1| SENATE FLOOR VERSION |
| February 14, 2023 |
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3|SENATE BILL NO. 322 By: Seifried of the Senate |
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5| McBride of the House |
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8| An Act relating to higher education; amending 70 O.S. |
| 2021, Section 626.7, which relates to the Oklahoma |
9| Higher Education Tuition Aid Act; providing |
| eligibility for certain programs; updating statutory |
10| language; providing an effective date; and declaring |
| an emergency. |
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13|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: |
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14| SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 626.7, is |
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15|amended to read as follows: |
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16| Section 626.7. A college tuition aid grant may be awarded |
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17|annually to each eligible, qualified full-time or part-time |
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18|undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a curriculum leading |
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19|to a degree or certificate in an institution of collegiate grade or |
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20|postsecondary institution providing a program of training to prepare |
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21|students for employment in a recognized occupation in Oklahoma |
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22|approved or accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher |
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23|Education or appropriate postsecondary agency. Eligible programs of |
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24|training shall include comprehensive transition and postsecondary |
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1|programs approved by the United States Department of Education. |
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2|College tuition aid grants shall be awarded in accordance with the |
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3|following: |
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4| 1. Eligibility. Each full-time or part-time resident student |
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5|will shall be eligible to receive a grant in an amount as provided |
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6|in paragraph 2 of this section. The Oklahoma State Regents for |
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7|Higher Education shall determine by rules and regulations the |
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8|maximum number of semesters a student may be eligible for grants. |
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9|No student shall be eligible for grants unless the student maintains |
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10|such minimum standards of academic performance as are required by |
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11|the institution in which the student is enrolled. |
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12| In the event a student for any reason ceases to continue to be |
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13|enrolled during the course of an academic year, the student shall |
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14|cease to be eligible for tuition aid. |
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15| 2. Amount of grant. The amount of tuition aid grant to any |
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16|student under this act for any semester shall represent a percentage |
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17|not greater than seventy-five percent (75%) of the tuition and |
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18|enrollment fees normally charged to residents of the State of |
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19|Oklahoma this state by the institution of attendance. The Oklahoma |
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20|State Regents for Higher Education shall determine by rules the |
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21|annual maximum award amount based on an annual assessment of funds |
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22|availability. |
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23| Financial assistance received under this act will shall be |
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24|considered as part of a student's financial aid package. |
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1| SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. |
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2| SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation |
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3|of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby |
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4|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and |
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5|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. |
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6|COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION |
|February 14, 2023 - DO PASS |
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