(a) Purpose. —

It is the intent and purpose of the General Assembly through this section to provide scholarships in memory of Ivyane D.F. Davis, who died February 7, 1989, to deserving Delaware students who have experienced foster care in Delaware, and to this end there hereby is established the Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

(b) Administration. —

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, this scholarship fund shall be administered by the Child Protection Accountability Commission (Commission) with staffing from the Office of the Child Advocate.

(2) The Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to administer the provisions of this scholarship fund.

(3) The Commission shall include in its annual summary to the Governor and the General Assembly, as required by § 931(b)(6)a. of Title 16, the number of recipients of scholarships, the institutions attended by said recipients, the total of expenditures made under this scholarship fund, and such other information as it deems useful. The summary may not include identifying or confidential information on scholarship recipients.

(c) Eligibility. —

Scholarships awarded under this scholarship fund are available to applicants who have been residents of Delaware for at least 1 year immediately preceding the application and who at any time experienced foster care in Delaware, and who have been accepted at or who are attending an institution of higher learning or trade school.

(d) Scholarship awards. —

(1) The Commission shall award Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarships subject to General Assembly appropriations and private donations to and interest earned on proceeds of the scholarship fund created under this section.

(2) The Commission may establish maximum and minimum awards. Scholarship awards may not exceed the amount set by the Commission.

(3) Scholarships may be renewed upon application by recipients on an annual basis if the Commission is satisfied that the recipient is making satisfactory academic or vocational progress.

(4) Selection of scholarship recipients shall be based on such criteria, established by the Commission, as academic achievement, community service, participation in extracurricular activities, and promise of success in the institution of higher learning or vocational courses selected by applicants.

(5) In cases where more than 1 applicant are judged to be equally qualified for scholarships, financial need shall be considered in establishing priorities for the award of available scholarships.

(6) Funds disbursed under this scholarship fund shall be disbursed on an annual or semiannual basis and shall be disbursed to the institution or school which a recipient attends, not directly to the student.

(e) Creation of Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund. —

(1) The Ivyane D.F. Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund ( “Fund” ) is hereby created.

(2) Funding shall be appropriated by the General Assembly as a separate programmatic line to be expended in accordance with the needs of the recipients.

(3) The Commission may accept donations from private individuals and organizations for deposit in the Fund.

(4) The Fund may be used as the state-required match for federal Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers; provided, that the Commission or the Office of the Child Advocate is authorized, by regulation, contract, or memorandum of understanding with the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, to administer the funding obtained; and further provided, that the portion of the Fund used to obtain the funding is utilized in accordance with the purpose and intent of this section.

(5) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(4) of this section, all appropriations from the General Assembly to the Fund shall be used solely for the award of scholarships as provided under this section.

67 Del. Laws, c. 12, § ?1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 167, § ?1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 338, § ?5; 73 Del. Laws, c. 188, § ?1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 323, §§ ?1, 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 52; 83 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 17; 83 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 5;