criteria, establish rules for grant retention, and require students to submit applications following specific procedures. The bill includes provisions to prevent fraud, allows for school examinations to verify student eligibility and grant usage, and mandates annual data collection and program evaluation. Importantly, the pilot program is set to be automatically repealed on July 1, 2028, giving the state a defined period to assess its effectiveness in supporting students in these vocational training programs.

Education

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71720