SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2132
As Amended by House Committee on Education
Brief*
HB 2132, as amended, would amend the Kansas
Promise Scholarship Act by expanding programs eligible for
the scholarship and clarifying how scholarship amounts are
calculated based upon whether the eligible program is being
offered by a public two-year college or private college.
Eligible Fields of Study, Promise-eligible Programs
The bill would add both elementary and secondary
education programs to the fields of study currently eligible to
receive scholarships under the Act. The current fields of study
include the following:
●Information technology and security;
●Mental and physical health care;
●Advanced manufacturing and building trades; or
●Early childhood education.
Designation of Additional Fields of Study, Local Employment
Needs
The bill would also update the eligible fields of study that
a college could choose to add to the other scholarship-eligible
fields of study (e.g., agriculture, education, and training). The
____________________
*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.kslegislature.org bill would add the term “transportation” to the field of study
currently listed as “distribution and logistics.”
Scholarship Award Amount Determination
The bill would also clarify that for students enrolled in a
promise eligible program at a private college that the
scholarship amount would be:
The aggregate amount of tuition, mandatory
fees, and the cost of books and materials for
the academic year in which the student is
enrolled and receiving the scholarship minus
the aggregate amount of all other aid
awarded to the student.
[Note: The bill would maintain the requirement that the
scholarship award could not exceed the average cost of
tuition, required fees, and the cost of books and required
materials for the same program at an eligible public college.]
The bill would also make clarifying technical changes.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Appropriations at the request of Representative Hoffman.
House Committee on Education
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives of Cowley College, Kansas
Association of Community College Trustees, and State Board
of Regents. The proponents generally noted that the addition
of elementary and secondary education would allow the Act
to assist in addressing the teacher shortage by utilizing
agreements with universities to allow students to transfer
following their two years of study to complete their degrees in
education. Additionally, the inclusion of “transportation” to the
2- 2132 existing optional distribution and logistics field would make
transportation programs (e.g., commercial truck driving)
eligible for students to receive a scholarship award. Additional
clarifying changes, including more consistent language in an
award calculation, were also highlighted.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Kansas Association of School Boards,
Kansas Independent College Association, Kansas National
Education Association, and State Board of Education.
The House Committee amended the bill to make
clarifying changes requested by the State Board of Regents
and to change the effective date of the bill from publication in
the Kansas Register to publication in the statute book.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the State Board of
Regents indicates the bill would increase costs due to the
additional time required to administer the Act but that the
additional costs would be negligible and could be
accomplished within existing resources. Any fiscal effect from
enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY 2024
Governor’s Budget Report.
Education; postsecondary; Kansas Board of Regents; community colleges; technical
colleges; private colleges; Kansas Promise Scholarship Act
3- 2132