| 1 | 1 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations By: Senator(s) Boyd Senate Bill 2528 AN ACT TO ENACT THE "MISSISSIPPI RECONNECT ACT"; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT; TO ESTABLISH EVENTS THAT END A STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS FOR INSTANCES INVOLVING MAJOR MEDICAL LEAVE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO REVIEW AND STUDY THE PROGRAM EVERY FOUR YEARS TO EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS; TO PROVIDE AWARDS FOR NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS; TO PROVIDE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Reconnect Act." (2) For the purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise: (a) "Academic year" means three (3) consecutive semesters beginning with a fall semester and including the immediately following spring and summer semesters; (b) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means a Mississippi public community or junior college; (c) "Eligible program of study" means a federal Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or associate degree; (d) "Gift aid" means financial aid received from the federal Pell Grant or from state aid; and (e) "Nontraditional student" means a student who is at least twenty-five (25) years of age and who enrolls in a public four-year postsecondary institution or an eligible independent postsecondary institution: (i) As an entering freshman; or (ii) At least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution. (3) To be eligible for a Mississippi Reconnect Grant, a student must: (a) Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor degree; (b) Not be ineligible for the grant under other state law; (c) Have been a Mississippi resident as required by other state law; (d) Complete the FAFSA for each academic year in which the Mississippi Reconnect Grant is received; (e) Be an independent student as determined by the FAFSA; and (f) Be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution and enrolled in courses leading to completion of an eligible program of study. (4) To continue to be eligible for a Mississippi Reconnect Grant, a student shall: (a) Enroll in classes at an eligible postsecondary institution that lead to completion of an eligible program of study; (b) Maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average at the end of each academic year as determined by the institution attended; (c) Maintain continuous enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution; (d) Complete the renewal FAFSA each academic year; and (e) Attend at least as a part-time student. (5) If a student ceases to be eligible for the Mississippi Reconnect Grant at any time, then the student shall not be eligible to regain the grant. (6) A student may receive a Mississippi Reconnect Grant under this section until the occurrence of the first of the following events: (a) The student has attained a degree or certificate in an eligible program of study. Notwithstanding this paragraph (a), a student may continue to receive a Tennessee Reconnect Grant for an associate degree following completion of a certificate that directly leads to the associate degree program. (b) The student has attempted the total number of semester hours necessary for completion of an eligible program of study as determined under Title IV satisfactory academic progress standards, inclusive of any postsecondary hours transferred to the eligible program of study which were earned prior to enrollment at the postsecondary institution attended under this section. (c) Five (5) years have passed since the date of initial enrollment as a Mississippi Reconnect Grant student exclusive of any approved leaves of absence. A student who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from the eligible postsecondary institution may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements. (7) A student who receives a Mississippi Reconnect Grant may transfer from one eligible postsecondary institution to another eligible postsecondary institution without loss of the grant so long as the student continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the grant. (8) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the Legislature, the amount of a Mississippi Reconnect Grant shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged to all students for coursework leading to completion of the eligible program of study at the eligible postsecondary institution attended less all other gift aid, which shall be credited first to tuition and mandatory fees. (9) This section shall apply beginning with the fall semester of 2015 for independent students who enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution. (10) The State Auditor, through the auditor's office, shall review and study the Tennessee Reconnect Grant program to determine the effectiveness of the program. The study shall be done in the third year of the program and every four (4) years thereafter. The State Auditor's office shall report its findings and conclusions to the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Mississippi and the Universities and Colleges committees of the Mississippi State Senate and House of Representatives by December 31 each year a report is prepared. (11) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the Legislature and any provision of law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance, a Reconnect Grant awarded to a student attending an eligible two-year postsecondary institution or a nontraditional student attending an eligible independent two-year postsecondary institution shall be One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) for a full-time attendance for each semester. This award amount shall apply to the initial entering freshman class beginning in the fall term of 2025 and to each entering class thereafter. (12) The Board of Trustees of Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning and Mississippi Community College Board are authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this act, including the determination of student eligibility, leaves of absences, and the distribution of funds appropriated for grants under the program. All such rules shall be promulgated in accordance with other applicable state law. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 Regular Session |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | By: Senator(s) Boyd |
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| 10 | 10 | | |
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| 11 | 11 | | # Senate Bill 2528 |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT TO ENACT THE "MISSISSIPPI RECONNECT ACT"; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT; TO ESTABLISH EVENTS THAT END A STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS FOR INSTANCES INVOLVING MAJOR MEDICAL LEAVE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO REVIEW AND STUDY THE PROGRAM EVERY FOUR YEARS TO EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS; TO PROVIDE AWARDS FOR NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS; TO PROVIDE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Reconnect Act." |
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| 18 | 18 | | |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) For the purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise: |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | (a) "Academic year" means three (3) consecutive semesters beginning with a fall semester and including the immediately following spring and summer semesters; |
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| 22 | 22 | | |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means a Mississippi public community or junior college; |
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| 24 | 24 | | |
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| 25 | 25 | | (c) "Eligible program of study" means a federal Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or associate degree; |
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| 26 | 26 | | |
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| 27 | 27 | | (d) "Gift aid" means financial aid received from the federal Pell Grant or from state aid; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | |
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| 29 | 29 | | (e) "Nontraditional student" means a student who is at least twenty-five (25) years of age and who enrolls in a public four-year postsecondary institution or an eligible independent postsecondary institution: |
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| 30 | 30 | | |
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| 31 | 31 | | (i) As an entering freshman; or |
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| 32 | 32 | | |
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| 33 | 33 | | (ii) At least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution. |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | (3) To be eligible for a Mississippi Reconnect Grant, a student must: |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | (a) Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor degree; |
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| 38 | 38 | | |
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| 39 | 39 | | (b) Not be ineligible for the grant under other state law; |
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| 40 | 40 | | |
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| 41 | 41 | | (c) Have been a Mississippi resident as required by other state law; |
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| 42 | 42 | | |
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| 43 | 43 | | (d) Complete the FAFSA for each academic year in which the Mississippi Reconnect Grant is received; |
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| 44 | 44 | | |
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| 45 | 45 | | (e) Be an independent student as determined by the FAFSA; and |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | (f) Be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution and enrolled in courses leading to completion of an eligible program of study. |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | (4) To continue to be eligible for a Mississippi Reconnect Grant, a student shall: |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | (a) Enroll in classes at an eligible postsecondary institution that lead to completion of an eligible program of study; |
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| 52 | 52 | | |
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| 53 | 53 | | (b) Maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average at the end of each academic year as determined by the institution attended; |
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| 54 | 54 | | |
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| 55 | 55 | | (c) Maintain continuous enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution; |
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| 56 | 56 | | |
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| 57 | 57 | | (d) Complete the renewal FAFSA each academic year; and |
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| 58 | 58 | | |
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| 59 | 59 | | (e) Attend at least as a part-time student. |
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| 60 | 60 | | |
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| 61 | 61 | | (5) If a student ceases to be eligible for the Mississippi Reconnect Grant at any time, then the student shall not be eligible to regain the grant. |
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| 62 | 62 | | |
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| 63 | 63 | | (6) A student may receive a Mississippi Reconnect Grant under this section until the occurrence of the first of the following events: |
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| 64 | 64 | | |
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| 65 | 65 | | (a) The student has attained a degree or certificate in an eligible program of study. |
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| 66 | 66 | | |
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| 67 | 67 | | Notwithstanding this paragraph (a), a student may continue to receive a Tennessee Reconnect Grant for an associate degree following completion of a certificate that directly leads to the associate degree program. |
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| 68 | 68 | | |
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| 69 | 69 | | (b) The student has attempted the total number of semester hours necessary for completion of an eligible program of study as determined under Title IV satisfactory academic progress standards, inclusive of any postsecondary hours transferred to the eligible program of study which were earned prior to enrollment at the postsecondary institution attended under this section. |
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| 70 | 70 | | |
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| 71 | 71 | | (c) Five (5) years have passed since the date of initial enrollment as a Mississippi Reconnect Grant student exclusive of any approved leaves of absence. A student who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from the eligible postsecondary institution may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements. |
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| 72 | 72 | | |
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| 73 | 73 | | (7) A student who receives a Mississippi Reconnect Grant may transfer from one eligible postsecondary institution to another eligible postsecondary institution without loss of the grant so long as the student continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the grant. |
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| 74 | 74 | | |
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| 75 | 75 | | (8) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the Legislature, the amount of a Mississippi Reconnect Grant shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged to all students for coursework leading to completion of the eligible program of study at the eligible postsecondary institution attended less all other gift aid, which shall be credited first to tuition and mandatory fees. |
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| 76 | 76 | | |
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| 77 | 77 | | (9) This section shall apply beginning with the fall semester of 2015 for independent students who enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution. |
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| 78 | 78 | | |
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| 79 | 79 | | (10) The State Auditor, through the auditor's office, shall review and study the Tennessee Reconnect Grant program to determine the effectiveness of the program. The study shall be done in the third year of the program and every four (4) years thereafter. The State Auditor's office shall report its findings and conclusions to the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Mississippi and the Universities and Colleges committees of the Mississippi State Senate and House of Representatives by December 31 each year a report is prepared. |
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| 80 | 80 | | |
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| 81 | 81 | | (11) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the Legislature and any provision of law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance, a Reconnect Grant awarded to a student attending an eligible two-year postsecondary institution or a nontraditional student attending an eligible independent two-year postsecondary institution shall be One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) for a full-time attendance for each semester. This award amount shall apply to the initial entering freshman class beginning in the fall term of 2025 and to each entering class thereafter. |
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| 82 | 82 | | |
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| 83 | 83 | | (12) The Board of Trustees of Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning and Mississippi Community College Board are authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this act, including the determination of student eligibility, leaves of absences, and the distribution of funds appropriated for grants under the program. All such rules shall be promulgated in accordance with other applicable state law. |
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| 84 | 84 | | |
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| 85 | 85 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. |
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