Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB541 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25 LC 61 0211S
2		-	The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 541:
	1	+	25 LC 61 0143
	2	+	House Bill 541
	3	+	By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13
	4	+	th
	5	+	, Cooper of the 45
	6	+	th
	7	+	, Taylor of the 173
	8	+	rd
	9	+	, Prince of
	10	+	the 132
	11	+	nd
	12	+	, and Hawkins of the 27
	13	+	th
	14	+
3	15		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	16		AN ACT
5		-	To amend Code Section 20-3-411 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
	17	+	To amend Code Section 20-3-411 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
	18	+	1
6	19		definitions regarding tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities, so as to2
7	20		expand the definition of an approved school to include certain institutions which offer3
8	21		programs in nursing; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative intent; to repeal4
9	22		conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
10	23		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
11	24		SECTION 1.7
12	25		WHEREAS, the General Assembly is committed to addressing the healthcare workforce8
13	26		shortage in Georgia, which includes having a sufficient number of high-quality nurses; and9
14	27		WHEREAS, to increase the number of high-quality nurses in Georgia, crucial elements10
15	28		include providing financial assistance and removing impediments to practicing nursing.11
16		-	H. B. 541 (SUB)
17		-	- 1 - 25 LC 61 0211S
18		-	SECTION 2.12
	29	+	H. B. 541
	30	+	- 1 - 25 LC 61 0143
	31	+	SECTION 2.
	32	+	12
19	33		Code Section 20-3-411 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions13
20	34		regarding tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities, is amended by14
21	35		revising paragraph (2) as follows:15
22	36		"(2) 'Approved school' means:16
23	37		(A) A nonproprietary institution of higher education located in this state which is not17
24	38		a branch of the university system; which is not a four-year or graduate level institution18
25	39		of higher education that is, or is a part of, a college or university system that is owned19
26	40		and operated by a state other than Georgia; which is accredited by the Southern20
27	41		Association of Colleges and Schools; which is not a graduate level school or college of21
28	42		theology or divinity; and which is not presently receiving state funds under Article 422
29	43		of this chapter; provided, however, that an institution which otherwise meets the23
30	44		requirements of this definition and of this subpart except for the lack of accreditation24
31	45		by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools shall be deemed to be an25
32	46		'approved school' during the period that the institution holds candidate for accreditation26
33	47		status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; provided, further, that27
34	48		an institution which otherwise meets the requirements of this definition and of this28
35	49		subpart except for the lack of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and29
36	50		Schools shall be deemed to be an 'approved school' if such institution was previously30
37		-	an 'approved school' under division (iii) (iv) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph31
	51	+	an 'approved school' under division (iii)
	52	+	(iv) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph31
38	53		within the last five years; provided, further, that an institution which was previously32
39	54		accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools within the last seven33
40	55		years and which otherwise meets the requirements of this definition and of this subpart34
41	56		except for the lack of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and35
42	57		Schools shall be deemed to be an 'approved school'; and36
43	58		(B)(i) A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state37
44	59		which is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution of higher education; which is38
45		-	H. B. 541 (SUB)
46		-	- 2 - 25 LC 61 0211S
47		-	accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; which is not a Bible39
	60	+	H. B. 541
	61	+	- 2 - 25 LC 61 0143
	62	+	accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; which is not a Bible
	63	+	39
48	64		school or college (or, at the graduate level, a school or college of theology or40
49	65		divinity); which admits as regular students only persons who have a high school41
50	66		diploma, a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or a degree from42
51	67		an accredited postsecondary institution; whose students are eligible to participate in43
52	68		the federal Pell Grant program; which has been reviewed and approved for operation44
53	69		and for receipt of tuition equalization grant funds by the Georgia Nonpublic45
54	70		Postsecondary Education Commission; which is domiciled and incorporated in the46
55	71		State of Georgia; which has been in existence in the State of Georgia for at least ten47
56	72		years; and which met all of the requirements of this subparagraph by January 1, 2011;48
57	73		provided, however, that the criteria for approval for receipt of tuition equalization49
58	74		grant funds shall include but not be limited to areas of course study, quality of50
59	75		instruction, student placement rate, research and library sources, faculty, support staff,51
60	76		financial resources, physical plant facilities resources, and support and equipment52
61	77		resources.53
62		-	(ii) A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state which54
	78	+	(ii) A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state which
	79	+	54
63	80		is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution offering a baccalaureate degree program55
64	81		or programs in nursing; which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges56
65	82		and Schools or by the Higher Learning Commission; which is accredited by the57
66	83		Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; which has a National Council58
67	84		Licensure Examination four-year average passage rate of at least 80 percent; which59
68	85		is not a Bible school or college (or, at the graduate level, a school or college of60
69	86		theology or divinity); which admits as regular students only persons who have a high61
70	87		school diploma, a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, or a degree62
71	88		from an accredited postsecondary institution; whose students are eligible to participate63
72	89		in the federal Pell Grant program; which has been reviewed and approved for64
73	90		operation and for receipt of tuition equalization grant funds by the Georgia Nonpublic65
74		-	H. B. 541 ~~(SUB)~~
75		-	- 3 - 25 LC 61 ~~0211S~~
	91	+	H. B. 541
	92	+	- 3 - 25 LC 61 0143
76	93		Postsecondary Education Commission; which has at least one instructional campus66
77	94		that has been physically located in the State of Georgia for at least ten years, as of67
78	95		June 30, 2025; provided, however, that only such institution's baccalaureate degree68
79	96		program or programs in nursing shall be deemed an approved school for the purposes69
80		-	of this subpart; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding any provision to the70
81		-	contrary in Code Section 20-2-161.3 or subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of Code71
82		-	Section 20-3-519, an institution or program that is deemed an approved school72
83		-	pursuant to this division shall not be deemed an eligible postsecondary institution, as73
84		-	defined in Code Section 20-3-519, or for purposes of the Dual Enrollment Act, as74
85		-	provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3, or for any other scholarship, loan, or grant75
86		-	program provided for in this article, including HOPE scholarships and grants.76
87		-	(ii)(iii) Any proprietary institution that is otherwise qualified pursuant to division (i)77
88		-	of this subparagraph on July 1, 1995, shall be deemed to be eligible for receipt of78
89		-	tuition equalization grant funds subject, however, to any subsequent review of such79
90		-	approval pursuant to any proper regulations which may thereafter be adopted in80
91		-	accordance with paragraph (10) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-250.581
92		-	applicable to all qualified proprietary institutions.82
93		-	(iii)(iv) Any proprietary institution of higher education that is otherwise qualified83
94		-	pursuant to division (i) of this subparagraph on January 1, 2011, shall continue to be84
95		-	an approved school pursuant to this paragraph as long as it continues to meet the85
96		-	requirements of division (i) of this subparagraph as such existed on March 14, 2011."86
97		-	SECTION 3.87
98		-	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.88
99		-	H. B. 541 (SUB)
	97	+	of this subpart; and provided, further, that an institution or program that is deemed an70
	98	+	approved school pursuant to this division shall not be deemed an eligible71
	99	+	postsecondary institution as defined in Code Section 20-3-519 or for any purposes72
	100	+	provided for in Part 7 of this article, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants.73
	101	+	(ii)(iii) Any proprietary institution that is otherwise qualified pursuant to division (i)74
	102	+	of this subparagraph on July 1, 1995, shall be deemed to be eligible for receipt of75
	103	+	tuition equalization grant funds subject, however, to any subsequent review of such76
	104	+	approval pursuant to any proper regulations which may thereafter be adopted in77
	105	+	accordance with paragraph (10) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-250.578
	106	+	applicable to all qualified proprietary institutions.79
	107	+	(iii)(iv) Any proprietary institution of higher education that is otherwise qualified80
	108	+	pursuant to division (i) of this subparagraph on January 1, 2011, shall continue to be81
	109	+	an approved school pursuant to this paragraph as long as it continues to meet the82
	110	+	requirements of division (i) of this subparagraph as such existed on March 14, 2011."83
	111	+	SECTION 3.84
	112	+	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.85
	113	+	H. B. 541
100	114		- 4 -