(a)  The general assembly finds and declares that:

(1)  Education is critical for the state‘s young people to achieve their aspirations and develop their talents;

(2)  The state’s economic success depends on a highly educated and skilled workforce;

(3)  The state’s future prosperity depends upon its ability to make educational opportunities beyond high school available for all students;

(4)  The coronavirus has inflicted undue hardships on students and their families, creating barriers to a four-year (4) college degree;

(5)  A merit-based tuition reduction program will help make a four-year (4) college degree available to all students;

(6)  Rhode Island college offers students a feasible opportunity to obtain a four-year (4) degree, but remains an underutilized resource in the state; and

(7)  The state of Rhode Island’s motto is “Hope”.

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(b)  In order to address the findings set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the purpose of this chapter is to increase the number of students enrolling in and completing four-year (4) degrees and certificates on time from Rhode Island college, and to promote more graduates in high-need fields such as nursing, pre-K through grade twelve (12) education, and the trades, which are fields for which Rhode Island college provides a strong and affordable education.

(c)  The purpose of the pilot program is also to determine whether a scholarship program for Rhode Island college that is modeled on the promise scholarship program established in chapter 107 of this title would be successful in attaining the goals set forth in this section.