07 LC 28
3631S
The
House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to
HB
152:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to provide
that otherwise qualified students who score in the eighty-fifth percentile or
higher nationally on a standardized college admission test shall be eligible for
the HOPE scholarship; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective
date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, is amended by revising
subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-519.2, relating to eligibility requirements
for a HOPE scholarship at a public postsecondary institution, as
follows:
"(a)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, an entering freshman student seeking an
associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible public postsecondary
institution shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by meeting the requirements to be classified as a
legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated
by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state
tuition policy of the board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set
by the Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(2)
Meet achievement standards by:
(A)
Having graduated from an eligible high school while meeting the curriculum
requirements of his or her program of study in 1993 or thereafter and meeting
the requirements set out in the applicable subsection and paragraph of Code
Section 20-2-157;
or
(B)
In the case of a student who is otherwise qualified but:
(i)
Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the
requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, having received the
general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Georgia Department
of Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993, provided that such student
shall only be eligible for a HOPE scholarship pursuant to subsection (e) of this
Code section;
(ii)
Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of
Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school,
earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public
postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the
student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such
student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such
student´s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year;
or
(iii)
Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, earning a
cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public
postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the
student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such
student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such
student´s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year;
and
or
(C)
In the case of an otherwise qualified student who:
(i)
Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the
requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 but received the general
educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Georgia Department of
Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993;
(ii)
Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of
Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school;
or
(iii)
Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school,
earning
a score in the eighty-fifth percentile or higher nationally on a standardized
college admission test, such as the SAT or ACT; and
(3)
Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an
undergraduate student in a matriculated status."
SECTION
2.
Said
part is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-519.3,
relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a private
postsecondary institution, as follows:
"(a)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, an entering freshman student seeking an
associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible private postsecondary
institution shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by meeting the requirements to be classified as a
legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated
by the Georgia Student Finance Commission;
(2)
Meet achievement standards by:
(A)
Having graduated from an eligible high school while meeting the curriculum
requirements of his or her program of study in 1996 or thereafter and meeting
the requirements set out in the applicable paragraph of subsection (b) of Code
Section 20-2-157;
or
(B)
In the case of a student who is otherwise qualified but:
(i)
Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the
requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, having received the
general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Georgia Department
of Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993, provided that such student
shall only be eligible for a HOPE scholarship pursuant to subsection (e) of this
Code section;
(ii)
Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of
Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school,
earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public
postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the
student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such
student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such
student´s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year;
or
(iii)
Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, earning a
cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public
postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the
student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such
student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such
student´s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year;
and
or
(C)
In the case of an otherwise qualified student who:
(i)
Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the
requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 but received the general
educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Georgia Department of
Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993;
(ii)
Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of
Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school;
or
(iii)
Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school,
earning
a score in the eighty-fifth percentile or higher nationally on a standardized
college admission test, such as the SAT or ACT; and
(3)
Meet enrollment standards by:
(A)
Being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a
matriculated status; and
(B)
Being registered for and attending classes as at least a half-time student for
14 days or more after the last day of the institution´s drop and add
period."
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.