Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB639 Compare Versions

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3		-
4		-	An Act
5		-	ENROLLED SENATE
6		-	BILL NO. 639 By: Pugh, Stephens, Bullard,
7		-	Bergstrom and Jech of the
8		-	Senate
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	28	+	ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDME NT
	29	+	TO
	30	+	ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO . 639 By: Pugh, Stephens, Bullard and
	31	+	Bergstrom of the Senate
9	32
10	33		and
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12		-	Baker and Dollens of the
13		-	House
14		-
	35	+	Baker of the House
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18	39		An Act relating to the Oklahoma Higher Learning
19		-	Access Program; amending Section 1, Chapter 297,
20		-	O.S.L. 2018 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2606) , which
21		-	relates to return of awarded funds for cert ain
22		-	reason; directing the Oklahoma State Re gents for
23		-	Higher Education to administer certain survey to
24		-	certain students; directing the State Regents to
25		-	submit certain repor t by certain date; providing
26		-	contents of report; providing for codification ; and
27		-	providing an effective date .
28		-
29		-
30		-
31		-
32		-
33		-	SUBJECT: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	40	+	Access Program; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2602,
	41	+	as amended by Section 1, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70
	42	+	O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2602), which relates to the
	43	+	purpose of the program; allowing the program to
	44	+	include certain identified postsecondary career
	45	+	technology programs; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section
	46	+	2603, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 289,
	47	+	O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2603), which
	48	+	relates to eligibility for the program; adding
	49	+	reference to certain identified postsecondary
	50	+	vocational-technical program; 70 O.S. 2011, Section
	51	+	2604, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 289, O.S.L.
	52	+	2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2604), which
	53	+	relates to program awards; requiring repayment of
	54	+	award if program is not completed within certain time
	55	+	period; providing for deposit of repayments; allowing
	56	+	consideration of hardship circumstances; amending 70
	57	+	O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as last amended by Section
	58	+	4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	59	+	Section 2605), which relates to student agreements;
	60	+	adding reference to certain identified postsecondary
	61	+	vocational-technical programs; directing the
	62	+	Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of
	63	+	Commerce in certain consultation to publish certain
	64	+	list by certain date; providing for identification of
	65	+	postsecondary vocational -technical programs that
	66	+	correlate to certain occupation areas; requiring
	67	+	completion of certain program within certain time
	68	+	period; allowing completion of program regardless of
	69	+	placement on certain list; requiring repayment of
	70	+	award if program is not completed within certain time
	71	+	period; providing for promulgation of rules;
	72	+	providing for codification; providing an effective
	73	+	date; and declaring an emergency.
	74	+
	75	+
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	101	+	AMENDMENT NO. 1. Delete the title, enacting clause and entire bill
	102	+	and replace with:
	103	+
	104	+
	105	+	"An Act relating to the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	106	+	Access Program; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2602,
	107	+	as amended by Section 1, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70
	108	+	O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2602), which relates to the
	109	+	purpose of the program; allowing the program to
	110	+	include certain identified postsecondary career
	111	+	technology programs; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section
	112	+	2603, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 289,
	113	+	O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2603), which
	114	+	relates to eligibility for the program; adding
	115	+	reference to certain identified postsecondary
	116	+	vocational-technical program; amending 70 O.S. 2011,
	117	+	Section 2604, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 289,
	118	+	O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2604), which
	119	+	relates to program awards; establishing time
	120	+	limitation for certain courses; providing hardship
	121	+	exception; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as
	122	+	last amended by Section 4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017
	123	+	(70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2605), which relates to
	124	+	student agreements; adding reference to certain
	125	+	identified postsecondary vocational -technical
	126	+	programs; directing t he Executive Director of the
	127	+	Oklahoma Department of Commerce in certain
	128	+	consultation to publish certain list by certain date;
	129	+	providing for identification of postsecondary
	130	+	vocational-technical programs that correlate to
	131	+	certain occupation areas; requiring completion of
	132	+	certain program within certain time period; allowing
	133	+	completion of program regardless of placement on
	134	+	certain list; providing for promulgation of rules;
	135	+	providing for codification; providing an effective
	136	+	date; and declaring an emergency.
	137	+
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34	142
35	143		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
36	144
37		-	SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 297, O.S. L.
38		-	2018 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2606), is amended to read as
39		-	follows:
40		-
41		-	Section 2606. A. If a student withdraws from a class in which
42		-	he or she has received an award from the Oklahoma Higher Learning
43		-	Access Program, the awarded funds shall be returne d to the Oklahoma
44		-	Higher Learning Access Program. The provisions of this subsection
45		-	shall only apply to awarded funds when a student withdraws prior to
46		-
47		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 639 Page 2
48		-	the end of the add/drop period for the session in which the student
49		-	is enrolled.
50		-
51		-	B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
52		-	administer a survey to students who receive an Oklahoma Higher
53		-	Learning Access Program award and who withdraw from an institution
54		-	within The Oklahoma State System of Highe r Education, a private
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	170	+	SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2602, as
	171	+	amended by Section 1, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	172	+	Section 2602), is amended to read as follows:
	173	+	Section 2602. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Higher
	174	+	Learning Access Program. The program shall also be known as
	175	+	“Oklahoma’s Promise”. The purpose of the program is to provide an
	176	+	award to students who meet the criteria set forth in the Oklahoma
	177	+	Higher Learning Access Act who are pursuing studies in this state
	178	+	leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree or who are pursuing
	179	+	studies in a postsecondary career technology program that would meet
	180	+	the requirements to be eligible for federal student financial a id or
	181	+	that has been identified as a critical occupation area pursuant to
	182	+	Section 5 of this act and is offered by a technology center school
	183	+	supervised by the State Board of Career and Technology Education,
	184	+	and who are in good academic standing in the insti tution or school
	185	+	in which the student is enrolled, that will relieve the student of
	186	+	the burden of paying nonguaranteed resident tuition at institutions
	187	+	of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, paying tuition for
	188	+	enrollment in postsecondary program s of the technology center
	189	+	districts, or paying some portion of such fees or tuition, pursuant
	190	+	to the provisions of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act, as may
	191	+	be required of enrollees at private institutions of higher education
	192	+	which are accredited pu rsuant to Section 4103 of this title. The
	193	+	further purpose of this program is to establish and maintain a
	194	+
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	220	+	variety of support services whereby a broader range of the general
	221	+	student population of this state will be prepared for success in
	222	+	postsecondary endeavors.
	223	+	SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2603, as
	224	+	last amended by Section 2, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp.
	225	+	2020, Section 2603), is amended to read as follows:
	226	+	Section 2603. A. Except as otherwise provided for in
	227	+	subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be
	228	+	eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	229	+	Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an
	230	+	amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pur suant to
	231	+	Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic
	232	+	unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall:
	233	+	1. Be a resident of this state or be enrolled in a school
	234	+	district located in this state that serves students who reside in
	235	+	both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as
	236	+	authorized in Section 5 -117.1 of this title;
	237	+	2. Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United
	238	+	States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully
	239	+	present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in
	240	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an
	241	+	award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3242 of this title.
	242	+	The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who
	243	+
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	269	+	was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to
	270	+	the end of the 2006-2007 school year;
	271	+	3. Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements
	272	+	executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title;
	273	+	4. a. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
	274	+	from a high school accredited by the State Board of
	275	+	Education, or the Oklahoma School of Science and
	276	+	Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
	277	+	average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
	278	+	grades nine through twelve,
	279	+	b. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
	280	+	from a high school not accredited by the State Board
	281	+	of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
	282	+	average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
	283	+	grades nine through twelve and have achieved a
	284	+	composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test, or
	285	+	c. have satisfactorily completed within the previous
	286	+	three (3) years an educational program that was
	287	+	provided through a means other than a public or
	288	+	private school and have achieved a composite score of
	289	+	22 or higher on the ACT test;
	290	+	5. Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to
	291	+	an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
	292	+	and one additional unit or set of competencies in a course that
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	319	+	meets college admission requirements . The curriculum requirements
	320	+	shall include two units or sets of competencies in foreign or non -
	321	+	English language or technology courses that meet the college
	322	+	admission requirements and one unit or set of competencies of a fine
	323	+	arts course. Students shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point
	324	+	average in the core curriculum courses. Students who attended a
	325	+	high school which did not offer all the core curriculum courses or
	326	+	students who were educated by other means and were not offered all
	327	+	the core curriculum courses shall be allowed to satisfy this
	328	+	curriculum requirement by participating in a program approved by the
	329	+	State Regents for remediation of high school curricular
	330	+	deficiencies;
	331	+	6. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	332	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -time-entering
	333	+	students for the appropriate type of institution, or, if attending a
	334	+	private institution, have satisfied admission standards as
	335	+	determined by the private institution. No student participating in
	336	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into
	337	+	an institution of higher education by special admission standards;
	338	+	7. Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution
	339	+	which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
	340	+	a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology
	341	+	center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
	342	+	student financial aid or that has been identified as a critical
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	369	+	occupation area pursuant to Section 5 of this act , or a private
55	370		institution of higher learning located within this state and
56		-	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title or a technology
57		-	center school before comp leting a degree or certificate program .
