Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1020 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 12/16/2024

                             
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
HOUSE BILL 1020 	By: McCane 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Higher Learning 
Access Program; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, 
as amended by Section 1, Chapter 274 , O.S.L. 2024 (70 
O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 2603), which relates to 
eligibility requirements; providing eligibility for 
children of certain public school employees ; defining 
term; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2605, as last 
amended by Section 2, Chapter 27 4, O.S.L. 2024 (70 
O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 2605), which relates to 
student agreements; exempting students who are 
children of certain public school employees from 
financial qualification determination; defining term; 
directing the Oklahoma State Regents f or Higher 
Education to verify certain employment status; 
providing an effective date; and declaring an 
emergency. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, a s 
amended by Section 1, Chapter 274, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, 
Section 2603), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 2603.  A.  Except as otherwise provided for in 
subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be 
eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access 
Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an   
 
 
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amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pursuant to 
Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic 
unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall: 
1.  Be a resident of this state or be e nrolled in a school 
district located in this state that serves students who reside in 
both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as 
authorized in Section 5 -117.1 of this title; 
2.  Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United 
States.  A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully 
present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in 
the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Pro gram and to qualify for an 
award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 324 2 of this title.  
The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who 
was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to 
the end of the 2006-2007 school year; 
3.  Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements 
executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title; 
4. a. have graduated within the previous three (3) years 
from a high school accredited by the State Board of 
Education or the Oklah oma School of Science and 
Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade poin t 
average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in 
grades nine through twelve,   
 
 
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b. have graduated within the previous three (3) years 
from a high school not accredited by the Stat e Board 
of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point 
average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in 
grades nine through twelve and have achieved a 
composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test, or 
c. have satisfactorily completed within the p revious 
three (3) years an educational program that was 
provided through a mea ns other than a public or 
private school and have achieved a composite score of 
22 or higher on the ACT test; 
5.  Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to 
an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.  
Students shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point average in the 
core curriculum courses.  Students who attended a high school which 
did not offer all the core curriculum courses or studen ts who were 
educated by other means and were not offered all the core curricul um 
courses shall be allowed to satisfy this curriculum requirement by 
participating in a program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents 
for Higher Education for remediation of hi gh school curricular 
deficiencies; 
6.  Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -time-entering 
students for the appropriate type of institution, or, if attending a   
 
 
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private institution, hav e satisfied admission standards as 
determined by the private institution.  No student participating in 
the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into 
an institution of higher education by special admission standards; 
7.  Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution 
which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, 
a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology 
center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal 
student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning 
located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of 
this title; and 
8. a. have established financial need according to the 
provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this 
title and standards and provisions promulgated by the 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 
b. if the student was adopted between birth and twelve 
(12) years of age while in the permanent custody of 
the Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered 
custody of a licensed private nonprofit child -placing 
agency, or federally re cognized Indian tribe, as 
defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, have 
established financial need according to the provisions 
of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section 2 605 of this   
 
 
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title and standards and provisions promulgated by the 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 
c. if the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and 
seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent 
custody of the Department of Human Ser vices, in the 
court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit 
child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian 
tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare 
Act, have established financial need according to the 
provisions of paragraph 2 o f subsection E of Section 
2605 of this title and standards and provisions 
promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher 
Education, or 
d. if the student was placed in the custody of the 
Department of Human Services at any time during the 
eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh grades and enrolls 
in the program no later than his or h er official date 
of high school graduation, have established financial 
need according to the provisions of paragraph 3 of 
subsection E of Section 2605 of this title and 
standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma 
State Regents for Higher Education , or 
e. if the student is the child of a public school 
employee who has been employed as a public school   
 
