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S1385..........................................................by EDUCATION
SCHOLARSHIPS - Amends existing law to create the Idaho Promise Scholarship
to further posteducational opportunities for Idaho students.
02/09 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/10 Rpt prt - to Educ
S1385
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1385
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS; AMENDING SECTION 33-4303, IDAHO CODE, TO
3 PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "IDAHO PROMISE
4 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM"; AMENDING SECTION 33-4305, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE PUR-
5 POSES; AMENDING SECTION 33-4306, IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE TERMS AND
6 TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 33-4307, IDAHO CODE, TO
7 PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CATEGORY A AND CATEGORY B PARTICI-
8 PANTS, TO PROVIDE GRANT PROVISIONS FOR CATEGORY B PARTICIPANTS AND TO MAKE
9 TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 33-4308, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE
10 FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GRANTS FOR CATEGORY A AND CATEGORY B STUDENTS;
11 AMENDING SECTION 33-4309, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUANCE IN THE
12 CASE OF EXTREME HARDSHIP AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND AMENDING
13 SECTION 33-4313, IDAHO CODE, TO EXPAND THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF
14 EDUCATION AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO REGARDING
15 SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
16 DATE.
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
18 SECTION 1. That Section 33-4303, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
19 amended to read as follows:
20 33-4303. SHORT TITLE. This act shall be known and cited as the "State of
21 "Idaho Promise Scholarship Program."
22 SECTION 2. That Section 33-4305, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
23 amended to read as follows:
24 33-4305. PURPOSES. The purpose of this act is:
25 (1) To establish a state scholarship program for the most talented Idaho
26 secondary school graduates or the equivalent, consisting of category A stu-
27 dents with outstanding academic qualifications and category B students with a
28 cumulative grade point average for grades nine (9) through twelve (12) of 3.0
29 or better or achieving an ACT score of 20 or better or who become eligible
30 after the student's first semester or who meet any other criteria as may be
31 established by the state board of education and the board of regents of the
32 university of Idaho, who will enroll in undergraduate nonreligious academic
33 and professional-technical programs in eligible postsecondary institutions in
34 the state; and
35 (2) To designate the state board of education and the board of regents of
36 the Uuniversity of Idaho as the administrative agency for the state scholar-
37 ship program.
38 SECTION 3. That Section 33-4306, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
39 amended to read as follows:
2
1 33-4306. DEFINITIONS. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise
2 requires:
3 (1) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means an educational organiza-
4 tion within the state as follows:
5 (a) "Public postsecondary institution" means a public postsecondary orga-
6 nization governed or supervised by the state board of education, the board
7 of regents of the Uuniversity of Idaho, a board of trustees of a community
8 college established pursuant to the provisions of section 33-2106, Idaho
9 Code, or the state board for professional-technical education.
10 (b) "Independent colleges and universities" means or any educational
11 organization which is operated privately and not for profit under the con-
12 trol of an independent board and not directly controlled or administered
13 by a public or political subdivision. A public or private educational
14 organization becomes eligible to participate in category B grant awards if
15 the organization agrees to match awards granted to each eligible category
16 B student.
17 (2) "Educational costs" means student costs for tuition, fees, room and
18 board, or expenses related to reasonable commuting, books and such other
19 expenses reasonably related to attendance at a postsecondary educational
20 institution.
21 (3) "Resident sStudent" means an individual resident student as defined
22 in section 33-3717 or 33-2110B, Idaho Code, enrolled full-time and carrying a
23 sufficient number of credit hours, or their equivalent, to secure an
24 individual's first degree, certificate, diploma or less, toward which the
25 individual is working, in no more than the number of semesters, or equivalent,
26 normally required by the eligible postsecondary institution in the program in
27 which the individual is enrolled and provided that the baccalaureate degree,
28 certificate, diploma or lesser program requires at least six (6) months or
29 equivalent of consecutive attendance. A student engaged in a four (4) year
30 baccalaureate program shall not be terminated from this scholarship program by
31 having earned an intermediate degree, certificate or diploma.
32 (4) "Full-time student" means an individual who is enrolled in and is
33 carrying a sufficient number of credit hours, or their equivalent; to secure
34 an individual's first degree, certificate, diploma, or less, toward which the
35 individual is working in no more than the number of semesters, or equivalent,
36 normally required by the postsecondary educational institution in the program
37 in which the individual is enrolled.
