(a) The department annually shall notify, identify, and outreach to those youth in its legal custody, beginning at age fourteen (14) and until the youth exits care, who may satisfy the eligibility requirements prescribed in § 42-72.8-2.1 for the Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant. Each qualified applicant will receive a grant, to the extent of available funding, to supplement federal, state, private, and institutional scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities awarded to the higher education institution for the applicant in an amount not to exceed the full cost of attendance including, but not limited to: tuition, fees, books, academic support, transportation, food, and housing. The department shall request from the higher education institution the qualified applicant’s unmet need calculated in accordance with federal and state laws and the institution’s policies. For the workforce development incentive grant, each qualified applicant shall receive a grant, to the extent of available funding, in an amount not to exceed the full cost of attendance including, but not limited to: training, fees, books, transportation, food, and housing calculated by the department, in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island. Payments pursuant to this chapter shall be disbursed in accordance with the requirements of the higher education institution.
(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 8, § 8, effective June 17, 2024.]
(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 8, § 8, effective June 17, 2024.]