SECOND REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES SATER (Sponsor), NOLTE, POLLOCK, FAITH, KINGERY, BIVINS, SMITH (118), WHORTON, MEADOWS AND MOORE (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time February 14, 2006 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to an associate degree scholarship program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 173.272, to read as follows:
173.272. 1. The coordinating board for higher education shall establish an "Associate Degree Transfer Incentive Scholarship Program", and any moneys appropriated to the board by the general assembly for this program shall be distributed by the department of higher education to participating public four-year Missouri colleges or universities to provide scholarships for citizens of this state who transfer to or are accepted for a program at a participating public four-year Missouri college or university under the provisions of this section.
2. Funds for the scholarship program shall be distributed to participating institutions on a pro rata basis according to the number of eligible students at each institution. The coordinating board for higher education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
3. A student shall be eligible for an associate degree transfer incentive program scholarship if the student has completed an associate of arts degree, an associate of science degree, or an associate of applied science degree, at a public four-year institution, community college, separately accredited two-year branch campus, or state technical college located in Missouri and recognized by the department of higher education to confer associate degrees.
4. Individual public four-year Missouri colleges or universities may apply to the coordinating board for higher education for funds to offer associate degree transfer incentive scholarships under this section. Scholarships shall be available for a maximum of four semesters, and a minimum annual scholarship level of one thousand dollars, which may be prorated based upon available funds. In implementing the associate degree transfer incentive scholarship program, the coordinating board shall develop procedures governing the distribution of available moneys to scholarship applicants at institutions that participate in the statewide articulated associate of arts degree in the following order:
(1) Institutions that have in place transfer and articulation agreements for the completion of bachelor's degree programs that have been accredited by a recognized programmatic accrediting organization, to which associate-degree holding applicants have been accepted;
(2) Institutions that have in place transfer and articulation agreements for the completion of bachelor's degree programs to which associate-degree holding applicants have been accepted;
(3) Other public four-year institutions as deemed appropriate by the coordinating board.
5. Each institution offering a scholarship under this section shall develop and publish application procedures, deadlines, award amounts, and any other features unique to the receiving institution. Such institutions shall establish criteria for continuation of the scholarship that recognize obstacles that may be faced by a transfer student at that institution. The primary criterion shall be financial need, as determined by a method established by the coordinating board. Scholarships may be pro-rated for part-time students, as determined by the coordinating board. Each institution shall submit an annual report of the use and distribution of such scholarship funds to the general assembly, with such report subject to audit. The coordinating board shall establish a limit on funds to be used for institutional administrative costs.
6. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2006, shall be invalid and void.
7. Pursuant to section 23.253, RSMo, of the Missouri Sunset Act:
(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset six years after the effective date of this section unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and
(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and
(3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.
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