 
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employee for at least five (5) consecutive years .  For 
the purposes of this paragraph, "public school 
employee" means any teacher, librarian, certified or 
registered nurse, or support employee whose salary is 
paid wholly or in part from public funds. The term 
"teacher" shall also include instructors and 
counselors employed by the Department of Corrections 
and holding valid teaching certificates issued by the 
State Department of Education . 
B.  1.  A student shall be eligible to participate in the 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award 
which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition 
or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the 
first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if 
the student meets all of the following criteria: 
a. is a child of any person killed after January 1, 2000, 
in the line of duty in any branch of the United States 
Armed Forces or who died after January 1, 2000, as a 
result of an injury sustained while in the line of 
duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces 
and the person who was killed or died filed an 
individual or joint Oklahoma income tax return for the 
tax year prior to the year during which the person was 
killed or died,   
 
 
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b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school 
district located in this state th at serves students 
who reside in both this state and an adjacent state 
pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5 -
117.1 of this title, 
c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State 
System of Higher Education prior to reaching the age 
of twenty-one (21), 
d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first -
time-entering students for the appropriate type of 
institution, or, if attending a private institution, 
has satisfied admission st andards as determined by the 
private institution.  No student participating in the 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be 
admitted into an institution of higher education by 
special admission standards, 
e. has secured admission to, and enrolled i n, an 
institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State 
System of Higher Edu cation, a postsecondary 
vocational-technical program offered by a technology 
center school that meets the requirements to be 
eligible for federal student financial aid, or a 
private institution of higher learning located within   
 
 
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this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of 
this title, and 
f. executes an agreement pursuant to subsection C of 
Section 2605 of this title. 
2.  A student who is eligible to participate in the pro gram 
pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the 
eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section. 
C.  To retain eligibility while pursuing the program of higher 
learning in which enrolled, the student shall: 
1.  Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as 
established by the institution in which the student is enrolled; 
2.  Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic 
progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for 
Higher Education; 
3.  Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for 
eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.  
The provisions of this paragraph shall become effective for the 
2012-2013 school year; 
4.  Comply with the standards rela ted to maintenance of 
eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher 
Education; and 
5.  Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension 
of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.  
A student who violat es the provisions of this paragraph shall   
 
 
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permanently lose eligibility for pro gram benefits.  The provisions 
of this paragraph shall become effective January 1, 2008. 
D.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the 
State Board of Career and Tec hnology Education shall promulgate 
rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma 
Higher Learning Access Act by a student. 
E.  It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the 
ninth grade for the 1992 -93 school year who are determi ned to be 
eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students 
eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust 
Fund. 
F.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are 
authorized to study, develop, and propose criteria for determining 
award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of 
high school coursework by a student. 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2021, Section 2 605, as 
last amended by Section 2, Chapter 274, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 
2024, Section 2605), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 2605.  A.  Each school year, every fifth - through 
eleventh-grade student in the public and private schools of this 
state and students who are educated by other means and are in the 
equivalent of the fifth through eleventh grade shall be apprised, 
together with the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the   
 
 
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student, of the opportunity for access to higher learning under the 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.  The Oklahoma State Regents 
for Higher Education and the State Board of Education shall develop, 
promote, and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in 
making students and parents aware of the Oklahom a Higher Learning 
Access Program. 
B.  On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher 
Education, every public school district shall designate at least one 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be 
a counselor or teach er, at each public school site in this state in 
which eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade classes are taught.  
When requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education 
shall assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact 
persons.  Private schools shall also designate at least one school 
official as a contact person.  For students who are educated by 
other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the 
State Regents shall be designated the contact person. 
C.  1.  Students who qualify on the basis of financial need 
according to subsection D o r E of this section or who meet the 
eligibility qualification set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1 
of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title prior to entering the 
eleventh grade or prior to reaching the age of sixteen (16) and the 
standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents 
for Higher Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the   
 
 
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eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, and eleventh-grade years, for stud ents 
enrolled in a public or private school, or between the ages of 
thirteen (13) and sixteen (16), for students who are educated by 
other means, to enter into participation in the program by agreeing 
to, throughout the remainder of their school years or e ducational 
program: 
a. attend school or an educational program regularly and 
do homework regularly, 
b. refrain from substance abuse, 
c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts, 
d. have school work and school records reviewed by 
mentors designated pursuant to the program, 
e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State 
Regents for Higher Education or the State Board of 
Education, and 
f. participate in program activities. 
2.  Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in 
subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 2603 of 
this title after completing the eleventh grade or after reaching the 
age of seventeen (17) shall be given the opportunity prior to 
reaching the age of twenty -one (21) to enter into participation in 
the program and shall execute an agreement with provisions as 
determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.   
 
 
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3.  The contact person shall maintain the agreements, which 
shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents 
for Higher Education and managed according to regulations 
promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and 
the contact person shall monitor compliance of the student with the 
terms of the agreement.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher 
Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify 
compliance with the agreements.  Students failing to comply with the 
terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided 
in Section 2604 of this title. 
D.  Except as otherwi se provided for in subsection E of this 
section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B 
of Section 2603 of this title, a student shall not be found to be in 
financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access 
Program if: 
1.  Beginning with eighth -, ninth-, or tenth-grade students who 
are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the 
ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other 
means who apply for participation in the program in the 201 7-2018 
school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student 's 
parent(s) exceeds Fifty -five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) per year; 
2.  Beginning with eighth -, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade 
students who are enrolled in a public or private schoo l or students 
between the ages of thirteen (13) and sixteen (16) who are educa ted   
 
 
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by other means who apply for participation in the program in the 
2021-2022 school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the 
student's parent(s) exceeds Sixty Thousand Do llars ($60,000.00) per 
year; 
3.  Beginning with eighth -, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade 
students who are enrolled in a public or private school or students 
between the ages of thirteen (13) and sixteen (16) who are educated 
by other means who apply for participation in the program in the 
2022-2023 school year: 
a. the federal adjusted gross income of the student 's 
parent(s), who have two or fewer dependent children, 
exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year, 
b. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's 
parent(s), who have three or four dependent children, 
exceeds Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per 
year, or 
c. the federal adjusted gross income of the student 's 
parent(s), who have five or more dependent children, 
exceeds Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00) per year; 
4.  Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, prior to 
receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award 
for any year during which the student is enrolled in an institution 
which is a member of The O klahoma State System of Higher Education, 
a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology   
 
 
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center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal 
student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning 
located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of 
this title, the federal adjusted gross income of the student 's 
parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per 
year. 
The determination of financial qualification as set forth in 
this paragraph shall be based on the income of the student, not the 
income of the parent(s), if a student: 
a. is determined to be independent of the student 's 
parents for federal financial aid purposes, 
b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of 
Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the 
program, or 
c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally 
recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal 
Indian Child Welfare Act, at the time the student 
enrolled in the program. 
The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who 
has received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit 
award after the 2017 -2018 school year; and 
5.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review 
the determination of financial qu alification as set forth in 
paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection if the i ncome from taxable   
 
 
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and nontaxable sources of the student 's parent(s) includes income 
received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from 
the federal Social Securit y Administration due to the death or 
disability of the student 's parent(s).  If the income from taxable 
and nontaxable sources of the student 's parent(s), excluding income 
received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from 
the federal Social Security Administration due to the death or 
disability of the student 's parent(s), does not exceed the 
limitations set forth by paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection, 
the student shall be determined to have met the financial 
qualification set forth i n paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this 
subsection. 
E.  1.  A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12) 
years of age while in the permanent custody of the Department of 
Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a licensed private 
nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian 
tribe, as defined by the feder al Indian Child Welfare Act, shall not 
be found to be in financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher 
Learning Access Program if at the time the student begins 
postsecondary education and prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher 
Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted gross 
income of the student 's parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Fifty Thousand 
Dollars ($150,000.00) per year.  The provisions of this paragraph 
shall not apply to any student who has received an Oklahoma Higher   
 
 
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Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the 2012 -2013 school 
year. 
2.  A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and 
seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the 
Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a 
licensed private nonprofit child -placing agency, or federally 
recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child 
Welfare Act, shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes 
of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the 
student begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal 
adjusted gross income of the student 's parent(s) exceeds Two Hundred 
Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year.  The provisions of this 
paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the 
2012-2013 school year. 
3.  A student who was placed in the custody of the Department of 
Human Services at any time duri ng the eighth, ninth, tenth, or 
eleventh grades and enrolls in the program no later than his or her 
official date of high school graduation shall not be found to be in 
financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access 
Program if the federal adjusted gross income of the student exceeds 
Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year.   
 
