Bill Text: MS HB424 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mississippi Promise Community College Tuition Gap Pilot Program; create.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2014-03-04 - Died In Committee [HB424 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB424-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations
By: Representatives Turner, Mettetal
House Bill 424
AN ACT TO CREATE THE 2014 COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION GAP (CCTG) PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP ELIGIBLE STUDENTS OF PUBLIC COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES PAY THE COST OF TUITION NOT COVERED BY FEDERAL, STATE, INSTITUTIONAL AND PRIVATE AID; TO PROVIDE THAT ELIGIBLE SEMESTERS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM ARE FALL 2014 AND SPRING 2015; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature recognizes the importance of higher education for all Mississippians, and the benefit that an educated citizenry is to the entire state. Therefore, the boards of trustees at Mississippi's public community and junior colleges shall implement the 2014 Community College Tuition Gap (CCTG) pilot program for the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters. The CCTG pilot program shall provide funds to help eligible students pay the cost of tuition not covered by federal, state, institutional and private aid. Eligible semesters under the CCTG pilot program shall only be the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters.
(2) In order to participate in the CCTG pilot program, a student must be under twenty-one (21) years of age; be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi as provided under Section 37-103-7 or Section 37-103-15, if legally married; be admitted to a public community or junior college; and apply for and accept all offers for all available federal, state, institutional and private aid.
(3) Participants in the CCTG pilot program must be enrolled at the community or junior college within twelve (12) months immediately following high school graduation from an accredited public, private or home school in the State of Mississippi; be a first-time, full-time college student; and be enrolled in a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours each semester in any credit-bearing degree or certificate program offered at one (1) of the fifteen (15) public community or junior colleges. If an eligible student faces a military obligation, that person shall be able to participate in the CCTG pilot program when the individual is available for enrollment in a public community or junior college in the fall or spring semester following the completion of that military obligation.
(4) Once admitted into the CCTG pilot program, participating students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average calculated on a 4.0 scale each semester in any credit-bearing degree or certificate program offered at the public community and junior colleges. Eligible students may participate in the CCTG pilot program only during the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters.
(5) A student who participates in the CCTG pilot program and fails to maintain a 2.5 grade point average calculated on a 4.0 scale; enrolls in less than fifteen (15) credit hours each semester in a credit-bearing degree or certificate program; or transfers to another public community or junior college, shall not be eligible for the CCTG pilot program.
(6) It shall be the responsibility of each community and junior college to establish an application, including specific submission timeframes, for the CCTG pilot program. Additionally, community and junior colleges must not have reduced their number or dollar amounts of institutional scholarship offerings from the previous year in order to participate in the CCTG pilot program.
(7) The CCTG pilot program shall be contingent upon funds appropriated by the Legislature in an amount sufficient to cover all eligible participants. Funds appropriated for the CCTG pilot program shall be in addition to the usual annual appropriation received by the community and junior colleges.
(8) If legislative funding is not sufficient to meet the needs of all eligible students, the Mississippi Community College Board shall divide the funds on a pro-rata basis among the fifteen (15) public community and junior colleges. Any unfunded tuition shall be the responsibility of the student. Any excess funds that are not used for the CCTG pilot program shall be returned to the State General Fund.
(9) Public and private entities that provide financial contributions to existing community or junior college tuition guarantee programs may continue to do so.
(10) In accordance with Section 37-103-25, each community and junior college shall solely be responsible for setting tuition and fees to be paid by students.
(11) Students who participate in the CCTG pilot program shall be eligible for community and junior college reimbursement purposes of state appropriations, provided they meet established admission and attendance requirements.
(12) This section shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2015.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
