25 LC 61 0143
House Bill 541
By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13
th
, Cooper of the 45
th
, Taylor of the 173
rd
, Prince of
the 132
nd
, and Hawkins of the 27
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 20-3-411 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
definitions regarding tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities, so as to2
expand the definition of an approved school to include certain institutions which offer3
programs in nursing; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative intent; to repeal4
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
WHEREAS, the General Assembly is committed to addressing the healthcare workforce8
shortage in Georgia, which includes having a sufficient number of high-quality nurses; and9
WHEREAS, to increase the number of high-quality nurses in Georgia, crucial elements10
include providing financial assistance and removing impediments to practicing nursing.11
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SECTION 2.
12
Code Section 20-3-411 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions13
regarding tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities, is amended by14
revising paragraph (2) as follows:15
"(2) 'Approved school' means:16
(A) A nonproprietary institution of higher education located in this state which is not17
a branch of the university system; which is not a four-year or graduate level institution18
of higher education that is, or is a part of, a college or university system that is owned19
and operated by a state other than Georgia; which is accredited by the Southern20
Association of Colleges and Schools; which is not a graduate level school or college of21
theology or divinity; and which is not presently receiving state funds under Article 422
of this chapter; provided, however, that an institution which otherwise meets the23
requirements of this definition and of this subpart except for the lack of accreditation24
by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools shall be deemed to be an25
'approved school' during the period that the institution holds candidate for accreditation26
status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; provided, further, that27
an institution which otherwise meets the requirements of this definition and of this28
subpart except for the lack of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and29
Schools shall be deemed to be an 'approved school' if such institution was previously30
an 'approved school' under division (iii)
(iv) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph31
within the last five years; provided, further, that an institution which was previously32
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools within the last seven33
years and which otherwise meets the requirements of this definition and of this subpart34
except for the lack of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and35
Schools shall be deemed to be an 'approved school'; and36
(B)(i) A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state37
which is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution of higher education; which is38
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accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; which is not a Bible
39
school or college (or, at the graduate level, a school or college of theology or40
divinity); which admits as regular students only persons who have a high school41
diploma, a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or a degree from42
an accredited postsecondary institution; whose students are eligible to participate in43
the federal Pell Grant program; which has been reviewed and approved for operation44
and for receipt of tuition equalization grant funds by the Georgia Nonpublic45
Postsecondary Education Commission; which is domiciled and incorporated in the46
State of Georgia; which has been in existence in the State of Georgia for at least ten47
years; and which met all of the requirements of this subparagraph by January 1, 2011;48
provided, however, that the criteria for approval for receipt of tuition equalization49
grant funds shall include but not be limited to areas of course study, quality of50
instruction, student placement rate, research and library sources, faculty, support staff,51
financial resources, physical plant facilities resources, and support and equipment52
resources.53
(ii) A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state which
54
is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution offering a baccalaureate degree program55
or programs in nursing; which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges56
and Schools or by the Higher Learning Commission; which is accredited by the57
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; which has a National Council58
Licensure Examination four-year average passage rate of at least 80 percent; which59
is not a Bible school or college (or, at the graduate level, a school or college of60
theology or divinity); which admits as regular students only persons who have a high61
school diploma, a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or a degree62
from an accredited postsecondary institution; whose students are eligible to participate63
in the federal Pell Grant program; which has been reviewed and approved for64
operation and for receipt of tuition equalization grant funds by the Georgia Nonpublic65
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Postsecondary Education Commission; which has at least one instructional campus66
that has been physically located in the State of Georgia for at least ten years, as of67
June 30, 2025; provided, however, that only such institution's baccalaureate degree68
program or programs in nursing shall be deemed an approved school for the purposes69
of this subpart; and provided, further, that an institution or program that is deemed an70
approved school pursuant to this division shall not be deemed an eligible71
postsecondary institution as defined in Code Section 20-3-519 or for any purposes72
provided for in Part 7 of this article, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants.73
(ii)(iii) Any proprietary institution that is otherwise qualified pursuant to division (i)74
of this subparagraph on July 1, 1995, shall be deemed to be eligible for receipt of75
tuition equalization grant funds subject, however, to any subsequent review of such76
approval pursuant to any proper regulations which may thereafter be adopted in77
accordance with paragraph (10) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-250.578
applicable to all qualified proprietary institutions.79
(iii)(iv) Any proprietary institution of higher education that is otherwise qualified80
pursuant to division (i) of this subparagraph on January 1, 2011, shall continue to be81
an approved school pursuant to this paragraph as long as it continues to meet the82
requirements of division (i) of this subparagraph as such existed on March 14, 2011."83
SECTION 3.84
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.85
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