38 (5) "Undergraduate student" means an individual who is enrolled in a
39 postsecondary educational institution which leads to or is directly creditable
40 toward the individual's first baccalaureate degree, certificate, diploma, or
41 less; provided such baccalaureate degree, certificate, diploma or less program
42 requires at least six (6) months or equivalent of consecutive attendance. A
43 student engaged in a four (4) year baccalaureate program shall not be termi-
44 nated by having earned an intermediate degree, certificate, or diploma.
45 (6) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance of an
46 individual's status as a student in an eligible postsecondary educational
47 institution, regardless of the term used at the institution to describe such
48 status.
49 (75) "Eligible category A student" means any graduate of an accredited
50 secondary school in the state of Idaho who declares his intention to matricu-
51 late in an eligible postsecondary institution in the state of Idaho during the
52 educational year immediately following such graduation.
53 (6) "Eligible category B student" means any student, having completed
54 secondary school or its equivalent in the state of Idaho and who enrolls as a
55 student in an eligible postsecondary institution in the state of Idaho prior
3
1 to reaching twenty-two (22) years of age. To maintain eligibility a student
2 must achieve and maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average while enrolled
3 in an eligible postsecondary institution. Students meeting the requirements
4 of this subsection who were not eligible for a grant in the first term of
5 postsecondary education and who achieve and maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade
6 point average based on a 4.0 system in an eligible postsecondary institution
7 will become eligible for grant payments in subsequent school terms.
8 (87) "Grant" means an award to an eligible student for matriculation in
9 an eligible postsecondary institution in the state of Idaho.
10 (98) "Educational year" means the period from July 1 of a year through
11 June 30 of the succeeding year.
12 (109) "Competitive examination" means standardized examination(s) measur-
13 ing achievement administered annually on a voluntary basis on a specified date
14 and at specified locations announced publicly.
15 (110) "High school record," means for category A students, will be defined
16 by the state board of education and the board of regents of the university of
17 Idaho and may include, but need not be limited to, an individual's rank in his
18 secondary school class, grade point average, and difficulty of course load
19 taken as certified by an official of such secondary school, and an the
20 individual's secondary school deportment as evaluated by at least two (2)
21 officials of such secondary school.
22 (11) "High school record," for category B students, shall be defined by
23 the state board of education and the board of regents of the university of
24 Idaho and may include, but need not be limited to, an individual's secondary
25 school cumulative grade point average or a composite score on the American
26 college test (ACT).
27 (12) "Cumulative grade point average" is defined as a student's cumulative
28 grade point average for all courses taken in grades nine (9) through twelve
29 (12) and calculated on a grade of A equals 4.0 points, a grade of B equals 3.0
30 points, a grade of C equals 2.0 points, a grade of D equals 1.0 point and a
31 grade of F equals 0.0 points.
32 SECTION 4. That Section 33-4307, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
33 amended to read as follows:
34 33-4307. ELIGIBILITY -- MAXIMUM AMOUNTS -- CONDITIONS. A grant may be
35 awarded to an eligible student for matriculation at an eligible postsecondary
36 educational institution in the state of Idaho if:
37 (1) The individual is accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergradu-
38 ate or professional-technical student, as follows:
39 (a) In the case of an individual beginning his first year or freshman
40 year of postsecondary education, he has satisfied the requirements for
41 admission and has enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution.
42 (b) In the case of an individual enrolled in an eligible postsecondary
43 institution following the successful completion of the first term, he con-
44 tinues to meet the requirements of this act and has maintained such high
45 standards of performance as may be required. Provided that high academic
46 standards are maintained in accordance with requirements of this chapter,
47 a student continues to be eligible when transferring from one (1) major
48 program to another.
49 (c) In the case of an individual transferring from one (1) eligible post-
50 secondary institution in Idaho to another eligible postsecondary institu-
51 tion in Idaho, he continues to meet the requirements of this act, is
52 accepted and enrolled at the eligible postsecondary institution to which
53 he is transferring, and has maintained such high standards of performance
4
1 as may be required.
