Effective 5/4/2022
53B-13a-106. Utah promise partners.
53B-13a-106. Utah promise partners.
- (1) As part of the Utah Promise Program and in consultation with the Talent Ready Utah Program created in Section 63N-1b-302, the board may select employers to be promise partners.
- (2) The board may select an employer as a promise partner if the employer:
- (a) applies to the board to be a promise partner; and
- (b) meets other requirements established by the board in the rules described in Subsection (5).
- (3) An individual employed by a promise partner is eligible to receive a partner award if the individual:
- (a) applies for a partner award;
- (b) is admitted to and enrolled in an institution;
- (c) meets requirements established by the promise partner related to a partner award; and
- (d) maintains the eligibility requirements described in this Subsection (3) for the full length of time the individual receives the partner award.
- (4)
- (a) Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection (4)(b), the board shall award a partner award to an individual who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3).
- (b) The board may:
- (i) award a partner award for up to the portion of tuition and fees for a program at an institution that is not covered by an employer reimbursement described in Subsection (5)(b); and
- (ii) prioritize awarding partner awards if an appropriation for partner awards is not sufficient to provide a partner award to each individual who is eligible under Subsection (3).
- (c) The board may continue to award a partner award to a recipient who meets the requirements described in Subsection (3) until the earliest of the following:
- (i) two years after the individual initially receives a partner award;
- (ii) the recipient uses a partner award to attend an institution for four semesters;
- (iii) the recipient completes the requirements for an associate degree; or
- (iv) if the recipient attends an institution that does not offer associate degrees, the recipient has 60 earned credit hours.
- (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the board shall make rules that establish:
- (a) requirements for an employer to seek and receive approval from the board for the employer’s employees to receive partner awards;
- (b) requirements related to an employer providing reimbursement to an employee who receives a partner award for a portion of the employee’s tuition and fees;
- (c) a process for an individual to apply for a partner award;
- (d) criteria for the board to prioritize awarding partner awards to individuals; and
- (e) a requirement that an institution shall, for a recipient of a partner award:
- (i) evaluate the recipient’s knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment; and
- (ii) award credit, as applicable, for the recipient’s prior learning described in Subsection (5)(e)(i).
- (6) The board may allow an individual to apply directly to the board for a partner award.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 370, 2022 General Session