Bill Text: GA SB235 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: HOPE; provide that the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish amount awarded each year

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-08 - Senate Read and Referred [SB235 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB235-Introduced.html

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11 LC 28 5568

Senate Bill 235

By: Senator Thompson of the 5th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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 the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish the amount of HOPE scholarship and grants awards each year; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and contingent repeal; 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 (h) of Code Section 20-3-519.2, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a public postsecondary institution, as follows:

"(h)(1) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the Lottery for Education Account in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish the amount of the HOPE scholarships to be awarded under this Code section during each fiscal year for each qualifying student under this Code section, and such amounts shall be accepted by all institution of the University System of Georgia as full payment for tuition for the courses taken by such qualifying student at any such institution during such fiscal year and such student shall not be charged any additional amount for tuition for such courses shall include tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance not to exceed $100.00 per quarter or $150.00 per semester, except as otherwise provided for in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(2) Effective beginning with the fall quarter or semester commencing after July 1, 2004, the amount of mandatory fees paid shall be equal to such amount or amounts that were paid on January 1, 2004, except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13.

(3) Paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not apply to an eligible public postsecondary institution established by law on or after January 1, 2004. For any eligible public postsecondary institution established on or after January 1, 2004, the amount of the mandatory fees paid shall be equal to such amount or amounts initially approved for that new eligible public postsecondary institution for its first year of operation by action of the board of regents or the Technical College System of Georgia, as applicable, except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13."

SECTION 2.

Said part is further amended by revising subsection (g) of Code Section 20-3-519.3, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a private postsecondary institution, as follows:

"(g)(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, subject Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the scholarship shortfall reserve subaccount in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish the amount of the HOPE scholarships to be awarded under this Code section during each fiscal year shall be not less than $3,000.00 for any academic year.

(2) Effective beginning with the fall quarter or semester commencing after July 1, 2004, subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the scholarship shortfall reserve subaccount in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship awarded under this Code section shall be not less than $1,500.00 for half-time enrollment and $3,000.00 for full-time enrollment for any academic year."

SECTION 3.

Said part is further amended by revising subsection (d) of Code Section 20-3-519.5, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE grant at a branch of the Technical College System of Georgia, as follows:

"(d)(1) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the Lottery for Education Account in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE grant the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall establish the amount of the HOPE grants to be awarded under this Code section during each fiscal year for each qualifying student under this Code section, and such amounts shall be accepted by all institutions of the Technical College System of Georgia as full payment for tuition for the courses taken by such qualifying student at any such institution during such fiscal year and such student shall not be charged any additional amount for tuition for such courses shall include tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance not to exceed $100.00 per quarter or $150.00 per semester, except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) Effective beginning with the fall quarter or semester commencing after July 1, 2004, the amount of mandatory fees paid shall be equal to such amount or amounts that were paid on January 1, 2004, except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13."

SECTION 4.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2013, provided that an amendment to the State Constitution is passed by the General Assembly and ratified by the electors at the November, 2012, general election authorizing the General Assembly by general law to establish the amount of tuition that may be charged to students receiving lottery funded scholarships and grants and attending colleges and universities operated by the board of regents or institutions operated by the Technical College System of Georgia. Otherwise, this Act shall be repealed by operation of law on January 1, 2012.

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.