1. (a) The State Department of Human Resources shall develop and administer Fostering Hope, a scholarship program for designated persons currently or formerly in the state foster care program, including children adopted from the program at the age of 14 or older. Commencing with the 2016-2017 academic year, the program, on behalf of participants, shall do either of the following:

   1. (1) Pay for tuition and required fees at any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state.
   2. (2) Pay required fees for job training courses or skill certifications that are offered by any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state or other publicly funded training programs in the state, and not considered an associate’s degree, if the courses or certifications are first approved by the department.
2. (b) Payments of tuition and required fees are considered program scholarships.

(Act 2015-121, §2.)