SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 1865
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reported from the Committee on Education, April 26, 2006, with recommendation that the Senate Committee Substitute do pass.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4724S.03C
AN ACT
To repeal sections 173.215, 173.220, and 173.820, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 173.215, 173.220, and 173.820, RSMo, are repealed and four new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 173.195, 173.215, 173.220, and 173.820, to read as follows:
173.195. 1. Beginning July 1, 2007, there is hereby established the "Access Missouri Scholarship Program". Any moneys appropriated by the general assembly for such program shall be used to provide nonrenewable scholarships for Missouri residents to attend an approved institution of higher education in this state that meets the definition of an "approved institution" in section 173.205 for a freshman year under this section. Scholarships shall be offered beginning for any academic term beginning within twenty-four months following the date of graduation from high school to Missouri high school graduates who meet the requirements of this section.
2. For purposes of this section, "scholarship" means moneys paid by the state of Missouri on behalf of a qualified student enrolled in an approved institution of higher education under this section for an initial full academic year of study.
3. The commissioner of higher education shall establish a procedure for the reimbursement of the cost of tuition and fees up to the maximum specified in subsection 4 of this section to any approved institution in this state for any student:
(1) Who is not eligible under the A+ program established in section 160.545, RSMo, because the program was not available through the student's high school; and
(a) Who has attended a recognized high school in this state for at least three years immediately prior to graduation; except that, students who are dependents of active duty military personnel who, in the school year immediately preceding graduation, meet all other requirements of this subsection shall be exempt from the three-year attendance requirement of this paragraph;
(b) Who has made a good faith effort to first secure all available federal sources of funding that may be applied to the reimbursement described in this subsection; and
(c) Who has earned a two point five grade average on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale, while in high school consistent with the requirements of the A+ program and other requirements for the reimbursement authorized by this subsection, which shall include community service during high school as determined by rule of the coordinating board for higher education; or
(2) Who is eligible under the A+ program established under section 160.545, RSMo, who chooses to apply for and is admitted to an approved institution that does not participate in the A+ program.
4. The maximum scholarship shall be no more than one thousand dollars. The coordinating board for higher education shall be the administrative agency for the implementation of the program established under this section, and shall:
(1) Promulgate reasonable rules to implement the provisions of this section;
(2) Prescribe the form and the time and method of awarding scholarships, and supervise the processing thereof; and
(3) Select qualified recipients to receive scholarships, make such awards of scholarships to qualified recipients, and determine the manner and method of payment to the approved institution on behalf of the recipient.
5. A recipient of a scholarship awarded under this section may transfer from one approved institution to another without losing eligibility for the scholarship. If at any time a recipient of the scholarship withdraws from an approved institution, which under the rules of such institution would entitle the student to a refund of any tuition, fees or other charges, the institution shall pay the portion of the refund attributable to the scholarship for such term to the coordinating board for higher education.
6. The commissioner of higher education shall develop a procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of the program described in this section. Such evaluation shall be conducted annually and provide the results of the evaluation to the governor and the general assembly.
173.215. 1. An applicant shall be eligible for initial or renewed financial assistance only if, at the time of [his] the applicant's application and throughout the period during which [he] the applicant is receiving such assistance, [he] the applicant:
(1) Is a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States;
(2) Is a resident of the state of Missouri, as determined by reference to standards promulgated by the coordinating board;
(3) Is enrolled, or has been accepted for enrollment, as a full-time undergraduate student in an approved private or public institution;
(4) Establishes that [he] the applicant has financial need;
(5) Has [never been convicted in any court of an offense which involved the use of force, disruption or seizure of property under the control of any institution of higher education to prevent officials or students in such institutions from engaging in their duties or pursuing their studies; and] not been found guilty of or pled guilty to any criminal offense or been adjudicated to have committed an offense which would constitute a criminal offense if committed by an adult;
(6) Meets the minimum academic standards of a two point five grade average on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale, for renewal of assistance; and
[(6)] (7) No award shall be made under sections 173.200 to 173.230 to any applicant who is enrolled, or who intends to use the award to enroll, in a course of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity.
2. Financial assistance shall be allotted for one academic year, but a recipient shall be eligible for renewed assistance until [he] the recipient has obtained a baccalaureate degree, provided such financial assistance shall not exceed a total of ten semesters or fifteen quarters or their equivalent. Standards of eligibility for renewed assistance shall be the same as for an initial award of financial assistance.
