HCS HB 1473 -- ACCESS MISSOURI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (Thomson)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Committee on Higher Education

This substitute revises the grade required for renewing an Access
Missouri Scholarship from a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) on a
four-point scale to maintaining satisfactory academic progress
for those scholarship recipients who have less than 60 semester
hours, while retaining the 2.5 GPA for those with 60 semester
hours or more.  Satisfactory academic progress is to be defined
by the institution of attendance but cannot be lower than a 2.0
on a four-point scale.  The substitute clarifies that the
required GPA for the renewal of other assistance programs will
continue to be 2.5.  In order to award the additional
scholarships as a result of the revised GPA requirement, award
amounts will be refigured within the annual appropriation amount.

Currently, students at public four-year institutions, including
Linn State Technical College, and private institutions receive a
maximum amount of financial assistance awards of $2,150 and
$4,600 respectively from the Access Missouri Financial Assistance
Program.  Beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year, the
substitute combines the categories for these schools into one
with a $2,850 maximum and a $1,500 minimum award and increases
the maximum award for community colleges from $1,000 to $1,300.
Any award amount will be reduced by the amount of a student's
payment from the A+ Schools Program or any successor program.

The substitute repeals the current expiration date of the Access
Missouri Financial Assistance Program and specifies that any
provisions regarding a termination date will not apply to that
program.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm