Missouri 2025 Regular Session

Missouri Senate Bill SB416 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted
3	3	and is intended to be omitted in the law.
4	4	FIRST REGULAR SESSION
5	5	SENATE BILL NO. 416
6	6	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
7	7	INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BLACK.
8	8	0782S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
9	9	AN ACT
10	10	To repeal section 173.2553, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to grants
11	11	for postsecondary education.
12	12
13	13	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
14	14	Section A. Section 173.2553, RSMo, is repealed and one 1
15	15	new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 2
16	16	173.2553, to read as follows:3
17	17	173.2553. 1. There is hereby established a "Fast 1
18	18	Track Workforce Incentive Grant", and any moneys 2
19	19	appropriated by the general assembly for this program shall 3
20	20	be deposited in the fund created in subsection 13 of this 4
21	21	section and shall be used to provide grants for Missouri 5
22	22	citizens to attend an approved Missouri postsecondary 6
23	23	institution of their choice in accordance with the 7
24	24	provisions of this section. 8
25	25	2. The definitions of terms set forth in section 9
26	26	173.1102 shall be applicable to such terms as used in t his 10
27	27	section and section 173.2554. In addition, the following 11
28	28	terms shall mean: 12
29	29	(1) "Active apprentice status", formal participation 13
30	30	in an apprenticeship that meets any related requirements as 14
31	31	defined by the organization providing the apprentices hip or 15
32	32	the United States Department of Labor; 16
33	33	(2) "Board", the coordinating board for higher 17
34	34	education; 18 SB 416 2
35	35	(3) "Eligible apprentice", an individual who: 19
36	36	(a) Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United 20
37	37	States; 21
38	38	(b) Is a Missouri resident as determined by reference 22
39	39	to standards promulgated by the coordinating board; 23
40	40	(c) Has active apprentice status in an eligible 24
41	41	apprenticeship; 25
42	42	(d) Has an adjusted gross income as reported on their 26
43	43	Missouri individual income tax retu rn that does not exceed 27
44	44	[eighty] one hundred thousand dollars for married filing 28
45	45	joint taxpayers or [forty] fifty thousand dollars for all 29
46	46	other taxpayers, adjusted annually based on the rate of 30
47	47	inflation according to the Consumer Price Index beginning 31
48	48	January 1, 2026; and 32
49	49	(e) Is twenty-five years of age or older at the time 33
50	50	of entering the apprenticeship or has not been enrolled in a 34
51	51	postsecondary education program, other than one related to 35
52	52	the current apprenticeship, for the prior two calen dar years; 36
53	53	(4) "Eligible apprenticeship", a United States 37
54	54	Department of Labor approved apprenticeship, as defined 38
55	55	under 29 CFR Part 29, conducted within the state of Missouri 39
56	56	that prepares a participant to enter employment in an area 40
57	57	of occupational shortage as determined by the coordinating 41
58	58	board; 42
59	59	(5) "Eligible program of study", a program of 43
60	60	instruction: 44
61	61	(a) Resulting in the award of a certificate, 45
62	62	undergraduate degree, or other industry -recognized 46
63	63	credential; and 47
64	64	(b) That has been designated by the coordinating board 48
65	65	as preparing students to enter an area of occupational 49
66	66	shortage as determined by the board; 50 SB 416 3
67	67	(6) "Eligible student", an individual who: 51
68	68	(a) Has completed and submitted a FAFSA for the 52
69	69	academic year for which the grant is requested or if the 53
70	70	student is enrolled, or is enrolling, with an eligible 54
71	71	training provider that does not participate in federal 55
72	72	student aid programs, has provided documentation of their 56
73	73	adjusted gross income as determined by the board; 57
74	74	(b) Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United 58
75	75	States; 59
76	76	(c) Is a Missouri resident for at least two years 60
77	77	prior to receiving a grant pursuant to the fast track 61
78	78	workforce incentive grant program as determined by reference 62
79	79	to standards promulgated by the coordinating board, provided 63
80	80	that this paragraph shall not apply to an individual who is 64
81	81	an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United 65
82	82	States who has been transferred to the state of Missouri, or 66
83	83	his or her spouse; 67
84	84	(d) Is enrolled, or plans to enroll, at least half - 68
85	85	time as a student in an eligible undergraduate program of 69
86	86	study offered by an approved public, private, or virtual 70
87	87	institution, as defined in section 173.1102 or by an 71
88	88	eligible training provide r; 72
89	89	(e) Has an adjusted gross income, as reported on the 73
90	90	FAFSA or other documentation as determined by the board, 74
91	91	that does not exceed [eighty] one hundred thousand dollars 75
92	92	for married filing joint taxpayers or [forty] fifty thousand 76
93	93	dollars for all other taxpayers, adjusted annually based on 77
94	94	the rate of inflation according to the Consumer Price Index 78
95	95	beginning January 1, 2026 ; and 79
96	96	(f) Is twenty-five years of age or older at the time 80
