Bill Text: MS SB2693 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: State tuition assistance; add Tulane University Madison and Mississippi Coast Campus to list of eligible institutions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2693 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2693-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Longwitz
Senate Bill 2693
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-157-1 AND 37-106-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD THE TULANE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES IN MADISON AND THE MISSISSIPPI COAST TO THE LIST OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE UNDERGRADUATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE MISSISSIPPI RESIDENT TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM AND THE MISSISSIPPI EMINENT SCHOLARS PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-157-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-157-1. (1) The tuition at any institution of higher education in the state shall be paid by the state on behalf of any student who enrolls in such a school to pursue an academic undergraduate degree, who applies for the payment thereof, and who meets all of the following qualifications:
(a) Actual residence in Mississippi during the twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding university or college enrollment. For the purposes of this paragraph, residency shall be demonstrated by proof of the following as required by the administering agency:
(i) If registered to vote, being registered in Mississippi.
(ii) If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, being in possession of a Mississippi driver's license.
(iii) If owning a motor vehicle located within Mississippi, being in possession of Mississippi registration for that vehicle.
(iv) If earning an income, having filed a Mississippi state income tax return and having complied with state income tax laws and regulations.
(b) Having a parent or guardian who is a domiciliary of Mississippi.
(c) Graduation from high school within the two (2) years preceding the application with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale.
(d) Successful completion of seventeen and one-half (17-1/2) units of high school course work that includes the College Preparatory Curriculum approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and required for admission into a state university, plus one (1) unit of art (may include one (1) unit or two (2) one-half (1/2) units) from the approved Mississippi Department of Education Arts-Visual and Performing series, and one (1) additional advanced elective unit, which may include Foreign Language II.
(e) Having a composite score on the American College Test of at least twenty (20) on the 1989 version or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced version of such test.
(f) Having no criminal record, except for misdemeanor traffic violations.
(g) Being in financial need.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Institution
of higher education" shall mean any of the following institutions of
higher learning or community or junior colleges located in Mississippi: Alcorn
State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi
State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State
University, University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi,
Coahoma Community College, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, East Central
Community College, East Mississippi Community College, Hinds Community College,
Holmes Community College, Itawamba Community College, Jones County Junior
College, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College,
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community
College, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Pearl River Community
College, Southwest Mississippi Community College, Belhaven College, Blue
Mountain College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo
College, William Carey College, Mary Holmes College, Magnolia Bible College * * *, Wood College, the Tulane
University School of Continuing Studies in Madison, Mississippi, and the Tulane
University School of Continuing Studies Mississippi Coast Campus.
(b) "Tuition" shall mean the semester or trimester or term charges and all required fees imposed by an institution of higher education as a condition of enrollment by all students. However, for a two-year nonpublic institution of higher education defined in paragraph (a), the tuition payments shall not exceed the average charges and fees required by all of the two-year public institutions of higher education defined in paragraph (a), and for a four-year nonpublic institution of higher education defined in paragraph (a), the tuition payments shall not exceed the average charges and fees required by all of the four-year public institutions of higher education defined in paragraph (a).
(3) The tuition at any institution of higher education in the state shall be paid by the state on behalf of any student who enrolls in such a school to pursue an academic undergraduate or associate degree, who applies for the payment thereof, and who meets the qualifications enumerated in paragraphs (a), (b), (f) and (g) of subsection (1) but who fails to meet one (1) of the particular requirements established by paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of subsection (1) by an amount of ten percent (10%) or less.
(4) To maintain continued state payment of tuition, once enrolled in an institution of higher education, a student shall meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Make steady academic progress toward a degree, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing in each academic period requiring such enrollment;
(b) Maintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency;
(c) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of the first academic year and thereafter maintain such a cumulative grade point average as evaluated at the end of each academic year;
(d) Have no criminal record, except for misdemeanor traffic violations; and
(e) Be found to be in financial need.
(5) The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in conjunction with the Mississippi Community College Board. The board may provide by rule for all matters necessary for the implementation of this chapter.