173.220. An applicant who is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment as an undergraduate postsecondary student at an approved private or public institution [after August 13, 1979,] and who meets the other eligibility criteria shall be entitled to financial assistance based primarily on [his] the applicant's financial need and to the extent of [his] the applicant's financial need as determined by the coordinating board[, except that effective August 1, 1980]; except that, the amount of such grant shall not exceed the least of:
(1) The applicant's demonstrated financial need as determined by the coordinating board; or
(2) One-half the tuition and mandatory fee charges in effect the prior academic year at the approved institution the applicant plans to attend; or
(3) Fifteen hundred dollars[;
and until that date the grant shall not exceed the least of:
(1) The applicant's demonstrated financial need as determined by the coordinating board; or
(2) One-half the fall 1971 tuition and mandatory fee charges at the approved institution the applicant plans to attend; or
(3) Nine hundred dollars].
173.820. 1. A student shall be eligible for an initial or renewed scholarship if such student is in compliance with the eligibility requirements set forth in section 173.215, and in addition meets the following requirements:
(1) [Has a cumulative grade point average of at least two and one-half on a four-point scale or equivalent on the student's high school core curriculum and has completed a high school curriculum satisfying the coordinating board's requirements for a college preparatory or technical preparatory curriculum;
(2) Has received a score of twenty or higher on the general American College Test (ACT) or a composite verbal and math score of nine hundred and fifty or higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT);
(3)] Has not been [convicted] found guilty of or pled guilty to any criminal offense or been adjudicated to have committed an offense which would constitute a criminal offense if committed by an adult;
[(4) Has substantially participated in extracurricular activities, as determined by the coordinating board; and
(5)] (2) For the purpose of renewal, remains in compliance with the applicable provisions of section 173.215, and makes satisfactory academic degree progress as a full-time student.
2. (1) A student seeking to renew a scholarship pursuant to sections 173.810 to 173.827 shall maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least two point five on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale approved by the program administrator while attending the approved public or private institution.
(2) If the grade point average of a member who is receiving educational assistance pursuant to sections 173.810 to 173.827 falls below [two point five on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale] the required level established in this subsection, such member shall retain the educational assistance and shall be placed on probation under the educational assistance program. Failure to achieve a current grade point average of [at least two point five on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale] the required level for future semesters or equivalent academic terms shall result in termination of the scholarship effective as of the next academic term. The member shall be removed from probation status upon achieving [a] the required cumulative grade point average [of two point five on a four-point scale or the equivalent on another scale].
3. Scholarships shall be offered beginning for any academic term beginning within twenty-four months following the date of graduation from high school to Missouri high school graduates who meet the requirements of subsection 1 of this section. The scholarship shall be applicable toward payment for tuition and other fees and the costs of books and other education-related expenses. The amount of the scholarship, regardless of the institution attended, shall not exceed the current average cost of tuition and fees at the campus of the University of Missouri which has the largest total enrollment, as determined by the coordinating board, and a book allowance as determined by the coordinating board, both as of the 2004-2005 academic year.
4. The amount of scholarship provided under sections 173.810 to 173.827 shall be based upon financial need as determined under sections 173.810 to 173.827, shall be subject to the maximum amount established in subsection 2 of this section and shall be further reduced by the amount of any nonloan need-based federal financial aid, all other nonloan need-based assistance received by or on behalf of the student pursuant to other provisions of this chapter and any other nonloan need-based state financial aid which aid or assistance may be used for the purposes established pursuant to subsection 2 of this section for scholarships granted pursuant to sections 173.810 to 173.827.
5. A student who is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment as a postsecondary student at an approved private or public institution [beginning with the fall 1999 term] and who meets the other eligibility requirements for a scholarship pursuant to sections 173.810 to 173.827 shall, within the limits of the funds appropriated and made available, be offered a scholarship for the first academic year of study as provided in sections 173.810 to 173.827. Such scholarship shall be renewable in like amount annually for the second, third, fourth and fifth academic years, or as long as the recipient is in compliance with the applicable eligibility requirements set forth in section 173.215, provided such years of study are continuous and the student continues to meet eligibility requirements for the scholarship. If a recipient ceases all attendance at an approved public or private institution for the purpose of providing service to a nonprofit organization, a state or federal government agency or any branch of the armed forces of the United States, the recipient shall be eligible for a renewal scholarship upon return to any approved public or private institution, provided the recipient:
(1) Returns to full-time status within twenty-seven months;
(2) Provides verification, in compliance with rules of the coordinating board, that the service to the nonprofit organization was satisfactorily completed and was not compensated other than for expenses or that the service to the state or federal governmental agency or branch of the armed forces of the United States was satisfactorily completed; and
(3) Meets all other requirements established for eligibility to receive a renewal scholarship.
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