 
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4.  Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of 
Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial 
qualification as set forth in this subse ction shall be based on the 
income of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if the 
student is determined to be independent of the student 's parent(s) 
for federal financia l aid purposes.  A determination of financial 
qualification shall not be required for the student who meets the 
criteria set forth in this subsection at the time the student 
applies for participation in the program.  The provisions of this 
paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an 
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access P rogram benefit award prior to the 
2008-2009 school year. 
5. a. A determination of financial qualification is not 
required for a student who is the child of a public 
school employee at the time the student applies for 
participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access 
Program and prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher 
Learning Access Program benefit award for any year 
during which the student is enrolled in an institution 
which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of 
Higher Education, a postsecondary v ocational-technical 
program offered by a technology center school that 
meets the eligibility requirements for federal student 
financial aid, or a private institution of higher   
 
 
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learning located within this state and accredited 
pursuant to Section 4103 of this title.  The Oklahoma 
State Regents for Higher Education shall verify the 
five (5) consecutive years of full-time employment of 
the student's parent(s) prior to the student rec eiving 
any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit 
award.  The provisions of this paragraph shall apply 
to eighth-, ninth-, or tenth-grade students who are 
enrolled in a public or private school or students 
between the ages of thirteen (13) and fif teen (15) who 
are educated by other means who apply for 
participation in the program after the 202 4-2025 
school year. 
b. For the purposes of this paragraph, "public school 
employee" means any teacher, librarian, certified or 
registered nurse, or support employee whose salary is 
paid wholly or in part from public funds. The term 
"teacher" shall also include instructors and 
counselors employed by the Department of Corrections 
and holding valid teaching certificates issued by the 
State Department of Education . 
F.  The financial qualification of a student as set forth in 
subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the 
contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education   
 
 
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on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents f or 
Higher Education.  The form shall be retained in the permanent 
record of the student and a copy forwarded to the Oklahoma State 
Regents for Higher Education. 
G.  Agreements shall be witnessed by the parent, custodial 
parent, or guardian of the student, who shall further agree to: 
1.  Assist the student in achieving compliance with the 
agreements; 
2.  Confer, when requested to do so, with the school contact 
person, other school personnel, and program mentors; 
3.  Provide information requested by the Oklah oma State Regents 
for Higher Education or the State Board of Education; and 
4. Assist the student in completing forms and reports required 
for program participation, making applications to institutions and 
schools of higher learning, and filing applicatio ns for student 
grants and scholarships. 
H.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall 
promulgate rules for the determination of student compliance with 
agreements made pursuant to this section. 
I.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educatio n shall 
designate personnel to coordinate tracking of program records for 
the years when students participating in the program are still in 
the schools or are being educated by other means, provide staff 
development for contact persons in the schools, and provide liaison   
 
 
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with the State Board of Education and local organizations and 
individuals participating in the program. 
J.  The school district where an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access 
Program student is enrolled when the student begins participation in 
the program and any subsequent school district where the student 
enrolls shall forward information regarding participation by the 
student in the program to a school to which the student transfers 
upon the request of the school for the records of the student. 
K.  Students participating in the Oklahoma Higher Learning 
Access Program shall provide their Social Security number or their 
student identification number used by their school to the Oklahoma 
State Regents for Higher Education.  The Regents shall keep th e 
numbers confidential and use them only for administrative purposes. 
SECTION 3.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2025. 
SECTION 4.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation 
of the public peace, health or s afety, an emergency is hereby 
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 
 
60-1-11093 AQH 12/13/24