58		-	The survey shall gather information on the reasons for withdrawal,
59		-	the barriers to compl etion of a degree or certificate program and
60		-	the future plans of the students.
61		-
62		-	C. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educat ion shall
63		-	promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
64		-
65		-	SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new sectio n of law to be codified
	371	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title; and
	372	+	8. a. have established financial need according to the
	373	+	provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this
	374	+	title and standards a nd provisions promulgated by the
	375	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
	376	+	b. if the student was adopted between birth and twelve
	377	+	(12) years of age while in the permanent custody of
	378	+	the Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered
	379	+	custody of a licensed private nonprofit child -placing
	380	+	agency, or federally recognized Indian tribe, as
	381	+	defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, have
	382	+	established financial need according to the provisions
	383	+	of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section 2605 of this
	384	+	title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
	385	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, or
	386	+	c. if the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and
	387	+	seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent
	388	+	custody of the Department of Human Services, in the
	389	+	court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit
	390	+	child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
	391	+	tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare
	392	+	Act, have established financial need according to the
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	419	+	provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection E of Section
	420	+	2605 of this title and standards and provisions
	421	+	promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	422	+	Education.
	423	+	B. 1. A student shall be eligible to participate in the
	424	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award
	425	+	which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition
	426	+	or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the
	427	+	first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if
	428	+	the student meets all of the following criteria:
	429	+	a. is a child of any person killed after January 1, 2000,
	430	+	in the line of duty in any branch of the United States
	431	+	Armed Forces or who died after January 1, 2000, as a
	432	+	result of an injury sustained while in the line of
	433	+	duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces
	434	+	and the person who was killed or died filed an
	435	+	individual or joint Oklahoma income tax return for the
	436	+	tax year prior to the year during which the person was
	437	+	killed or died,
	438	+	b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school
	439	+	district located in this state that serves students
	440	+	who reside in both this state and an adjacent state
	441	+	pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5 -
	442	+	117.1 of this title,
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	469	+	c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State
	470	+	System of Higher Education prior to reaching the a ge
	471	+	of twenty-one (21),
	472	+	d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	473	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -
	474	+	time-entering students for the appropriate type of
	475	+	institution, or, if attending a private institution,
	476	+	has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	477	+	private institution. No student participating in the
	478	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be
	479	+	admitted into an institution of higher education by
	480	+	special admission standards,
	481	+	e. has secured admission to, and e nrolled in, an
	482	+	institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State
	483	+	System of Higher Education, a postsecondary
	484	+	vocational-technical program offered by a technology
	485	+	center school that meets the requirements to be
	486	+	eligible for federal student financial aid or that has
	487	+	been identified as a critical occupation area pursuant
	488	+	to Section 5 of this act , or a private institution of
	489	+	higher learning located within this state and
	490	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, and
	491	+	f. executes an agreement pursuant t o subsection C of
	492	+	Section 2605 of this title.
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	519	+	2. A student who is eligible to participate in the program
	520	+	pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the
	521	+	eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section.
	522	+	C. To retain eligib ility while pursuing the program of higher
	523	+	learning in which enrolled, the student shall:
	524	+	1. Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as
	525	+	established by the institution in which the student is enrolled;
	526	+	2. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
	527	+	progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for
	528	+	Higher Education;
	529	+	3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for
	530	+	eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
	531	+	The provisions of th is paragraph shall become effective for the
	532	+	2012-2013 school year;
	533	+	4. Comply with the standards related to maintenance of
	534	+	eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	535	+	Education; and
	536	+	5. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion o r suspension
	537	+	of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.
	538	+	A student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall
	539	+	permanently lose eligibility for program benefits. The provisions
	540	+	of this paragraph shall become effective Janua ry 1, 2008.
	541	+	D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
	542	+	State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
	543	+
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	568	+
	569	+	rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma
	570	+	Higher Learning Access Act by a student.
	571	+	E. It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the
	572	+	ninth grade for the 1992 -93 school year who are determined to be
	573	+	eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the
	574	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students
	575	+	eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
	576	+	Fund.
	577	+	F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are
	578	+	authorized to study, develop and propose criteria for determining
	579	+	award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of
	580	+	high school coursework by a student.
	581	+	SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2604, as
	582	+	amended by Section 3, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	583	+	Section 2604), is amended to read as follows:
	584	+	Section 2604. A. Subject to the availability of funds, an
	585	+	amount equivalent to the nonguaranteed resident tuition for which an
	586	+	eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program student is
	587	+	obligated at an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher
	588	+	Education shall be awarded by allo cation from the Oklahoma Higher
	589	+	Learning Access Trust Fund.
	590	+	B. Subject to the availability of funds, for each eligible
	591	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program student enrolled at a
	592	+	private institution of higher learning located within this state and
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	619	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, the Oklahoma
	620	+	State Regents for Higher Education shall award from the Oklahoma
	621	+	Higher Learning Access Trust Fund an amount equivalent to the amount
	622	+	of resident tuition for which the student would be eligible if the
	623	+	student were enrolled in a comparable program at a comparable
	624	+	institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
	625	+	Comparability shall be determined by the State Regents.
	626	+	C. Subject to the availability of funds, an amount equivalent
	627	+	to the tuition for any eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	628	+	Program student enrolled in a public postsecondary vocational -
	629	+	technical program or course for the purpose set forth in Section
	630	+	2602 of this title shall be awarded by allocation from the Oklahoma
	631	+	Higher Learning Access Trust Fund. Provided, such allocation shall
	632	+	not exceed the amount a student would have received for comparable
	633	+	enrollment at a two-year institution within The Oklahoma State
	634	+	System of Higher Education.
	635	+	D. 1. An Except as provided for i n paragraph 2 of this
	636	+	subsection, an award allowed by this section shall not be allowed
	637	+	for courses or other postsecondary units taken in excess of the
	638	+	requirements for completion of a baccalaureate program or taken more
	639	+	than five (5) years after the stude nt’s first semester of
	640	+	postsecondary enrollment. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	641	+	Education may award the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	642	+	benefits for courses of postsecondary units taken more than five (5)
	643	+
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	669	+	years after the student’s first sem ester of postsecondary enrollment
	670	+	only in hardship circumstances; provided, however, no Oklahoma
	671	+	Higher Learning Access Program participant may receive benefits
	672	+	beyond a cumulative time period of five (5) years.
	673	+	2. Beginning with students who entered into participation in
	674	+	the program in the 2021 -2022 school year, an award allowed by this
	675	+	section shall not be allowed for courses or other postsecondary
	676	+	units taken in excess of the requirements for completion of a
	677	+	baccalaureate program or a postsecondary voca tional-technical
	678	+	program taken more than six (6) years after the student’s first
	679	+	semester of postsecondary enrollment. The Oklahoma State Regents
	680	+	for Higher Education may award the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	681	+	Program benefits for courses of postsecond ary units taken more than
	682	+	six (6) years after the student’s first semester of postsecondary
	683	+	enrollment only in hardship circumstances; provided, however, no
	684	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program participant may receive
	685	+	benefits beyond a cumulative time p eriod of six (6) years.