2 (2) The grant for category A students is in amounts as follows:
3 (a) The grant payment to an individual per educational year for atten-
4 dance on a full-time basis is not in excess of an amount determined annu-
5 ally by the state board of education or in excess of the total educational
6 costs as certified by an official of the eligible postsecondary institu-
7 tion to be attended by the individual receiving the grant, whichever is
8 less.
9 (b) The total grant payments over a period of six (6) years to an indi-
10 vidual may not exceed four (4) annual grants or the total educational
11 costs for four (4) educational years completed as certified by an official
12 of the eligible postsecondary institution or institutions attended by the
13 individual receiving the grant, whichever is less.
14 (3c) The individual receiving such a grant signs an affidavit stating
15 that the grant will be used for educational costs only.
16 (4d) The grant is awarded on the basis of extraordinary performance in
17 standardized, unweighted competitive examination and high school record.
18 (5e) The individual receiving the grant is not precluded from receiving
19 other financial aids, awards, or scholarships, provided the total of the
20 grant and such other financial aids, awards or scholarships does not
21 exceed the total educational costs for attendance at an eligible post-
22 secondary institution as certified by an official of the eligible post-
23 secondary institution to be attended by the individual receiving the
24 grant.
25 (6f) Grant payments shall correspond to academic terms, semesters, quar-
26 ters or equivalent time periods at an eligible postsecondary institution;
27 in no instance may the entire amount of a grant for an educational year,
28 as defined in section 33-4306(910), Idaho Code, be paid to or on behalf of
29 such student in advance.
30 (7g) The individual has complied with such rules and regulations as may
31 be necessary for the administration of this act.
32 (3) The grant for category B students is as follows:
33 (a) The grant payment to an individual per educational year for atten-
34 dance on a full-time basis is not in excess of an amount determined annu-
35 ally by the state board of education and the board of regents of the uni-
36 versity of Idaho and not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year
37 including the required match.
38 (b) The total grant payments over a period of four (4) years to an indi-
39 vidual may not exceed two (2) annual grants.
40 (c) The individual receiving such a grant signs an affidavit stating that
41 the grant will be used for educational costs only.
42 (d) The grant is awarded on the basis of a high school record of a 3.0
43 grade point average or an ACT composite score of 20 or better and other
44 criteria as may be established by the state board of education and the
45 board of regents of the university of Idaho.
46 (e) The individual receiving the grant is not precluded from receiving
47 other financial aid, awards or scholarships except that category A student
48 award recipients are not eligible for category B awards.
49 (f) Grant payments shall correspond to academic terms, semesters, quar-
50 ters or equivalent time periods at an eligible postsecondary institution;
51 in no instance may the entire amount of a grant for an educational year,
52 as defined in section 33-4306(8), Idaho Code, be paid to or on behalf of
53 such student in advance. The first grant payments pursuant to this section
54 for category B students shall be made in the fall of 2001 or in the first
55 fall academic term following an appropriation and when moneys are avail-
5
1 able to implement the category B scholarship program whichever date is
2 later.
3 (g) The individual has complied with such rules as may be necessary for
4 the administration of this chapter.
5 (h) All eligible postsecondary institutions are required to match cate-
6 gory B grant awards and each year will report to the state board of educa-
7 tion and the board of regents of the university of Idaho the number of
8 students for each term receiving a grant award and the number of awards
9 that were matched by the institution.
10 SECTION 5. That Section 33-4308, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
11 amended to read as follows:
12 33-4308. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GRANTS. (1) The total number of grants to eli-
13 gible category A students shall not exceed one hundred (100) per year, nor a
14 cumulative total number of grants of four hundred (400) outstanding at any
15 given time.
16 (2) The total number of grants to category B students will be determined
17 annually by the state board of education and the board of regents of the uni-
18 versity of Idaho based on the number of eligible students, the individual
19 award amount and the availability of funds.
20 SECTION 6. That Section 33-4309, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
21 amended to read as follows:
22 33-4309. REMITTANCE IN CASE OF DISCONTINUED ATTENDANCE. A grant may be
23 made annually for a period not to exceed an educational year. If the student
24 discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, quarter, term, or
25 equivalent, covered by the grant after receiving payment under this act, the
26 eligible postsecondary institution shall remit, up to the amount of any pay-
27 ments made under this grant, any prorated tuition, fees or room and board bal-
28 ances to the state board of education and the board of regents of the
29 Uuniversity of Idaho. The student shall be required to remit, up to the amount
30 of any other reasonable grant balances, such grant balances to the state board
31 of education and the board of regents of the Uuniversity of Idaho. In the
32 event of extreme hardship as determined by the state board of education and
33 the board of regents of the university of Idaho, a student may request waiver
34 of remittance.
