(a) Certificates.--A certificate for education support services under this article shall be issued by the department in an amount authorizing up to $500 for each eligible student identified on the certificate. The certificate shall be issued to the grant recipient and shall be valid only for the fiscal year in which it is issued. After receiving the certificate from a grant recipient, the provider shall include the following information on the certificate: name of eligible student served, type of instruction, date and length of instruction and cost of instruction provided to the eligible student. When the amount of the certificate has been utilized or when the eligible student is no longer receiving education support services from the provider, the provider shall return the completed certificate to the grant recipient for submission to the department for payment. The department shall make payment directly to the grant recipient for the amount due. Grant recipients must send all outstanding certificates to the department for payment no later than 90 days after receiving the completed certificate from the provider.

(b) Penalty for grant recipients.--A grant recipient who knowingly defrauds the Commonwealth by receiving reimbursement for education support services not rendered to the eligible student and grant recipient identified on the certificate commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation and shall be disqualified from eligibility for an additional grant for a period of not less than five years.

(c) Penalty for providers.--A provider that knowingly violates section 1509-C¹ or knowingly defrauds the Commonwealth by receiving reimbursement for education support services not rendered to the eligible student and grant recipient identified on the certificate commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation and shall be barred from participation in the program for not less than five years.