	686	+	3. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may award
	687	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefits for a student’s
	688	+	first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment
	689	+	taken more than three (3) years aft er the student graduates from
	690	+	high school or completes an educational program equivalent to high
	691	+	school graduation as authorized in subsection A of Section 2603 of
	692	+	this title or after the student turns twenty -one (21) years of age
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	719	+	as authorized in subsecti on B of Section 2603 of this title if the
	720	+	student is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the
	721	+	Reserve Corps of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the
	722	+	Oklahoma National Guard, and is ordered to active duty or active
	723	+	duty for special wor k or training and due to the duty commitment the
	724	+	student is unable to enroll prior to the end of the three -year
	725	+	period or before the student reaches twenty -one (21) years of age.
	726	+	The period shall be extended by the length of the term of duty.
	727	+	3. 4. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	728	+	establish a maximum limit on the number of courses or other
	729	+	postsecondary units to which Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	730	+	benefits will apply.
	731	+	E. Benefits awarded under the Oklahoma Higher Learning A ccess
	732	+	Program shall be awarded to all eligible applicants without any
	733	+	limitation on the number of awards in any year other than the amount
	734	+	of funds available for the program and the number of eligible
	735	+	applicants. Subject to the provisions of subsection F of this
	736	+	section, if funds are not sufficient to provide awards for all
	737	+	eligible applicants, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
	738	+	shall make awards on the basis of need. Provided, the Oklahoma
	739	+	State Regents for Higher Education shall take into c onsideration
	740	+	other grants and scholarships received by an eligible applicant when
	741	+	making awards.
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	768	+	F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may, at the
	769	+	time an award is made on behalf of an Oklahoma Higher Learning
	770	+	Access Program student, set asid e in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	771	+	Access Trust Fund funds for the full commitment made to such Higher
	772	+	Learning Access Program student. For all academic years, students
	773	+	who have previously received awards under the provisions of the
	774	+	Oklahoma Higher Learnin g Access Act, Section 2601 et seq. of this
	775	+	title, and who have continued at all times to fulfill the
	776	+	requirements for eligibility to receive awards provided pursuant to
	777	+	this program shall be given an absolute priority for continued
	778	+	financial support by the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	779	+	superior to any students who are applying for such benefits for the
	780	+	first time.
	781	+	G. Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, an award allowed
	782	+	by this section shall not include an amount for payment of remedial
	783	+	noncredit-earning courses taken by an eligible Oklahoma Higher
	784	+	Learning Access Program student.
	785	+	SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as
	786	+	last amended by Section 4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp.
	787	+	2020, Section 2605), is amended to read as follows:
	788	+	Section 2605. A. Each school year, every fifth - through ninth-
	789	+	grade student in the public and private schools of this state and
	790	+	students who are educated by other means and are in the equivalent
	791	+	of the fifth through ni nth grade shall be apprised, together with
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	818	+	the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the student, of the
	819	+	opportunity for access to higher learning under the Oklahoma Higher
	820	+	Learning Access Program. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	821	+	Education and the State Board of Education shall develop, promote,
	822	+	and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in making
	823	+	students and parents aware of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	824	+	Program.
	825	+	B. On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	826	+	Education, every public school district shall designate at least one
	827	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be
	828	+	a counselor or teacher, at each public school site in this state in
	829	+	which eighth-, ninth- or tenth-grade classes are taught. When
	830	+	requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education shall
	831	+	assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact
	832	+	persons. Private schools shall also designate at least one school
	833	+	official as a contact person. For students wh o are educated by
	834	+	other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the
	835	+	State Regents shall be designated the contact person.
	836	+	C. 1. Students who qualify on the basis of financial need
	837	+	according to subsection D or E of this section or who meet the
	838	+	eligibility qualification set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1
	839	+	of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title prior to entering the
	840	+	tenth grade or prior to reaching the age of fifteen (15) and the
	841	+	standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklah oma State Regents
	842	+
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	868	+	for Higher Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the
	869	+	eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade years, for students enrolled in a
	870	+	public or private school, or between the ages of thirteen (13) and
	871	+	fifteen (15), for students who are ed ucated by other means, to enter
	872	+	into participation in the program by agreeing to, throughout the
	873	+	remainder of their school years or educational program:
	874	+	a. attend school or an educational program regularly and
	875	+	do homework regularly,
	876	+	b. refrain from substan ce abuse,
	877	+	c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts,
	878	+	d. have school work and school records reviewed by
	879	+	mentors designated pursuant to the program,
	880	+	e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State
	881	+	Regents for Higher Education or the Sta te Board of
	882	+	Education, and
	883	+	f. participate in program activities.
	884	+	2. Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in
	885	+	subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 2603 of
	886	+	this title after completing the tenth grade or after reaching the
	887	+	age of sixteen (16) shall be given the opportunity prior to reaching
	888	+	the age of twenty-one (21) to enter into participation in the
	889	+	program and shall execute an agreement with provisions as determined
	890	+	by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
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	917	+	3. The contact person shall maintain the agreements, which
	918	+	shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents
	919	+	for Higher Education and managed according to regulations
	920	+	promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and
	921	+	the contact person shall monitor compliance of the student with the
	922	+	terms of the agreement. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	923	+	Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify
	924	+	compliance with the agreements. Students failing to comply wi th the
	925	+	terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided
	926	+	in Section 2604 of this title.
	927	+	D. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection E of this
	928	+	section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B
	929	+	of Section 2603 of this title, a student shall not be found to be in
	930	+	financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	931	+	Program if:
	932	+	1. At the time the student applies for participation in the
	933	+	program during the eighth, ninth or tenth grade for students
	934	+	enrolled in a public or private school, or between the ages of
	935	+	thirteen (13) and fifteen (15), for students who are educated by
	936	+	other means, the income from taxable and nontaxable sources of the
	937	+	student’s parent(s) exceeds Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) pe r
	938	+	year;
	939	+	2. Beginning with eighth -, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
	940	+	are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
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	967	+	ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
	968	+	means who apply for participation in the program in t he 2017-2018
	969	+	school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student’s
	970	+	parent(s) exceeds Fifty -five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) per year;
	971	+	3. Beginning with eighth -, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
	972	+	are enrolled in a public or private school or s tudents between the
	973	+	ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
	974	+	means who apply for participation in the program in the 2021 -2022
	975	+	school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student’s
	976	+	parent(s) exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year;
	977	+	4. At the time the student begins postsecondary education and
	978	+	prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	979	+	benefit award, the federal adjusted gross income of the student’s
	980	+	parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Do llars ($100,000.00) per
	981	+	year; and
	982	+	5. Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, prior to
	983	+	receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
	984	+	for any year during which the student is enrolled in an institution
	985	+	which is a member of The Okla homa State System of Higher Education,
	986	+	a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology
	987	+	center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
	988	+	student financial aid or that has been identified as a critical
	989	+	occupation area pursuant to Section 5 of this act, or a private
	990	+	institution of higher learning located within this state and
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	1017	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, the federal
	1018	+	adjusted gross income of the student’s parent(s) exceeds One Hundred
	1019	+	Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per year.
	1020	+	The determination of financial qualification as set forth in
	1021	+	paragraphs 4 and 5 of this subsection shall be based on the income
	1022	+	of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if a student:
	1023	+	a. is determined to be independent of the student’s
	1024	+	parents for federal financial aid purposes,
	1025	+	b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of
	1026	+	Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the
	1027	+	program, or
	1028	+	c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally
	1029	+	recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal
	1030	+	Indian Child Welfare Act, at the time the student
	1031	+	enrolled in the program.
	1032	+	The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who
	1033	+	has received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit
	1034	+	award after the 2017 -2018 school year;
	1035	+	6. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review
	1036	+	the determination of financial qualification as set forth in
	1037	+	paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection if the income from taxable
	1038	+	and nontaxable sources of the student’s parent(s) in cludes income
	1039	+	received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
	1040	+	the federal Social Security Administration due to the death or
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	1067	+	disability of the student’s parent(s). If the income from taxable
	1068	+	and nontaxable sources of the student’s paren t(s), excluding income
	1069	+	received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
	1070	+	the federal Social Security Administration due to the death or
	1071	+	disability of the student’s parent(s), does not exceed the
	1072	+	limitations set forth by paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection,
	1073	+	the student shall be determined to have met the financial
	1074	+	qualification set forth in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection.
