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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
March 23, 2021
ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1821 By: McBride and Hasenbeck of
the House
and
Pemberton and Stephens of
the Senate
An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S.
2011, Sections 626.4, 626.7 and 626.8, which relate
to the Oklahoma Higher Education Tuiti on Aid Act;
modifying process for awarding state tuition aid
grants; permitting annual award of grants; removing
prohibition to increase the annual maximum award
amount; altering administration proc edures for the
grants; including factors to use in determi ning
participation priorities ; and providing an effective
date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Sectio n 626.4, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 626.4. State tuition aid grants shall be awarded to all
eligible applicants without any limitation on the number to be
awarded in any year other than the amount of appropriations
available therefor. The ins titution involved may appropriately
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schedule work to permit recipie nts to earn the amount of said
tuition grants.
Definitions of full-time and part-time undergraduate and
graduate students shall be established by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 626.7, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 626.7. A college tuition aid grant shall may be awarded
annually to each eligible, qualified full -time or part-time
undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a curriculum leading
to a degree or certificate in an institution of collegiate grade or
postsecondary institution providing a program of training to prepare
students for employment in a recognized occupation in Oklahoma
approved or accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education or appropriate postsecondary agency in accordance with the
following:
1. Eligibility. Each full -time or part-time resident student
will be eligible to receive a grant in an amount as pro vided in
paragraph 2 of this section. The Oklahoma State Regents fo r Higher
Education shall determine by rules and regulations the maximum
number of semesters a student may be eligible for grants. No
student shall be eligible for grants unless the studen t maintains
such minimum standards of academic performance as are re quired by
the institution in which the student is enrolled.
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In the event a student for any reason ceases to continue to be
enrolled during the course of an academic year, the student shall
cease to be eligible for tuition aid.
2. Amount of grant. The amo unt of tuition aid grant to any
student under this act for any semester shall represent a percentage
not greater than seventy -five percent (75%) of the tuition and
enrollment fees normally charged to residents of the State of
Oklahoma by the institution of attendance. The Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education shall determine by rules the annual
maximum award amount based on an annual assessment of funds
availability. The State Regents shall not increase the annual
maximum award amount unless funding is sufficient to serve at least
the same number of students as the previous academic year.
For the 2000-2001 academic year and each academic year
thereafter, the percentage of aid shall b e based on a need analysis
system that is consistent with federal st udent financial aid
regulations. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
set an annual award payment schedule based upon a maximum grant of
seventy-five percent (75%) of tui tion and fees with grants based on
lower percentages of tuition and fees being awarded to students who
demonstrate lower financial need.
Any student who receives an award for the 1999 -2000 academic
year shall not be denied additional awards because of inab ility to
meet the financial standards established in this act as lon g as
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other eligibility criteria continue to be met and as long as the
award status of the student is renewed on an annual basis. The
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are author ized to
establish procedures to determine the financial need of the student
under the standards used during the 1999 -2000 academic year until
the initial degree requirements are met by the student.
Financial assistance received under this act will be consi dered
as part of a student's financial aid package.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 626.8, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 626.8. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
may adopt rules and regulations, prescribe and provide appropriate
forms for application and employ s uch persons, contract for such
services and make such additional expenditures as may be necessary
or appropriate for effectuating the provisions of this act.
The Oklahoma State Regents fo r Higher Education are hereby
authorized to determine priorities for participation in this tuition
aid program by based upon factors including , but not limited to,
full-time, or part-time enrollment status, undergraduate and or
graduate students enrollment status, unmet financial need,
continuous enrollment, nearness to com pletion of a degree or
certificate, state employment needs, eligibility for other state and
institutional student financial aid and based on available state
funding.
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SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
March 23, 2021 - DO PASS