SS/SS/SCS/SB 755 - This act generates several alterations to the state's higher education policy.

SECTION 160.545 - This section disallows higher education institutions from recruiting high school students for participation in the A+ program.

Further, the section asserts that A+ reimbursements shall not be issued to Missouri Western State University for any students who, in the two years prior to enrolling in Missouri Western State University, attended high school in, or were residents of, Grundy county or any county contiguous to Grundy county.

SECTION 172.360 - This section eliminates the minimum age qualification (which presently is set at sixteen) for admission to the University of the State of Missouri.

SECTIONS 172.035 - 172.937 & SECTIONS 174.020 and 174.750 - 176.010. These sections would allow Northwest Missouri State University to be transferred to the curators of the University of Missouri by agreement between the board of regents of Northwest Missouri State University and the board of curators of the University of Missouri. After such an agreement is rendered, Northwest Missouri State University shall thereafter be known as "The University of Missouri - Northwest." However, if such an agreement is not achieved by August 28, 2006, the provisions of this act shall become null and void.

All employees of Northwest Missouri State University would become employees of the curators of the University of Missouri. The act outlines specific personnel, retirement, and benefit policies for such employees including a provision which allows any employee who desires to continue participation in their current benefit programs to continue such participation.

These sections render certain alterations to the statutes necessary to allow Northwest Missouri State University to be transferred to the curators of the University of Missouri. Such alterations shall only become effective upon the commencement of an agreement between the two boards and the providing of written notice to the revisor of statutes concerning the rendering of such agreement.

SECTION 174.020 - Removes Northwest Missouri State University from this section of the State Colleges and Universities chapter and renames Missouri Western State College as Missouri Western State University.

SECTION 174.241 - This section eliminates the board of regents of Missouri Western State College.

SECTION 174.251 - This section designates Missouri Western State University as a statewide institution of applied learning. The section further asserts that Missouri Western State University shall discontinue, as of July 1, 2010, any and all associate degree programs unless the continuation of such associate degree programs is approved by the coordinating board by July 1, 2008.

SECTION 174.324 - This section reemphasizes that any new masters degree program offered at Missouri Western State University or any other public institution of higher education in this state must be approved by the coordinating board for higher education.

SECTION 174.450 - This section adds Missouri Western State University to the list of institutions which are charged with a statewide mission and governed by a board of governors.

SECTION 174.453 - This section articulates new qualifications for the Board of Governors of Missouri Western State University.

Five voting members shall be selected from the following counties: Buchanan, Platte, Clinton, Andrew, and DeKalb provided that no more than three of these five members shall be appointed from any one county. Two voting members shall be selected from any of the counties in the state which are outside of the aforementioned counties.

Further, the section grandfathers current board members in regard to the county residency requirement.

SECTION 174.020 (SECTION B) - This section renames Missouri Western State College as Missouri Western State University.

NOTE: Section 174.020, RSMo, is repealed and reenacted twice in this act. Section 174.020 in Section A removes Northwest Missouri State University from the State Colleges and Universities chapter and renames Missouri Western State College as Missouri Western State University. Section 174.020 in Section B renames Missouri Western State College as Missouri Western State University. This method was necessary in order to allow the name change of Missouri Western to occur on August 28, 2004, and the merger between the University of Missouri and Northwest Missouri State University to occur at an unspecified time in the future should the boards of the respective institution decide to enter into a merger agreement.

This act contains many of the provisions of SB 858 (2004) and the SS/SB 51 (2003).
DONALD THALHUBER

SA 1 - THE WEST PLAINS CAMPUS OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL BE CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING A+ REIMBURSEMENTS.

SA 2 - CURRENTLY, ONLY PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PUBLIC VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL SCHOOLS ARE STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE A+ REIMBURSEMENTS. THIS AMENDMENT ADDITIONALLY ALLOWS ANY PRIVATE VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL THAT IS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION AND ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION TO RECEIVE A+ REIMBURSEMENTS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH REIMBURSEMENTS DO NOT VIOLATE CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND ALSO PROVIDED THAT THE PRIVATE VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL DOES NOT RECEIVE TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS IN EXCESS OF THE TUITION RATE CHARGED BY A PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR COURSE WORK OFFERED BY THE PRIVATE VOCATIONAL OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS AMENDMENT IS IDENTICAL TO SB 975.