	1075	+	E. 1. A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12)
	1076	+	years of age while in the permanent custod y of the Department of
	1077	+	Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a licensed private
	1078	+	nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
	1079	+	tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, shall not
	1080	+	be found to be in financial need f or purposes of the Oklahoma Higher
	1081	+	Learning Access Program if at the time the student begins
	1082	+	postsecondary education and prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher
	1083	+	Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted gross
	1084	+	income of the student’s parent (s) exceeds One Hundred Fifty Thousand
	1085	+	Dollars ($150,000.00) per year. The provisions of this paragraph
	1086	+	shall not apply to any student who has received an Oklahoma Higher
	1087	+	Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the 2012 -2013 school
	1088	+	year.
	1089	+	2. A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and
	1090	+	seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the
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	1117	+	Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a
	1118	+	licensed private nonprofit child -placing agency, or federally
	1119	+	recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child
	1120	+	Welfare Act, shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes
	1121	+	of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the
	1122	+	student begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any
	1123	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal
	1124	+	adjusted gross income of the student’s parent(s) exceeds Two Hundred
	1125	+	Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year. The provisions of this
	1126	+	paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
	1127	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
	1128	+	2012-2013 school year.
	1129	+	3. Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of
	1130	+	Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial
	1131	+	qualification as set forth in this subsection shall be based on the
	1132	+	income of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if the
	1133	+	student is determined to be independent of the student’s parent(s)
	1134	+	for federal financial aid purposes. A determination of financial
	1135	+	qualification shall not be required fo r the student who meets the
	1136	+	criteria set forth in this subsection at the time the student
	1137	+	applies for participation in the program. The provisions of this
	1138	+	paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
	1139	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
	1140	+	2008-2009 school year.
	1141	+
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	1167	+	F. The financial qualification of a student as set forth in
	1168	+	subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the
	1169	+	contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
	1170	+	on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for
	1171	+	Higher Education. The form shall be retained in the permanent
	1172	+	record of the student and a copy forwarded to the Oklahoma State
	1173	+	Regents for Higher Education.
	1174	+	G. Agreements shall be witnessed by the paren t, custodial
	1175	+	parent, or guardian of the student, who shall further agree to:
	1176	+	1. Assist the student in achieving compliance with the
	1177	+	agreements;
	1178	+	2. Confer, when requested to do so, with the school contact
	1179	+	person, other school personnel, and program mentor s;
	1180	+	3. Provide information requested by the Oklahoma State Regents
	1181	+	for Higher Education or the State Board of Education; and
	1182	+	4. Assist the student in completing forms and reports required
	1183	+	for program participation, making applications to institutions and
	1184	+	schools of higher learning, and filing applications for student
	1185	+	grants and scholarships.
	1186	+	H. Students who are enrolled in a school district located in
	1187	+	this state that serves students who reside in both this state and an
	1188	+	adjacent state pursuant to a contrac t as authorized in Section 5 -
	1189	+	117.1 of this title, are in the eleventh and twelfth grades during
	1190	+	the 2006-2007 school year, and who were denied participation in the
	1191	+
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	1217	+	program shall be allowed to enter or reenter into participation in
	1218	+	the program by entering i nto agreements as set forth in subsections
	1219	+	C and D of this section by June 1, 2008.
	1220	+	I. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	1221	+	promulgate rules for the determination of student compliance with
	1222	+	agreements made pursuant to this section.
	1223	+	J. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	1224	+	designate personnel to coordinate tracking of program records for
	1225	+	the years when students participating in the program are still in
	1226	+	the schools or are being educated by other means, provide staff
	1227	+	development for contact persons in the schools, and provide liaison
	1228	+	with the State Board of Education and local organizations and
	1229	+	individuals participating in the program.
	1230	+	K. The school district where an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	1231	+	Program student is enrolled when the student begins participation in
	1232	+	the program and any subsequent school district where the student
	1233	+	enrolls shall forward information regarding participation by the
	1234	+	student in the program to a school to which the student transfers
	1235	+	upon the request of the school for the records of the student.
	1236	+	L. Students participating in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	1237	+	Access Program shall provide their Social Security number or their
	1238	+	student identification number used by their school to the Oklahoma
	1239	+	State Regents for Higher Education. The Regents shall keep the
	1240	+	numbers confidential and use them only for administrative purposes.
	1241	+
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	1266	+
	1267	+	SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
66	1268		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2607 of Title 70, unless th ere
67	1269		is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
68		-
69		-	Beginning December 31, 2022, and each December 31 thereafter,
70		-	the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educati on shall submit to the
71		-	President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
72		-	Representatives an annual report on the impact of the Oklahoma
73		-	Higher Learning Access Program, al so known as Oklahoma's Promise,
74		-	created pursuant to Sections 2 601 et seq. of Title 70 of the
75		-	Oklahoma Statutes. The r eport shall include:
76		-
77		-	A. 1. Year-to-year cohort retention and five-year graduation
78		-	rates of all students enrolled in institutions within The Oklahoma
79		-	State System of Higher Education compared to the year-to-year cohort
80		-	retention and five-year graduation rates of students who receive
81		-	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program awards who are enrolled in
82		-	institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Educa tion.
83		-	The data shall include the degree program s in which the stude nts are
84		-	enrolled.
85		-
86		-	2. Year-to-year cohort retention and five-year graduation rates
87		-	of students who receive Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
88		-	awards who are enrolled in private institutions of higher learning
89		-	located within this state and accredited pursuant Section 4103 of
90		-
91		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 639 Page 3
92		-	Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The data shall include the
93		-	degree programs in which the students are enrolled.
94		-
95		-	3. Certificate attainment rates of all student s enrolled in
96		-	technology center school s compared to the certificate attainment
97		-	rates of students who receive Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
98		-	Program awards who are enrolled in techn ology center schools. The
99		-	data shall include the career area s in which the students are
100		-	enrolled.
101		-
102		-	B. The financial impact and enrollment impact of the Oklahoma
103		-	Higher Learning Access Program on two -year and four-year
104		-	institutions within The Oklahoma Stat e System of Higher Education,
105		-	private institutions of higher learning loca ted within this state
106		-	and accredited pursuant Section 4103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
107		-	Statutes and technology center schoo ls.
108		-
109		-	C. Data on Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program participants
110		-	who graduate from an institution of higher education within The
111		-	Oklahoma State System of Higher Educati on or a private institution
112		-	of higher learning located within this state and accredited pursuant
113		-	Section 4103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statu tes or who attain a
114		-	certificate from a technology center school , including:
115		-
116		-	1. The number of participants who are residents of the state
117		-	one year after graduation or certificat e attainment; and
118		-
119		-	2. The industry or career area in which the participant is
120		-	employed.
121		-
122		-	D. Data from surveys completed pursuant to the provisions of
123		-	subsection B of Section 2606 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
124		-
125		-	SECTION 3. This act shall become effective No vember 1, 2021.
126		-
127		-
128		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 639 Page 4
129		-	Passed the Senate the 24th day of May, 2021.
	1270	+	A. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of
	1271	+	Commerce, in consultation with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	1272	+	Education, shall publish no later than October 1, 2021, and June 30
	1273	+	each subsequent year a list of critical occupation areas that meet
	1274	+	the guidelines of the identified core competencies of the state
	1275	+	based on wealth generation, growth potential and competitive
	1276	+	advantage.
	1277	+	B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, i n
	1278	+	consultation with the State Board of Career and Technology
	1279	+	Education, shall identify postsecondary vocational -technical
	1280	+	programs that correlate to critical occu pation areas identified by
	1281	+	the Executive Director pursuant to this section.
	1282	+	C. 1. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a student
	1283	+	who receives an award pursuant to Section 2604 of Title 70 of the
	1284	+	Oklahoma Statutes and enrolls in a postsecondary vocational -
	1285	+	technical program that has been identified as a critical occupation
	1286	+	area pursuant to this section shall complete the program within six
	1287	+	(6) years after the student’s first semester of postsecondary
	1288	+	enrollment.