(6) By rule, the board shall provide for:
(a) A mechanism for
informing all students of the availability of the assistance provided pursuant
to this chapter early enough in their schooling that a salutary motivational
effect is possible * * *;
and
(b) Applications, forms, financial audit procedures, eligibility and other program audit procedures and other matters related to efficient operation.
* * *
(7) An applicant shall be found to be in financial need if:
(a) The family has one (1) child under the age of twenty-one (21), and the two-year average annual adjusted gross income of the family is less than Thirty-six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($36,500.00); or
(b) The family has a two-year average annual adjusted gross income of less than Thirty-six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($36,500.00) plus Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each additional child under the age of twenty-one (21).
The two-year average annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be verified by Internal Revenue Service returns or by certified affidavits in cases of income that cannot be verified by such returns.
As used in this subsection, the term "family" for an unemancipated applicant means the applicant, the applicant's parents, and other children under age twenty-one (21) of the applicant's parents. The term "family" for an emancipated applicant means the applicant, an applicant's spouse, and any children under age twenty-one (21) of the applicant and spouse.
(8) An appropriation of funds may annually be made to the board sufficient to cover, in addition to any other available funds, the costs of tuition required to be paid, both initial and continuing, for the coming academic year. All such payments shall be made directly to the institution to which such tuition is due after notice to the school that the state shall pay the tuition of a student and after notice from the school that the student has actually enrolled.
(9) The board may seek, accept and expend funds from any source, including private business, industry, foundations and other groups as well as any federal or other governmental funding available for this purpose.
(10) No student shall receive a grant pursuant to this chapter in an amount greater than the tuition charged by the school. The student must apply for a federal grant prior to receiving state funds.
SECTION 2. Section 37-106-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-106-29. (1) There is established the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant Program for college or university freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to be administered by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established under Section 37-106-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, which shall set the dates and deadlines for applying for an award under this section. The board shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
(2) The college or university shall approve grants to full-time freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior Mississippi residents who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grants shall be for Mississippi students from any Mississippi family whose prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds the maximum allowed to qualify for full Pell Grant eligibility and campus-based federal aid. Those Mississippi students receiving less than the full Pell Grant award, as determined by the institution, shall receive a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant in an amount not to exceed the maximum Pell Grant allowable for that individual student. The award shall be applied to tuition, rooms and meals, books, materials and fees not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for junior and senior students attending state institutions of higher learning in Mississippi or four-year regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit colleges and universities in Mississippi, and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for freshmen and sophomores attending state institutions of higher learning or public community or junior colleges in Mississippi, or regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit two-year or four-year colleges in Mississippi, which will be prorated per term, semester or quarter of the academic year for costs of attendance, calculated according to the formula specified in subsection (8) of this section.
(4) The general requirements for initial eligibility of students for Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grants consist of the following:
(a) Member of a Mississippi family whose prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds the maximum allowed to qualify for Pell Grant eligibility and campus-based federal aid.
(b) Acceptance for
enrollment at any state institution of higher learning or public community or
junior college located in Mississippi, or any regionally accredited, state-approved,
nonprofit * * * two-year or four-year college or university located
in Mississippi as listed in subsection (4)(d) of this section * * *: (i) a minimum grade point
average of 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale after seven (7) semesters certified by
the high-school counselor or other authorized school official on the
application and graduation from high school verified by the institution before
disbursement of award and has scored fifteen (15) on the American College Test
Program (ACT); or (ii) has attended a home education program during grade
levels 9 through 12, and has scored fifteen (15) on the American College
Testing Program; or (iii) satisfactory completion of the General Educational
Development Test (GED) or have successfully completed the International
Baccalaureate Program and has scored fifteen (15) on the American College
Testing Program; provided, however, that any student entering a vocational or
technical program of study, or who has satisfactorily completed the General
Education Development Test and attends a community or junior college,
will not be required to have a test score under the American College Testing
Program except those students unless the student is enrolled in a course
of academic study. Any student currently enrolled in any qualified institution
shall have to only meet the same requirements as students who are applying for
a renewal award.
(c) Resident status for purposes of receiving grants under this section shall be determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes as set forth in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29, with the exception of Section 37-103-17.