97	97	of enrollment or has not been enrolled in an educational 81
98	98	program for the prior two academic years; 82 SB 416 4
99	99	(7) "Eligible training provider", a training 83
100	100	organization listed in the state of Missouri eligible 84
101	101	training provider system maintained by the office of 85
102	102	workforce development in the department of higher e ducation 86
103	103	and workforce development; 87
104	104	(8) "FAFSA", the Free Application for Federal Student 88
105	105	Aid, as maintained by the United States Department of 89
106	106	Education; 90
107	107	(9) "Fast track grant", an amount of moneys paid by 91
108	108	the state of Missouri to a studen t under the provisions of 92
109	109	this section; 93
110	110	(10) "Graduation", completion of a program of study as 94
111	111	indicated by the award of a certificate, undergraduate 95
112	112	degree, or other industry -recognized credential; 96
113	113	(11) "Qualifying employment", full -time employment of 97
114	114	a Missouri resident at a workplace located within the state 98
115	115	of Missouri, or self -employment while a Missouri resident, 99
116	116	with at least fifty percent of an individual's annual income 100
117	117	coming from self-employment, either of which result in 101
118	118	required returns of income in accordance with section 102
119	119	143.481; 103
120	120	(12) "Recipient", an eligible student, an eligible 104
121	121	apprentice, a renewal apprentice, or a renewal student who 105
122	122	receives a fast track grant under the provisions of this 106
123	123	section; 107
124	124	(13) "Related educational costs", direct costs 108
125	125	incurred by an individual as part of an eligible 109
126	126	apprenticeship program, such as, but not limited to, tools, 110
127	127	books, and uniforms; 111
128	128	(14) "Renewal apprentice", an eligible apprentice who 112
129	129	remains in complianc e with the provisions of this section, 113
130	130	has received the grant as an initial apprentice, maintains 114 SB 416 5
131	131	active apprentice status, and who has not received a 115
132	132	bachelor's degree; 116
133	133	(15) "Renewal student", an eligible student who 117
134	134	remains in compliance with t he provisions of this section, 118
135	135	has received a grant as an initial recipient, maintains a 119
136	136	cumulative grade point average of at least two and one -half 120
137	137	on a four-point scale or the equivalent, makes satisfactory 121
138	138	academic degree progress as defined by the institution, with 122
139	139	the exception of grade point average, and has not received a 123
140	140	bachelor's degree. 124
141	141	3. Standards of eligibility for renewed assistance 125
142	142	shall be the same as for an initial award of financial 126
143	143	assistance; except that, for a renewal stu dent, an applicant 127
144	144	shall demonstrate a grade point average of two and one -half 128
145	145	on a four-point scale, or the equivalent on another scale. 129
146	146	4. Eligibility for a grant expires upon the earliest 130
147	147	of: 131
148	148	(1) Receipt of the grant for four semesters or the 132
149	149	equivalent; 133
150	150	(2) Receipt of a bachelor's degree; or 134
151	151	(3) For an eligible student, reaching two hundred 135
152	152	percent of the time typically required to complete the 136
153	153	program of study. 137
154	154	5. The coordinating board shall initially designate 138
155	155	eligible programs of study by January 1, 2020, in connection 139
156	156	with local education institutions, regional business 140
157	157	organizations, and other stakeholders. The coordinating 141
158	158	board shall annually review the list of eligible programs of 142
159	159	study and occupations r elating to eligible apprenticeships 143
160	160	and make changes to the program list as it determines 144
161	161	appropriate. 145 SB 416 6
162	162	6. The coordinating board shall be the administrative 146
163	163	agency for the implementation of the program established by 147
164	164	this section and section 173. 2554. The coordinating board 148
165	165	shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations for the 149
166	166	exercise of its functions and the effectuation of the 150
167	167	purposes of this section and section 173.2554. The 151
168	168	coordinating board shall prescribe the form and the time a nd 152
169	169	method of filing applications and supervise the processing 153
170	170	thereof. The coordinating board shall determine the 154
171	171	criteria for eligibility of applicants and shall evaluate 155
172	172	each applicant's eligibility. The coordinating board shall 156
173	173	select qualified recipients to receive grants, make such 157
174	174	awards of financial assistance to qualified recipients, and 158
175	175	determine the manner and method of payment to the recipients. 159
176	176	7. The coordinating board shall determine eligibility 160
177	177	for renewed assistance on the ba sis of annual applications. 161
178	178	As a condition to consideration for initial or renewed 162
179	179	assistance, the coordinating board may require the applicant 163
180	180	and the applicant's spouse to execute forms of consent 164
181	181	authorizing the director of revenue to compare finan cial 165
182	182	information submitted by the applicant with the Missouri 166