	1289	+	2. A student who receives an award pursuant to Section 2604 of
	1290	+	Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes and enrolls in a postsecondary
	1291	+
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	1317	+	vocational-technical program that has been identified as a critical
	1318	+	occupation area pursuant to this section may complete prescribed
	1319	+	coursework for program completion regardless of whether the program
	1320	+	is included on the most current list published by the Exec utive
	1321	+	Director of the Department of Commerce as long as program completion
	1322	+	is achieved within six (6) years of the student’s enrollment.
	1323	+	D. The State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board
	1324	+	of Career and Technology Education may promulgate rules to implement
	1325	+	the provisions of this section.
	1326	+	SECTION 6. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
	1327	+	SECTION 7. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
	1328	+	of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is he reby
	1329	+	declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
	1330	+	be in full force from and after its passage and approval. "
	1331	+	Passed the House of Representatives the 22nd day of April, 2021.
	1332	+
	1333	+
	1334	+
	1335	+
	1336	+
	1337	+	Presiding Officer of the House of
	1338	+	Representatives
	1339	+
	1340	+
	1341	+	Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2021.
	1342	+
	1343	+
130	1344
131	1345
132	1346
133	1347		Presiding Officer of the Senate
134	1348
135		-
136		-	Passed the House of Repr esentatives the 25th day of May, 2021.
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	1373	+
	1374	+	ENGROSSED SENATE
	1375	+	BILL NO. 639 By: Pugh, Stephens, Bullard and
	1376	+	Bergstrom of the Senate
	1377	+
	1378	+	and
	1379	+
	1380	+	Baker of the House
	1381	+
	1382	+
	1383	+
	1384	+	An Act relating to the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	1385	+	Access Program; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2602,
	1386	+	as amended by Section 1, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70
	1387	+	O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2602), which relates to the
	1388	+	purpose of the program; allowing the program to
	1389	+	include certain identified postsecondary career
	1390	+	technology programs; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section
	1391	+	2603, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 289,
	1392	+	O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2603), which
	1393	+	relates to eligibility for the program; adding
	1394	+	reference to certain identified postsecondary
	1395	+	vocational-technical program; 70 O.S. 2011, Section
	1396	+	2604, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 289, O.S.L.
	1397	+	2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2604), which
	1398	+	relates to program awards; requiring repayment of
	1399	+	award if program is not completed within certain time
	1400	+	period; providing for deposit of repayments; allowing
	1401	+	consideration of hardship circumstances; amending 70
	1402	+	O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as last amended by Section
	1403	+	4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	1404	+	Section 2605), which relates to student agreements;
	1405	+	adding reference to certain identified postsecondary
	1406	+	vocational-technical programs; directing the
	1407	+	Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of
	1408	+	Commerce in certain consultation to publish certain
	1409	+	list by certain date; providing for identification of
	1410	+	postsecondary vocational-technical programs that
	1411	+	correlate to certain occupation areas; requiring
	1412	+	completion of certain program within certain time
	1413	+	period; allowing completion of program regardless of
	1414	+	placement on certain list; requiring repayment of
	1415	+	award if program is not completed within certain time
	1416	+	period; providing for promulgation of rules;
	1417	+	providing for codification; providing an effective
	1418	+	date; and declaring an emergency.
	1419	+
	1420	+
	1421	+
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	1446	+
	1447	+	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
	1448	+	SECTION 8. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2602, as
	1449	+	amended by Section 1, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	1450	+	Section 2602), is amended to read as follows:
	1451	+	Section 2602. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Higher
	1452	+	Learning Access Program. The pro gram shall also be known as
	1453	+	“Oklahoma’s Promise”. The purpose of the program is to provide an
	1454	+	award to students who meet the criteria set forth in the Oklahoma
	1455	+	Higher Learning Access Act who are pursuing studies in this state
	1456	+	leading to an associate or ba ccalaureate degree or who are pursuing
	1457	+	studies in a postsecondary career technology program that would meet
	1458	+	the requirements to be eligible for federal student financial aid or
	1459	+	that has been identified as a critical occupation area pursuant to
	1460	+	Section 5 of this act and is offered by a technology center school
	1461	+	supervised by the State Board of Career and Technology Education,
	1462	+	and who are in good academic standing in the institution or school
	1463	+	in which the student is enrolled, that will relieve the student of
	1464	+	the burden of paying nonguaranteed resident tuition at institutions
	1465	+	of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, paying tuition for
	1466	+	enrollment in postsecondary programs of the technology center
	1467	+	districts, or paying some portion of such fees or tuition, pursuant
	1468	+	to the provisions of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act, as may
	1469	+	be required of enrollees at private institutions of higher education
	1470	+	which are accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title. The
	1471	+
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	1497	+	further purpose of this program is to esta blish and maintain a
	1498	+	variety of support services whereby a broader range of the general
	1499	+	student population of this state will be prepared for success in
	1500	+	postsecondary endeavors.
	1501	+	SECTION 9. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2603, as
	1502	+	last amended by Section 2, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp.
	1503	+	2020, Section 2603), is amended to read as follows:
	1504	+	Section 2603. A. Except as otherwise provided for in
	1505	+	subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be
	1506	+	eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	1507	+	Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an
	1508	+	amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pursuant to
	1509	+	Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic
	1510	+	unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall:
	1511	+	1. Be a resident of this state or be enrolled in a school
	1512	+	district located in this state that serves students who reside in
	1513	+	both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as
	1514	+	authorized in Section 5 -117.1 of this title;
	1515	+	2. Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United
	1516	+	States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully
	1517	+	present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in
	1518	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an
	1519	+	award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3242 of this title.
	1520	+	The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who
	1521	+
	1522	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 639 Page 4 1
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	1547	+	was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to
	1548	+	the end of the 2006-2007 school year;
	1549	+	3. Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements
	1550	+	executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title;
	1551	+	4. a. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
	1552	+	from a high school accredited by the State Board of
	1553	+	Education, or the Oklahoma School of Science and
	1554	+	Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
	1555	+	average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
	1556	+	grades nine through twelve,
	1557	+	b. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
	1558	+	from a high school not accredited by the State Board
	1559	+	of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
	1560	+	average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
	1561	+	grades nine through twelve and have achieved a
	1562	+	composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test, or
	1563	+	c. have satisfactorily completed within the previous
	1564	+	three (3) years an educational program that was
	1565	+	provided through a means other than a public or
	1566	+	private school and have achieved a composite score of
	1567	+	22 or higher on the ACT test;
	1568	+	5. Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to
	1569	+	an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
	1570	+	and one additional unit or set of competencies in a course that
	1571	+
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	1596	+
	1597	+	meets college admission requirements. The curriculum requirements
	1598	+	shall include two units or sets of competencies in forei gn or non-
	1599	+	English language or technology courses that meet the college
	1600	+	admission requirements and one unit or set of competencies of a fine
	1601	+	arts course. Students shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point
	1602	+	average in the core curriculum courses. Students who attended a
	1603	+	high school which did not offer all the core curriculum courses or
	1604	+	students who were educated by other means and were not offered all
	1605	+	the core curriculum courses shall be allowed to satisfy this
	1606	+	curriculum requirement by participating in a p rogram approved by the
	1607	+	State Regents for remediation of high school curricular
	1608	+	deficiencies;
	1609	+	6. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	1610	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -time-entering
	1611	+	students for the appropriate type o f institution, or, if attending a
	1612	+	private institution, have satisfied admission standards as
	1613	+	determined by the private institution. No student participating in
	1614	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into
	1615	+	an institution of higher edu cation by special admission standards;
	1616	+	7. Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution
	1617	+	which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
	1618	+	a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology
	1619	+	center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
	1620	+	student financial aid or that has been identified as a critical
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	1647	+	occupation area pursuant to Section 5 of this act, or a private
	1648	+	institution of higher learning located within this state and
	1649	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title; and
	1650	+	8. a. have established financial need according to the
	1651	+	provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this
	1652	+	title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
	1653	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
	1654	+	b. if the student was adopted between birth and twelve
	1655	+	(12) years of age while in the permanent custody of
	1656	+	the Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered
	1657	+	custody of a licensed private nonprofit child -placing
	1658	+	agency, or federally recognized Indian tribe, as
	1659	+	defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, have
	1660	+	established financial need according to the provisions
	1661	+	of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section 2605 of this
	1662	+	title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
	1663	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educat ion, or
	1664	+	c. if the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and
	1665	+	seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent
	1666	+	custody of the Department of Human Services, in the
	1667	+	court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit
	1668	+	child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
	1669	+	tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare
	1670	+	Act, have established financial need according to the
	1671	+
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	1697	+	provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection E of Section
	1698	+	2605 of this title and standards and provisions
	1699	+	promulgated by the Oklahoma S tate Regents for Higher
	1700	+	Education.
