Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4.

This bill requires the Tennessee board of regents (TBR) to develop and administer a two-year pilot program to award grants to students enrolled in an eligible program of study at a community college or Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system (referred to in this bill and summary as an "eligible postsecondary institution"). For purposes of this bill, an "eligible program of study" is a non-credit, non-academic workforce training program operated by an eligible postsecondary institution with defined curriculum, objectives and exit skill requirements that leads to an industry certification or an industry validated certification, including a pre-apprentice linework academy program. The pilot program must begin and award grants during the 2022-2023 academic year. Subject to funding, the amount of a grant awarded will not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged to students for an eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution. Any gift aid must be credited to tuition and mandatory fees first, unless federal law or regulation requires otherwise, in which case federal priority controls. This bill requires the TBR to develop an application process for students to apply for a grant. If a student meets the following qualifications, then the TBR must award the student a grant in accordance with this bill. This bill specifies the requirements for applying for and receiving a grant under this bill, which include not being in default on a federal Title IV educational loan or Tennessee educational loan, not having previously completed an eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution, and not having previously received a grant under this bill. This bill requires the TBR to collect and analyze specific information that includes, among other things, the number of students who: applied for a grant, received a grant, completed an eligible program of study after receiving a grant under this program, and failed to complete the student’s eligible program of study after receiving a grant. The TBR must submit a report on the outcomes of the pilot program to the education committee of the senate and to the education administration and education instruction committees of the house by June 30, 2024. This bill will be repealed July 1, 2024.