183	183	individual income tax returns of the applicant, and the 167
184	184	applicant's spouse, for the taxable year immediately 168
185	185	preceding the year for which application is made, and to 169
186	186	report any discrepancie s to the coordinating board. 170
187	187	8. Grants shall be awarded in an amount equal to the 171
188	188	actual tuition and general fees charged of an eligible 172
189	189	student, after all federal nonloan aid, state student aid, 173
190	190	and any other governmental student financial aid ar e 174
191	191	applied. If a grant amount is reduced to zero due to the 175
192	192	receipt of other aid, the eligible student shall receive an 176
193	193	award of up to five hundred dollars or the remaining cost of 177 SB 416 7
194	194	attendance as calculated by the institution after all 178
195	195	nonloan student aid has been applied, whichever is less, per 179
196	196	academic term. Grants shall also be awarded in an amount 180
197	197	equal to the related educational costs for an eligible 181
198	198	apprentice after all other governmental assistance provided 182
199	199	for the apprenticeship has been ap plied. 183
200	200	9. If appropriated funds are insufficient to fund the 184
201	201	program as described, students and apprentices applying for 185
202	202	renewed assistance shall be given priority until all funds 186
203	203	are expended. 187
204	204	10. An eligible student that is the recipient o f 188
205	205	financial assistance may transfer from one approved public, 189
206	206	private, or virtual institution, or eligible training 190
207	207	provider to another without losing eligibility for 191
208	208	assistance under this section, but the coordinating board 192
209	209	shall make any necessary a djustments in the amount of the 193
210	210	award. If a recipient of financial assistance at any time 194
211	211	is entitled to a refund of any tuition or fees under the 195
212	212	rules and regulations of the institution in which he or she 196
213	213	is enrolled, the institution shall pay the p ortion of the 197
214	214	refund that may be attributed to the grant to the 198
215	215	coordinating board. The coordinating board shall use these 199
216	216	refunds to make additional awards under the provisions of 200
217	217	this section. 201
218	218	11. Persons who receive fast track grants under th is 202
219	219	section shall be required to submit proof of residency and 203
220	220	qualifying employment to the coordinating board for higher 204
221	221	education within thirty days of completing each twelve 205
222	222	months of qualifying employment until the three -year 206
223	223	employment obligation is fulfilled. 207
224	224	12. Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act: 208 SB 416 8
225	225	(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under 209
226	226	this section shall sunset automatically on August 28, 2029, 210
227	227	unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and 211
228	228	(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program 212
229	229	authorized under this section shall sunset automatically six 213
230	230	years after the effective date of the reauthorization; and 214
231	231	(3) This section shall terminate on December thirty - 215
232	232	first of the calendar year immediately following the 216
233	233	calendar year in which the program authorized under this 217
234	234	section is sunset. 218
235	235	13. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury 219
236	236	the "Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Fund". The state 220
237	237	treasurer shall be cust odian of the fund. In accordance with 221
238	238	sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve 222
239	239	disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon 223
240	240	appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely by 224
241	241	the coordinating board for the purp oses of this section. 225
242	242	(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 226
243	243	to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 227
244	244	of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the 228
245	245	general revenue fund. 229
246	246	(3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the 230
247	247	fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any 231
248	248	interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 232
249	249	credited to the fund. 233
250	250	14. The coordinating board shall have the authority to 234
251	251	promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this 235
252	252	section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is 236
253	253	defined in section 536.010, that is created under the 237
254	254	authority delegated in this section shall become effective 238
255	255	only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 239
256	256	provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 240 SB 416 9
257	257	536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 241
258	258	if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 242
259	259	pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 243
260	260	date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 244
261	261	held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 245
262	262	authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 246
263	263	2019, shall be invalid and void. 247
264	264	