Brief (1)
HB 2013 concerns the State Scholarship Program and would base the determination of a student's financial resources on criteria provided under federal methodology of need analysis, rather than on a dollar amount specified in the statute, as presently is the case. In addition, the amount of an award would be set at not to exceed 75 percent of the average amount of total tuition and required fees of full-time, in-state students enrolled at a state university. The present award limit is $1,000 per year.
Background
HB 2013 was recommended for introduction by the Legislative Educational Planning Committee and is supported by the State Board of Regents. The State Scholarship Program was established in 1963 and is the state's oldest student assistance program. Scholars are designated on the basis of academic merit, but awards are made only if there is financial need. The primary selection requirement is completion of the Regents' recommended high school curriculum. The Legislative Educational Planning Committee's rationale for recommending the changes contained in the bill was to allow more flexibility in determining awards by deleting specific dollar amounts in the statute which could become outdated.
A representative of the State Board of Regents testified that the amount available for State Scholarships in FY 2001 is $1,644,829, which provides for approximately 1,645 scholarships of $1,000 each. If HB 2013 had been in effect in the current year, 889 scholarships in the amount of $1,850 could have been awarded. To fully fund all 1,645 scholarships would take an additional $1.4 million.
Funding for the State Scholarship Program is subject to appropriation. If not enough money is available to fully fund each award, the awards are prorated. Under the Governor's recommendation for FY 2002, $1,644,829 is available for the State Scholarship Program, the same amount as the current year.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi