Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1282 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

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31		-	AS AMENDED
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33	28		ENGROSSED HOUSE
34	29		BILL NO. 1282 By: Caldwell (Chad) of the
35	30		House
36	31
37	32		and
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39	34		Rader of the Senate
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45	40		[ scholarships – eligibility – program – awards –
46	41		amounts – waivers – award - name – rules – names -
47	42		effective date –
48	43		emergency ]
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53	48		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
54	49		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2401, is
55	50		amended to read as follows:
56	51		Section 2401. Sections 4 2401 through 10 2407 of this act title
57	52		shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma State Regents'
58	53		Academic Rising Scholars Award Act.".
59	54		SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2402, is
60	55		amended to read as follows:
61	56		Section 2402. A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma State
62	57		Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program. The purpose of the
63	58		Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program is to
64	59		retain top-ranked students from Oklahoma in Oklahoma colleges,
65	60
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92	86		enable Oklahoma institutions of higher education to compete
93	87		aggressively for top Oklahoma scholars, attract high -caliber out-of-
94	88		state students to Oklahoma to attend colleges and universities, and
95	89		enhance the academic quality in Oklahoma colleges and universities.
96	90		The program shall provide participants funding for enrollment fees,
97	91		tuition and other fees, room and board and required textbooks or
98	92		materials for up to five (5) years of undergraduate and/or graduate
99	93		study at accredited institutions of higher education in Oklahoma.
100	94		B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
101	95		administer the provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic
102	96		Rising Scholars Award Program.
103	97		SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2403, is
104	98		amended to read as follows:
105	99		Section 2403. A. No person shall be eligible to participate in
106	100		the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program
107	101		unless the person:
108	102		1. Has complied with all of the rules promulgated by the
109	103		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pursuant to the
110	104		provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars
111	105		Award Act, Section 2401 et seq. of this title, for the award,
112	106		regulation, and administration of scholarships; and
113	107		2. Qualifies as one of the following:
114	108		a. an Individual Applicant Qualified Student, which shall
115	109		mean a student who is a resid ent of the State of
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143	136		Oklahoma whose American College Testing Program score
144	137		or whose Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within
145	138		the 99.5 to 100.0 percentile levels as administered in
146	139		the State of Oklahoma and whose grade point average
147	140		and/or class rank is e xceptional, as determined by the
148	141		State Regents,
149	142		b. a Presidential Scholar, which shall mean a student
150	143		selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars
151	144		administered by the United States Department of
152	145		Education,
153	146		c. a National Merit Scholar, which shall me an a student
154	147		designated as a National Merit Scholar by the National
155	148		Merit Scholarship Corporation,
156	149		d. a National Merit Finalist, which shall mean a student
157	150		designated as a National Merit Finalist by the
158	151		National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or
159	152		e. after October 1, 1999, an Institutional Nominee, which
160	153		shall mean a student nominated by an institution in
161	154		The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education:
162	155		(1) whose American College Testing Program or
163	156		Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within the
164	157		95.0 to 99.49 percentile levels, or
165	158		(2) who shows exceptional academic achievement as
166	159		evidenced by factors, including, but not limited
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194	186		to, grade point average, class rank, national
195	187		awards, scholastic achievements, honors, and who
196	188		shows exceptional promise based on docume ntation
197	189		that may include, but not be limited to, teacher
198	190		recommendations, extracurricular activities, and
199	191		evidence of overcoming economic and social
200	192		obstacles as determined by the State Regents.
201	193		The State Regents shall ensure that standards of
202	194		high academic ability are documented.
203	195		Scholarship awards to Institutional Nominees
204	196		shall become effective when appropriate
205	197		documentation is verified by the State Regents.
206	198		B. No person shall be eligible to receive a scholarship
207	199		pursuant to the provisions of the Okla homa State Regents' Academic
208	200		Rising Scholars Award Program unless the person is enrolled as a
209	201		full-time student at a public or private accredited institution of
210	202		higher education in Oklahoma.
211	203		C. The For a student who qualifies pursuant to subparagraphs a
212	204		through d of paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section and subject
213	205		to the availability of funds, the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic
214	206		Rising Scholars Award Program shall provide a scholarship in an
215	207		amount not to exceed the average costs of all enrollment fees,
216	208		tuition and other fees, room and board, and all required textbooks
217	209		or materials for up to five (5) years of undergraduate and/or
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245	236		graduate study at an accredited public or private institution of
246	237		higher education in Oklahoma as provided in subsection E of this
247	238		section. The State Regents may establish separate scholarship award
248	239		levels for each qualifying category.
249	240		1. If the student is attending an institution within The
250	241		Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the
251	242		scholarship provided in this subsection, exclusive of any
252	243		internships, shall not exceed the costs for items specified in this
253	244		subsection at the institution attended as determined annually by the
254	245		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
255	246		2. If the student is attendin g a private institution of higher
256	247		education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this
257	248		subsection, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs
258	249		for items specified in this subsection at an institution of The
259	250		Oklahoma State System o f Higher Education of comparable type which
260	251		has the highest general enrollment fees of its type of institution
261	252		in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as determined
262	253		annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
263	254		D. For a student who qualifies pursuant to subparagraph e of
264	255		paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section and subject to the
265	256		availability of funds, the Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award Program
266	257		shall provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the average
267	258		costs of all enrollment fees and other fees, room and board, and all
268	259		required textbooks or materials for up to five (5) years of
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296	286		undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public or
297	287		private institution of higher education in Oklahoma. The State
298	288		Regents may establish separate scholarship award levels for each
299	289		qualifying category.
300	290		1. If the student is attending an institution within The
301	291		Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the institution shall
302	292		provide a tuition waiver not to exceed the average cost of tuition .
303	293		The total funding for the scholarship and waiver provided for
304	294		students attending an institution within The Oklahoma State System
305	295		of Higher Education as provided in this subsection, exclusive of any
306	296		internships, shall not exceed the costs for items speci fied in this
307	297		subsection at the institution attended as determined annually by the
308	298		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
309	299		2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher
310	300		education in Oklahoma, the scholarship shall include an amount no t
311	301		to exceed the average cost of tuition. The total funding for
312	302		scholarships for students attending a private institution as
313	303		provided in this subsection, exclusive of any internships, shall not
314	304		exceed the costs for items specified in this subsection at an
315	305		institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of
316	306		comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its
317	307		type of institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
318	308		as determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regen ts for Higher
319	309		Education.
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347	336		E. If a person identifies himself or herself as a student with
348	337		a disability and requests consideration for a scholarship under the
349	338		Academic Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award Program by means other than
350	339		standard testing procedures, th e State Regents shall determine what
351	340		means of assessment are appropriate and upon the basis of said
352	341		assessment results, determine what level of award, if any, shall be
353	342		made.
354	343		E. 1. If the student is attending an institution of The
355	344		Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the
356	345		scholarship provided in this section, exclusive of any internships,
357	346		shall not exceed the costs for items specified in subsection C of
358	347		this section at the institution attended as determined annually by
359	348		the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
360	349		2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher
361	350		education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this
362	351		section, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs
363	352		for items specified i n subsection C of this section at an
364	353		institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of
365	354		comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its
366	355		type institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as
367	356		determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
368	357		Education.
369	358		SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2404, is
370	359		amended to read as follows:
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398	386		Section 2404. A. Scholarships awarded under the Oklahoma State
399	387		Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program shall be awarded to
400	388		all eligible applicants without any limitation on the number of
401	389		scholarships to be awarded in any year other than the amount of
402	390		funds available for the scholarship program and the number of
403	391		eligible applicants.
404	392		B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may, at the
405	393		time a scholarship is awarded to a student, set aside in the
406	394		Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Trust Fund
407	395		funds for the full five -year commitment made to such eligible
408	396		scholar. For all academic years, students who have previously
409	397		received academic scholarships under the provisions of this act and
410	398		who have continued at all times to fulfill the requirements for
411	399		eligibility to receive academic scholarships provided in this act
412	400		shall be given an absolute priority for continued financial support
413	401		by the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award
414	402		Program superior to any students who are applying for such academic
415	403		scholarships awards for the first time.
416	404		C. In addition to the qualifications specified in Section 2403
417	405		of this title, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may
418	406		adopt additional criteria for selection and allocation of awards
419	407		which may include, but are not limited to, consideration of high
420	408		school academic performance and personal interviews. The Oklahoma
421	409		State Regents for Higher Education shall annually report on the
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449	436		number of former Academic Rising Scholars Award Program participants
450	437		who stay in state as compared to those who leave Oklahoma within
451	438		five (5) years of leaving the Award Program. In addition, the
452	439		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are hereby authorized to
453	440		determine a maximum number of awards or a maximum amount of funding
454	441		which may go to nonresident students. Such maximum limitations
455	442		shall not exceed twenty -five percent (25%) of the awards or amount
456	443		of funding in any category provided in paragraph 2 of subsection A
457	444		of Section 2403 of this title.
458	445		SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2405, is
459	446		amended to read as follows:
460	447		Section 2405. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
461	448		may adopt rules and regulations, prescribe and provide appropriate
462	449		forms for application, and employ such persons, contract for such
463	450		services and make such additional expenditur es as may be necessary
464	451		or appropriate for implementing the provisions of the Oklahoma State
465	452		Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Act; provided, as part of
466	453		the regulations adopted for administration of the provisions of the
467	454		Oklahoma State Regents' Academ ic Rising Scholars Award Program, the
468	455		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall require that each
469	456		scholarship recipient make continuing and satisfactory progress
470	457		toward a degree, including the establishment of an annual minimum
471	458		grade point average and annual minimum credit hours to be maintained
472	459		by the participants. Such regulations shall also provide for
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500	486		revoking or rescinding assistance to any scholarship recipient who
501	487		fails to meet such required standards. Such regulations shall also
502	488		provide that the funds made available to students as part of the
503	489		Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program shall
504	490		be paid directly to the institution of the student's choice, in
505	491		trust for the student, and on the student's behalf, and shall
506	492		contain appropriate restrictions and conditions that such monies are
507	493		expended only for the purposes authorized by this act. Such
508	494		regulations shall also provide for portability of award for a
509	495		recipient among accredited institutions of higher education in
510	496		Oklahoma in which the recipient may enroll as long as the recipient
511	497		meets requirements of the program ; however, waivers shall only be
512	498		portable between institutions in The Oklahoma State System of Higher
513	499		Education and waiver portability may be further limited by t he
514	500		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education rules and regulations .
515	501		SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2406, is
516	502		amended to read as follows:
517	503		Section 2406. The Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising
518	504		Scholars Award Act shall not be construed as granting any authority
519	505		to control or influence the policies of any educational institution
520	506		because it accepts students who are participating in the scholarship
521	507		program, or to require any such institution to admit, or once
522	508		admitted to continue in such institution, any participant in the
523	509		scholarship program.
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551	536		SECTION 7. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2407, is
552	537		amended to read as follows:
553	538		Section 2407. As part of its duties in administering the
554	539		Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Rising Scholars Award Program, the
555	540		Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in cooperation with the
556	541		State Board of Education, shall encourage Oklahoma high school
557	542		juniors who plan to attend college to take the Preliminary
558	543		Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
559	544		in their junior year in high school as preparation for taking the
560	545		Scholastic Aptitude Test their senior year in high school.
561	546		SECTION 8. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
562	547		SECTION 9. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
563	548		of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
564	549		declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
565	550		be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
566		-	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
567		-	April 16, 2025 - DO PASS
	551	+	Passed the House of Representatives the 13th day of March, 2025.
	552	+
	553	+
	554	+
	555	+
	556	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	557	+	of Representatives
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	560	+
	561	+	Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2025.
	562	+
	563	+
	564	+
	565	+
	566	+	Presiding Officer of the Senate