	1701	+	B. 1. A student shall be eligible to participate in the
	1702	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award
	1703	+	which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition
	1704	+	or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the
	1705	+	first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if
	1706	+	the student meets all of the following criteria:
	1707	+	a. is a child of any person killed after January 1, 2000,
	1708	+	in the line of duty in any branch of the Uni ted States
	1709	+	Armed Forces or who died after January 1, 2000, as a
	1710	+	result of an injury sustained while in the line of
	1711	+	duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces
	1712	+	and the person who was killed or died filed an
	1713	+	individual or joint Oklahoma income tax r eturn for the
	1714	+	tax year prior to the year during which the person was
	1715	+	killed or died,
	1716	+	b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school
	1717	+	district located in this state that serves students
	1718	+	who reside in both this state and an adjacent state
	1719	+	pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5 -
	1720	+	117.1 of this title,
	1721	+
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	1747	+	c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State
	1748	+	System of Higher Education prior to reaching the age
	1749	+	of twenty-one (21),
	1750	+	d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	1751	+	Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -
	1752	+	time-entering students for the appropriate type of
	1753	+	institution, or, if attending a private institution,
	1754	+	has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
	1755	+	private institution. No student participating in t he
	1756	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be
	1757	+	admitted into an institution of higher education by
	1758	+	special admission standards,
	1759	+	e. has secured admission to, and enrolled in, an
	1760	+	institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State
	1761	+	System of Higher Educa tion, a postsecondary
	1762	+	vocational-technical program offered by a technology
	1763	+	center school that meets the requirements to be
	1764	+	eligible for federal student financial aid or that has
	1765	+	been identified as a critical occupation area pursuant
	1766	+	to Section 5 of this act, or a private institution of
	1767	+	higher learning located within this state and
	1768	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, and
	1769	+	f. executes an agreement pursuant to subsection C of
	1770	+	Section 2605 of this title.
	1771	+
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	1797	+	2. A student who is eligible to participat e in the program
	1798	+	pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the
	1799	+	eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section.
	1800	+	C. To retain eligibility while pursuing the program of higher
	1801	+	learning in which enrolled, the student shall:
	1802	+	1. Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as
	1803	+	established by the institution in which the student is enrolled;
	1804	+	2. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
	1805	+	progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents f or
	1806	+	Higher Education;
	1807	+	3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for
	1808	+	eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
	1809	+	The provisions of this paragraph shall become effective for the
	1810	+	2012-2013 school year;
	1811	+	4. Comply with the st andards related to maintenance of
	1812	+	eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	1813	+	Education; and
	1814	+	5. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension
	1815	+	of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.
	1816	+	A student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall
	1817	+	permanently lose eligibility for program benefits. The provisions
	1818	+	of this paragraph shall become effective January 1, 2008.
	1819	+	D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
	1820	+	State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
	1821	+
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	1847	+	rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma
	1848	+	Higher Learning Access Act by a student.
	1849	+	E. It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the
	1850	+	ninth grade for the 1992 -93 school year who are determined to be
	1851	+	eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the
	1852	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students
	1853	+	eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
	1854	+	Fund.
	1855	+	F. The Oklahoma State Regent s for Higher Education are
	1856	+	authorized to study, develop and propose criteria for determining
	1857	+	award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of
	1858	+	high school coursework by a student.
	1859	+	SECTION 10. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011 , Section 2604, as
	1860	+	amended by Section 3, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020,
	1861	+	Section 2604), is amended to read as follows:
	1862	+	Section 2604. A. Subject to the availability of funds, an
	1863	+	amount equivalent to the nonguaranteed resident tuition for whi ch an
	1864	+	eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program student is
	1865	+	obligated at an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher
	1866	+	Education shall be awarded by allocation from the Oklahoma Higher
	1867	+	Learning Access Trust Fund.
	1868	+	B. Subject to the availabili ty of funds, for each eligible
	1869	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program student enrolled at a
	1870	+	private institution of higher learning located within this state and
	1871	+
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	1897	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, the Oklahoma
	1898	+	State Regents for Higher Educa tion shall award from the Oklahoma
	1899	+	Higher Learning Access Trust Fund an amount equivalent to the amount
	1900	+	of resident tuition for which the student would be eligible if the
	1901	+	student were enrolled in a comparable program at a comparable
	1902	+	institution of The Okla homa State System of Higher Education.
	1903	+	Comparability shall be determined by the State Regents.
	1904	+	C. Subject to the availability of funds, an amount equivalent
	1905	+	to the tuition for any eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	1906	+	Program student enrolled in a pub lic postsecondary vocational -
	1907	+	technical program or course for the purpose set forth in Section
	1908	+	2602 of this title shall be awarded by allocation from the Oklahoma
	1909	+	Higher Learning Access Trust Fund. Provided, such allocation shall
	1910	+	not exceed the amount a st udent would have received for comparable
	1911	+	enrollment at a two-year institution within The Oklahoma State
	1912	+	System of Higher Education.
	1913	+	D. 1. An Except as provided for in paragraph 2 of this
	1914	+	subsection, an award allowed by this section shall not be allowed
	1915	+	for courses or other postsecondary units taken in excess of the
	1916	+	requirements for completion of a baccalaureate program or taken more
	1917	+	than five (5) years after the student’s first semester of
	1918	+	postsecondary enrollment. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	1919	+	Education may award the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	1920	+	benefits for courses of postsecondary units taken more than five (5)
	1921	+
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	1947	+	years after the student’s first semester of postsecondary enrollment
	1948	+	only in hardship circumstances; provided, however, no O klahoma
	1949	+	Higher Learning Access Program participant may receive benefits
	1950	+	beyond a cumulative time period of five (5) years.
	1951	+	2. Beginning with students who entered into participation in
	1952	+	the program in the 2021 -2022 school year, an award allowed by this
	1953	+	section shall not be allowed for courses or other postsecondary
	1954	+	units taken in excess of the requirements for completion of a
	1955	+	baccalaureate program or a postsecondary vocational -technical
	1956	+	program taken more than six (6) years after the student’s first
	1957	+	semester of postsecondary enrollment. The Oklahoma State Regents
	1958	+	for Higher Education may award the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	1959	+	Program benefits for courses of postsecondary units taken more than
	1960	+	six (6) years after the student’s first semester of postseconda ry
	1961	+	enrollment only in hardship circumstances; provided, however, no
	1962	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program participant may receive
	1963	+	benefits beyond a cumulative time period of six (6) years.
	1964	+	3. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may award
	1965	+	the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefits for a student’s
	1966	+	first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment
	1967	+	taken more than three (3) years after the student graduates from
	1968	+	high school or completes an educational program equivalent to high
	1969	+	school graduation as authorized in subsection A of Section 2603 of
	1970	+	this title or after the student turns twenty -one (21) years of age
	1971	+
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	1997	+	as authorized in subsection B of Section 2603 of this title if the
	1998	+	student is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the
	1999	+	Reserve Corps of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the
	2000	+	Oklahoma National Guard, and is ordered to active duty or active
	2001	+	duty for special work or training and due to the duty commitment the
	2002	+	student is unable to enroll prior to the end of the three-year
	2003	+	period or before the student reaches twenty -one (21) years of age.
	2004	+	The period shall be extended by the length of the term of duty.
	2005	+	3. 4. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	2006	+	establish a maximum limit on the number of courses or other
	2007	+	postsecondary units to which Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	2008	+	benefits will apply.