(d) Must attend one
(1) of the following institutions of higher learning: Alcorn State University,
Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University,
Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University,
University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, Coahoma
Community College, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, East Central Community
College, East Mississippi Community College, Hinds Community College, Holmes
Community College, Itawamba Community College, Jones County Junior College,
Meridian Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College, Mississippi
Gulf Coast Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College,
Northwest Mississippi Community College, Pearl River Community College,
Southwest Mississippi Community College, Belhaven College, Blue Mountain
College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo College,
William Carey College, Mary Holmes College, Magnolia Bible College, Wood
College * * *,
Wesley College, the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies in
Madison, Mississippi, or the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies
Mississippi Coast Campus.
(5) By accepting a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant, the student is attesting to the accuracy, completeness and correctness of information provided to demonstrate the student's eligibility. Falsification of such information shall result in the denial of any pending grant and revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no further payments shall be made. Any student knowingly making false statements in order to receive a grant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable, upon conviction thereof, by a fine of up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), a prison sentence of up to one (1) year in the county jail, or both, and shall be required to return all Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grants wrongfully obtained.
(6) Eligibility for renewal of Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grants shall be evaluated at the end of each semester, or term, of each academic year. As a condition for renewal, a student shall:
(a) Make steady academic progress toward a certificate or degree, as outlined in the school Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and certified by the institution's registrar.
(b) Maintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency; examples of cause may include student participation in a cooperative program, internship program or foreign study program. If a student fails to maintain continuous enrollment, and is not granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, the student is ineligible to receive the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant during the following semester or trimester or term of the regular academic year.
(c) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each semester or trimester or term.
(7) Each student, each year, must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form or a Statement of Certification as designed by the administering board to determine his/her eligibility for a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant.
(8) (a) The amount of the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant awarded to any one (1) student, up to the maximum amount provided in subsection (3) of this section, shall be the difference of the student's cost of attendance at his accredited college of choice and the amount of federal aid such student may receive, not to supplant but to supplement the amount of any federal aid awarded to the student. Cost of attendance is the tuition and fees of the applicable institution plus an allowance for room and meals and books and materials.
(b) Payment of the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant shall be made payable to the recipient and the educational institution and mailed directly to the institution, to be applied first to tuition.
(9) In order for an institution to remain eligible for its students to participate in the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant Program, the institution shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) A complete and accurate roster of the eligibility status of each awarded student shall be made to the board for each term, semester or quarter of the academic year the student receives a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant.
(b) The institution is required to make refunds to the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant Fund for any funds which have not been disbursed to the recipient, in the case of students who have received a grant but who terminate enrollment during the academic term, semester or quarter of the academic year if an institution's refund policies permit a student to receive a refund in such instance. The recipient shall be responsible for the refund of any funds which have been disbursed by the institution in such instance.
(c) If a student drops below full-time status but does not terminate all enrollment during the term, semester or quarter of the academic year no refund will be required for that term. However, that student is ineligible to receive the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant during the following term, semester or quarter of the regular academic year.
(d) The board may conduct its own annual audits of any institution participating in the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant Program. The board may suspend or revoke an institution's eligibility to receive future monies under the program if it finds that the institution has not complied with the provisions of this section. In determining a student's initial eligibility, the number of prior semesters enrolled will not be counted against the student.
(10) No student may receive a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant for more than the equivalent semesters or quarters required to complete one (1) baccalaureate degree or one (1) certificate or associate degree program per institution.
(11) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor, it is the intent of the Legislature to fully fund grant awards to eligible students. If funds are insufficient to fully fund grant awards to eligible students, grant awards shall be prorated among all eligible students. No student shall receive any combination of student financial aid in excess of the cost of attendance as defined in subsection (8)(a).
(12) No student receiving a Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant as provided in Section 37-106-31 shall be eligible to receive the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant pursuant to Section 37-106-29 unless he is eligible for such award after the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant has been considered by the board when conducting an assessment of the financial resources available to the student. In no case shall any student receive any combination of student financial aid that would exceed the cost of attendance, as defined in subsection (8)(a).
For purposes of this
section, certificated shall mean, but not be limited to, all postsecondary
vocational programs in eligible institutions as identified in subsection (4)(d)
of * * *
Section 37-106-29.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
