Ohio House Bill HB584

Ohio 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/15/24

Caption

Create Minority Law Student Encouragement Scholarship Pilot Prgm

Impact

The program is designed to benefit a select cohort of 10 to 20 minority students enrolled full-time in baccalaureate degree-granting institutions within Ohio. Each selected student will receive a scholarship of $4,000 per academic year, along with additional resources such as one-on-one mentoring, test preparation materials, and academic support. This funding aims to encourage greater diversity within the legal profession by facilitating access to legal education for underrepresented groups.

Summary

House Bill 584 aims to establish the Minority Law Student Encouragement Scholarship Pilot Program in the state of Ohio, which focuses on providing financial support and resources to minority undergraduate students aspiring to attend law school. This initiative involves an appropriation of $350,000 from the state treasury for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the program. The bill outlines that the Chancellor of Higher Education will oversee the distribution of these funds to the Ohio State Bar Association to manage the scholarships effectively.

Contention

The establishment of this scholarship program addresses ongoing disparities in law school admissions and the legal field. However, the bill may face scrutiny regarding the allocation of state funds and the effectiveness of the pilot program in achieving its objectives. There may also be discussions about whether such targeted aid sufficiently addresses broader structural issues of access to higher education for minority students.