	2009	+	E. Benefits awarded under the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	2010	+	Program shall be awarded to all eligible applicants without any
	2011	+	limitation on the number of awards in any year other than the amount
	2012	+	of funds available for the program and the number of eligible
	2013	+	applicants. Subject to the provisions of subsection F of this
	2014	+	section, if funds are not sufficient to provide awards for all
	2015	+	eligible applicants, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
	2016	+	shall make awards on the basis of need. Provided, the Oklahoma
	2017	+	State Regents for Higher Education shall take into consideration
	2018	+	other grants and scholarships received by an eligible applicant when
	2019	+	making awards.
	2020	+
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	2046	+	F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may, at the
	2047	+	time an award is made on behalf of an Oklahoma Higher Learning
	2048	+	Access Program student, set aside in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	2049	+	Access Trust Fund funds for the full commitment made to such Higher
	2050	+	Learning Access Program student. For all academic years, students
	2051	+	who have previously received awards under the provisions of the
	2052	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act, Section 2601 et seq. of this
	2053	+	title, and who have continued at all times to fulfill the
	2054	+	requirements for eligibility to receive awards provided pursuant to
	2055	+	this program shall be given an absolute priority for continued
	2056	+	financial support by the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	2057	+	superior to any students who are applying for su ch benefits for the
	2058	+	first time.
	2059	+	G. Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, an award allowed
	2060	+	by this section shall not include an amount for payment of remedial
	2061	+	noncredit-earning courses taken by an eligible Oklahoma Higher
	2062	+	Learning Access Program stud ent.
	2063	+	H. 1. If a student who entered into participation in the
	2064	+	program beginning in the 2021 -2022 school year does not complete the
	2065	+	courses or other postsecondary units required for a baccalaureate
	2066	+	program or a postsecondary vocational -technical program within six
	2067	+	(6) years after the student’s first semester of postsecondary
	2068	+	enrollment as provided for in subsection D of this section, the
	2069	+	student shall be required to repay the full amount of the award
	2070	+
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	2096	+	provided pursuant to this section. The student shall en ter into a
	2097	+	repayment agreement with the institution of higher education or the
	2098	+	technology center school in which the student was enrolled.
	2099	+	Repayments shall be deposited into the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	2100	+	Access Trust Fund.
	2101	+	2. In determining the repayment amount, the institution of
	2102	+	higher education or technology center school in which the student
	2103	+	was enrolled may consider hardship circumstances on a case -by-case
	2104	+	basis.
	2105	+	SECTION 11. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as
	2106	+	last amended by Section 4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp.
	2107	+	2020, Section 2605), is amended to read as follows:
	2108	+	Section 2605. A. Each school year, every fifth - through ninth-
	2109	+	grade student in the public and private schools of this state and
	2110	+	students who are educated by other means and are in the equivalent
	2111	+	of the fifth through ninth grade shall be apprised, together with
	2112	+	the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the student, of the
	2113	+	opportunity for access to higher learning under the Oklahoma Higher
	2114	+	Learning Access Program. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	2115	+	Education and the State Board of Education shall develop, promote,
	2116	+	and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in making
	2117	+	students and parents aware of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	2118	+	Program.
	2119	+
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	2145	+	B. On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	2146	+	Education, every public school district shall designate at least one
	2147	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be
	2148	+	a counselor or teacher, at each public schoo l site in this state in
	2149	+	which eighth-, ninth- or tenth-grade classes are taught. When
	2150	+	requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education shall
	2151	+	assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact
	2152	+	persons. Private schools shall also des ignate at least one school
	2153	+	official as a contact person. For students who are educated by
	2154	+	other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the
	2155	+	State Regents shall be designated the contact person.
	2156	+	C. 1. Students who qualify on the basis of financial need
	2157	+	according to subsection D or E of this section or who meet the
	2158	+	eligibility qualification set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1
	2159	+	of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title prior to entering the
	2160	+	tenth grade or prior to reaching the age of fifteen (15) and the
	2161	+	standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents
	2162	+	for Higher Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the
	2163	+	eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade years, for students enrolled in a
	2164	+	public or private school, or be tween the ages of thirteen (13) and
	2165	+	fifteen (15), for students who are educated by other means, to enter
	2166	+	into participation in the program by agreeing to, throughout the
	2167	+	remainder of their school years or educational program:
	2168	+
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	2194	+	a. attend school or an educati onal program regularly and
	2195	+	do homework regularly,
	2196	+	b. refrain from substance abuse,
	2197	+	c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts,
	2198	+	d. have school work and school records reviewed by
	2199	+	mentors designated pursuant to the program,
	2200	+	e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State
	2201	+	Regents for Higher Education or the State Board of
	2202	+	Education, and
	2203	+	f. participate in program activities.
	2204	+	2. Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in
	2205	+	subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Sect ion 2603 of
	2206	+	this title after completing the tenth grade or after reaching the
	2207	+	age of sixteen (16) shall be given the opportunity prior to reaching
	2208	+	the age of twenty-one (21) to enter into participation in the
	2209	+	program and shall execute an agreement with pro visions as determined
	2210	+	by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
	2211	+	3. The contact person shall maintain the agreements, which
	2212	+	shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents
	2213	+	for Higher Education and managed according to regulation s
	2214	+	promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and
	2215	+	the contact person shall monitor compliance of the student with the
	2216	+	terms of the agreement. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
	2217	+	Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify
	2218	+
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	2244	+	compliance with the agreements. Students failing to comply with the
	2245	+	terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided
	2246	+	in Section 2604 of this title.
	2247	+	D. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection E of this
	2248	+	section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B
	2249	+	of Section 2603 of this title, a student shall not be found to be in
	2250	+	financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	2251	+	Program if:
	2252	+	1. At the time the student applies for participation in the
	2253	+	program during the eighth, ninth or tenth grade for students
	2254	+	enrolled in a public or private school, or between the ages of
	2255	+	thirteen (13) and fifteen (15), for students who are educated by
	2256	+	other means, the income from taxable and nontaxable sources of the
	2257	+	student’s parent(s) exceeds Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per
	2258	+	year;
	2259	+	2. Beginning with eighth -, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
	2260	+	are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
	2261	+	ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who ar e educated by other
	2262	+	means who apply for participation in the program in the 2017 -2018
	2263	+	school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student’s
	2264	+	parent(s) exceeds Fifty -five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) per year;
	2265	+	3. Beginning with eighth -, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
	2266	+	are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
	2267	+	ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
	2268	+
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	2294	+	means who apply for participation in the program in the 2021 -2022
	2295	+	school year, the federal adjuste d gross income of the student’s
	2296	+	parent(s) exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year;
	2297	+	4. At the time the student begins postsecondary education and
	2298	+	prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
	2299	+	benefit award, the federal adjuste d gross income of the student’s
	2300	+	parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per
	2301	+	year; and
	2302	+	5. Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, prior to
	2303	+	receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
	2304	+	for any year during whic h the student is enrolled in an institution
	2305	+	which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
	2306	+	a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology
	2307	+	center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
	2308	+	student financial aid or that has been identified as a critical
	2309	+	occupation area pursuant to Section 5 of this act, or a private
	2310	+	institution of higher learning located within this state and
	2311	+	accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, the federal
	2312	+	adjusted gross income of the student’s parent(s) exceeds One Hundred
	2313	+	Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per year.
	2314	+	The determination of financial qualification as set forth in
	2315	+	paragraphs 4 and 5 of this subsection shall be based on the income
	2316	+	of the student, not the inco me of the parent(s), if a student:
	2317	+
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	2343	+	a. is determined to be independent of the student’s
	2344	+	parents for federal financial aid purposes,
	2345	+	b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of
	2346	+	Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the
	2347	+	program, or
	2348	+	c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally
	2349	+	recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal
	2350	+	Indian Child Welfare Act, at the time the student
	2351	+	enrolled in the program.
