(a) Establishment.--There is established a fostering independence waiver program for individuals who satisfy the eligibility requirements under subsection (c).

(b) Award.--Beginning with the semester starting in the fall of 2020, each institution of higher education shall award a fostering independence waiver for undergraduate courses at the institution for each individual who is eligible under subsection (c). The fostering independence waiver shall have subtracted from it the amount of any Federal grants, State grants or other scholarships or grants the individual receives. An individual shall receive a fostering independence waiver under this article for five years, whether or not consecutive, or until the individual reaches 26 years of age, whichever occurs first, provided that the individual remains eligible under subsection (c).

(c) Eligibility.--In order to receive a fostering independence waiver under this section, an individual must be a current resident of this Commonwealth and eligible for the Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant Program under the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169, 113 Stat. 1822) as administered by the Department of Human Services and must have applied for all available Federal and State grants.

(d) Accessibility.--The department shall work with the agency as well as the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Human Services to ensure that individuals eligible for the program under subsection (c) apply for all available Federal and State grants.