35 SECTION 7. That Section 33-4313, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
36 amended to read as follows:
37 33-4313. DUTIES OF BOARD. The state board of education and the board of
38 regents of the Uuniversity of Idaho shall be responsible for:
39 (1) Supervision of the issuance of public information concerning the pro-
40 visions of this act.
41 (2) Determination of recipients of grants made pursuant to the provisions
42 of this act.
43 (3) Adoption of rules and regulations necessary for processing and
44 approving applications from students.
45 (4) Determination of the procedures for payment of grants to recipients.
46 (5) Maintenance of fiscal controls and fund accounting procedures as may
47 be necessary to assure proper disbursement of funds.
48 (6) Submission of annual reports to the governor and legislature.
49 (7) Establishment of a reasonable and fair appeal procedure for those
6
1 students and institutions who may have been adversely affected by the applica-
2 tion procedures.
3 (8) Holding a public hearing, prior to the adoption of rules, and regula-
4 tions, for the purpose of providing interested parties with the opportunity of
5 discussing such rules. and regulations.
6 (9) Acceptance of funds from public and private sources, and such funds
7 may be expended pursuant to appropriation to the state board of education and
8 the board of regents of the university of Idaho for expenditure consistent
9 with the purposes of this chapter.
10 (10) In the event funds from the master tobacco settlement agreement are
11 used for category B scholarships, the state board of education and the board
12 of regents of the university of Idaho may establish additional eligibility
13 criteria for scholarship recipients.
14 SECTION 8. This act shall be in full force and effect on and after Janu-
15 ary 1, 2001.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS#409828C2
The purpose of this legislation is four fold. First it changes the name of the Idaho State Scholarship
Program to the Idaho Promise Scholarship Program. Second, by holding out the promise of scholarships, it will
encourage a larger number of secondary school students to stay in school, do better in school, and graduate. Third, it
will encourage students to continue their education beyond secondary school. Fourth, it will aid students by helping
defray education costs.
Currently only 49% of Idaho secondary school graduates continue their education. The national education
continuation rate is over 65% and some states achieve 80%. Idaho's low continuation rate portends serious problems
because without further education these graduates are practically assured of low incomes and, therefore, future
reliance on government Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare programs.
In addition, 13% of Idaho graduates elect to continue their education out of state. A Promise Scholarship
Program can give incentives for some of these students to seek their higher education at Idaho institutions.
In 1992, the State of Georgia enacted the Hope Scholarship Program, which provides tuition and fees for
four years to qualified students. It is financed by proceeds from their state lottery. Many Georgians consider the
Hope Scholarship Program one of the most successful policy initiatives in their state's history.
The Idaho Promise Scholarship is modest by comparison. Under the proposal, secondary school graduates
with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better would receive a limited scholarship for up to two years of schooling in a state
public or private post-secondary institution. Provision is also made for home schooled students and "late bloomers"
if they achieve an ACT score of 20 or 2.5 GPA or better in their first term of post-secondary education. The
scholarship would only partially cover fees and other costs, but will provide an incentive for students to stay in
school, do well in school and continue their education.
The state stands to benefit greatly both socially and economically if more of our secondary students are
motivated to excel academically and to continue their education in an Idaho post-secondary institution.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact until the Promise Scholarship Program is funded. The passage of this legislation
makes it possible to seek private donations and public appropriations.
It is estimated that about 5,000 students per year would be eligible for a scholarship. The legislation
provides for a maximum award of $1,000 per year for two years, including a match from state post-secondary
educational institutions. Therefore, if the Promise Scholarship Program is fully funded in the future, $5,000,000
will be required the first year with $2,500,000 being provided from state appropriations. The second year
$10,000,000 would be required with $5,000,000 being provided from state appropriations.
The award amount each year will be set by the State Board of education, depending upon the amount of
public and private funds made available. The broadly based Promise Scholarship Program is a potential candidate
for funding with Idaho Tobacco Settlement Funds.
Contact
Name: Senator Robert Lee
Agency:
Phone: 332-1328
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL IMPACT S 138