	2352	+	The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who
	2353	+	has received an Okla homa Higher Learning Access Program benefit
	2354	+	award after the 2017 -2018 school year;
	2355	+	6. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review
	2356	+	the determination of financial qualification as set forth in
	2357	+	paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection if the income from taxable
	2358	+	and nontaxable sources of the student’s parent(s) includes income
	2359	+	received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
	2360	+	the federal Social Security Administration due to the death or
	2361	+	disability of the student’s parent(s). If the income from taxable
	2362	+	and nontaxable sources of the student’s parent(s), excluding income
	2363	+	received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
	2364	+	the federal Social Security Administration due to the death or
	2365	+	disability of the student’s pa rent(s), does not exceed the
	2366	+	limitations set forth by paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection,
	2367	+
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	2392	+
	2393	+	the student shall be determined to have met the financial
	2394	+	qualification set forth in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection.
	2395	+	E. 1. A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12)
	2396	+	years of age while in the permanent custody of the Department of
	2397	+	Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a licensed private
	2398	+	nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
	2399	+	tribe, as defined by the feder al Indian Child Welfare Act, shall not
	2400	+	be found to be in financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher
	2401	+	Learning Access Program if at the time the student begins
	2402	+	postsecondary education and prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher
	2403	+	Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted gross
	2404	+	income of the student’s parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Fifty Thousand
	2405	+	Dollars ($150,000.00) per year. The provisions of this paragraph
	2406	+	shall not apply to any student who has received an Oklahoma Higher
	2407	+	Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the 2012 -2013 school
	2408	+	year.
	2409	+	2. A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and
	2410	+	seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the
	2411	+	Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a
	2412	+	licensed private nonprofit child -placing agency, or federally
	2413	+	recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child
	2414	+	Welfare Act, shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes
	2415	+	of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the
	2416	+	student begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any
	2417	+
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	2443	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal
	2444	+	adjusted gross income of the student’s parent(s) exceeds Two Hundred
	2445	+	Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year. The provisions of this
	2446	+	paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
	2447	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
	2448	+	2012-2013 school year.
	2449	+	3. Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of
	2450	+	Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial
	2451	+	qualification as set forth in this subsection shall be based on the
	2452	+	income of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if the
	2453	+	student is determined to be independent of the student’s parent(s)
	2454	+	for federal financial aid purpo ses. A determination of financial
	2455	+	qualification shall not be required for the student who meets the
	2456	+	criteria set forth in this subsection at the time the student
	2457	+	applies for participation in the program. The provisions of this
	2458	+	paragraph shall not apply t o any student who has received an
	2459	+	Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
	2460	+	2008-2009 school year.
	2461	+	F. The financial qualification of a student as set forth in
	2462	+	subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the
	2463	+	contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
	2464	+	on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for
	2465	+	Higher Education. The form shall be retained in the permanent
	2466	+
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	2491	+
	2492	+	record of the student and a copy forwarded to the Oklahoma State
	2493	+	Regents for Higher Education.
	2494	+	G. Agreements shall be witnessed by the parent, custodial
	2495	+	parent, or guardian of the student, who shall further agree to:
	2496	+	1. Assist the student in achieving compliance with the
	2497	+	agreements;
	2498	+	2. Confer, when requested to do so, w ith the school contact
	2499	+	person, other school personnel, and program mentors;
	2500	+	3. Provide information requested by the Oklahoma State Regents
	2501	+	for Higher Education or the State Board of Education; and
	2502	+	4. Assist the student in completing forms and reports req uired
	2503	+	for program participation, making applications to institutions and
	2504	+	schools of higher learning, and filing applications for student
	2505	+	grants and scholarships.
	2506	+	H. Students who are enrolled in a school district located in
	2507	+	this state that serves students who reside in both this state and an
	2508	+	adjacent state pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5 -
	2509	+	117.1 of this title, are in the eleventh and twelfth grades during
	2510	+	the 2006-2007 school year, and who were denied participation in the
	2511	+	program shall be allowed to enter or reenter into participation in
	2512	+	the program by entering into agreements as set forth in subsections
	2513	+	C and D of this section by June 1, 2008.
	2514	+
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	2539	+
	2540	+	I. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	2541	+	promulgate rules for the determination of student compliance with
	2542	+	agreements made pursuant to this section.
	2543	+	J. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
	2544	+	designate personnel to coordinate tracking of program records for
	2545	+	the years when students participating in the program are still in
	2546	+	the schools or are being educated by other means, provide staff
	2547	+	development for contact persons in the schools, and provide liaison
	2548	+	with the State Board of Education and local organizations and
	2549	+	individuals participating in the program.
	2550	+	K. The school district where an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
	2551	+	Program student is enrolled when the student begins participation in
	2552	+	the program and any subsequent school district where the student
	2553	+	enrolls shall forward information regarding participation by the
	2554	+	student in the program to a school to which the student transfers
	2555	+	upon the request of the school for the records of the student.
	2556	+	L. Students participating in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
	2557	+	Access Program shall provide their Social Security number or their
	2558	+	student identification number used by their school to the Oklahoma
	2559	+	State Regents for Higher Education. The Regents shall keep the
	2560	+	numbers confidential and use them only for administrative purposes.
	2561	+	SECTION 12. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
	2562	+	in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2607 of Title 70, unless there
	2563	+	is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
	2564	+
	2565	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 639 Page 25 1
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	2589	+
	2590	+	A. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of
	2591	+	Commerce, in consultation with the Oklahoma State Regents for Hig her
	2592	+	Education, shall publish no later than October 1, 2021, and June 30
	2593	+	each subsequent year a list of critical occupation areas that meet
	2594	+	the guidelines of the identified core competencies of the state
	2595	+	based on wealth generation, growth potential and comp etitive
	2596	+	advantage.
	2597	+	B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in
	2598	+	consultation with the State Board of Career and Technology
	2599	+	Education, shall identify postsecondary vocational -technical
	2600	+	programs that correlate to critical occupation areas identifi ed by
	2601	+	the executive director pursuant to this section.
	2602	+	C. 1. Beginning with the 2022 -2023 academic year, a student
	2603	+	who receives an award pursuant to Section 2604 of Title 70 of the
	2604	+	Oklahoma Statutes and enrolls in a postsecondary vocational -
	2605	+	technical program that has been identified as a critical occupation
	2606	+	area pursuant to this section shall complete the program within six
	2607	+	(6) years after the student ’s first semester of postsecondary
	2608	+	enrollment.
	2609	+	2. A student who receives an award pursuant to Section 260 4 of
	2610	+	Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes and enrolls in a postsecondary
	2611	+	vocational-technical program that has been identified as a critical
	2612	+	occupation area pursuant to this section may complete prescribed
	2613	+	coursework for program completion regardless of wheth er the program
	2614	+
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	2639	+
	2640	+	is included on the most current list published by the Executive
	2641	+	Director of the Department of Commerce as long as program completion
	2642	+	is achieved within six (6) years of the student ’s enrollment.
	2643	+	3. If a student does not complete the postsec ondary vocational-
	2644	+	technical program that has been identified as a critical occupation
	2645	+	area pursuant to this section within six (6) years, the student
	2646	+	shall be required to repay the full amount of the award provided
	2647	+	pursuant to this section. The student sh all enter into a repayment
	2648	+	agreement with the technology center school. Repayments shall be
	2649	+	deposited into the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust Fund. In
	2650	+	determining the repayment amount, the technology center school may
	2651	+	consider hardship circumstanc es on a case-by-case basis.
	2652	+	D. The State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board
	2653	+	of Career and Technology Education may promulgate rules to implement
	2654	+	the provisions of this section.
	2655	+	SECTION 13. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
	2656	+	SECTION 14. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
	2657	+	of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
	2658	+	declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
	2659	+	be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
	2660	+
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	2685	+
	2686	+	Passed the Senate the 11th day of March, 2021.
	2687	+
	2688	+
	2689	+
	2690	+	Presiding Officer of the Senate
	2691	+
	2692	+
	2693	+	Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
	2694	+	2021.
137	2695
138	2696
139	2697
140	2698		Presiding Officer of the House
141	2699		of Representatives
142	2700
143		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
144		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
145		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
146		-	By: _________________________________
147		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
148		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
149		-
150		-	_________________________________
151		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
152		-
153		-
154		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
155		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
156		-	day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
157		-	By: _______________________________ __
	2701	+