Section 3333.125 | Commercial truck driver student aid program.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible student" means an individual who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The individual is an Ohio resident.
(b) The individual is enrolled in a certified commercial driver's license school.
(c) The individual has passed a drug test.
(d) The individual does not have more than three moving violations in two consecutive years. If an individual who the chancellor of higher education has determined is an eligible student has three moving violations in two consecutive years while participating in the program, the individual shall no longer be considered eligible for continued participation in the program.
(e) The individual has not plead guilty to or been convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse under section 4511.19 of the Revised Code in the past twelve months. If an individual who the chancellor has determined is an eligible student pleads guilty to or is convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse while participating in the program, the individual shall no longer be considered eligible for continued participation in the program.
(f) The individual meets any additional eligibility criteria established under rules adopted by the chancellor under division (G) of this section.
(2) "Certified commercial driver's license school" means a commercial driver's license school certified by the chancellor. The chancellor shall adopt requirements for approval of certification and review applications based on those requirements.
No commercial driver's license school that charges employers recruiting fees shall be certified under this division.
A certified commercial driver's license program offered by a career college in this state that holds a certificate of registration from the state board of career colleges and schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code or at a private institution exempt from regulation under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code as prescribed in section 3333.046 of the Revised Code shall be considered a certified commercial driver's license school.
(3) "Cost of attendance" and "expected family contribution" shall be defined by the chancellor.
(4) "Employed in this state" means either of the following:
(a) An individual is employed as a truck driver by an entity that has a valid mailing address in the state.
(b) An individual is self-employed as a truck driver using a valid mailing address in the state.
(5) "Moving violation" has the same meaning as in section 4510.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) The commercial truck driver student aid program is hereby established. Under the program, the chancellor of higher education shall pay to an eligible student who commits to reside in and be employed in this state for a minimum of one year upon completion of a certified commercial driver's license program a combination of a grant and a loan in the amounts prescribed by division (D) of this section to pay for the costs of a certified commercial driver's license program at a certified commercial driver's license school.
(C) There is hereby established in the state treasury the commercial truck driver student aid fund, which shall consist of funds appropriated by the general assembly for purposes of this section and funds received as repayment for loans awarded under this section.
The fund shall be used by the chancellor for grants and loans made under this section and for expenses of administering the program.
(D)(1) The grant amount awarded to an eligible student shall equal one-half of the student's remaining state cost of attendance after the student's Pell grant and expected family contribution are applied to the instructional and general charges for the student's enrollment in the certified commercial driver's license school.
Except as provided in divisions (D)(2) and (E) of this section, the chancellor also shall award a loan to an eligible student in the same amount.
(2) If, for any academic year, the amounts available for support of the program are inadequate to provide grants and loans to all eligible students who apply for participation or are participating in the program, the chancellor shall proportionately reduce the amount of each grant and loan to be awarded for the academic year.
(E) The amount of a grant and a loan awarded to an eligible student under this section shall be in addition to what the eligible student receives under the Ohio college opportunity grant under section 3333.122 of the Revised Code. If an eligible student receives a grant under section 3333.122 of the Revised Code, the chancellor shall decrease the amount of the eligible student's loan under this section by the amount of the grant received under that section.
(F)(1) Each eligible student who accepts a grant under division (B) of this section shall sign a promissory note payable to the state in the event the student fails to do either of the following:
(a) Satisfy the residency and employment requirement under that division;
(b) Complete the certified commercial driver's license program in which the student was enrolled.
(2) The amount payable under the note shall be the amount of the grant accepted by the student plus interest accrued annually beginning either one calendar year after the student completes a certified commercial driver's license program or immediately after the student disenrolls from, or does not complete, a certified commercial driver's license program. The chancellor shall determine the interest rate and period of repayment under the note.
(3) The note shall stipulate that the obligation to make payments under the note is canceled once either of the following applies to the student:
(a) The student completes a certified commercial driver's license program and meets the residency and employment requirement under division (B) of this section.
(b) The student dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled.
(G) The chancellor shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, necessary for the operation of the program, including rules for all of the following:
(1) Terms and conditions for loans under the program;
(2) Requirements for certification of commercial driver's license schools;
(3) Additional eligibility criteria that the chancellor determines necessary for individuals participating in the program.
Last updated September 9, 2021 at 9:50 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 30, 2021 – Enacted by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly [ View September 30, 2021 Version ]
- December 22, 2021 – Amended by Senate Bill 166 - 134th General Assembly [ View December 22, 2021 Version ]