CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 733 – This act modifies provisions relating to higher education. BRIGHT FLIGHT: This act makes changes to the Bright Flight Scholarship Program. It specifies that a student must be a Missouri resident in order to be eligible for a scholarship. In addition, it expands scholarship eligibility to individuals who have received a General Education Development diploma (GED), who have completed a homeschooling program of study, who have completed secondary coursework through the Virtual Public School, or any other program of academic instruction that satisfies the compulsory attendance law.
The qualifying score necessary for a student to receive a scholarship will be determined at the beginning of an eligible student's final year of secondary coursework.
Current law provides that in fiscal year 2011 and beyond, a student scoring in the top fourth and fifth percent of Missouri ACT or SAT test-takers will receive a $1,000 scholarship. This act provides that all students in the top three percent of Missouri ACT or SAT test-takers will receive awards prior to any student in the top fourth or fifth percent receiving an award. If sufficient funds are appropriated, each eligible student with a qualifying score in the top fourth or fifth percentile will be offered a $1,000 scholarship award.
Current law allows a student to receive a renewal scholarship for the second, third, and fourth academic years. This act allows a student to renew the scholarship for as long as the student is in compliance with the renewal requirements described in the act.
If a scholarship recipient cannot attend an approved institution because of military service with the United States Armed Forces, the student will receive the scholarship if he or she returns to full-time status within six months after ending military service. The student must verify to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education that the military service was satisfactorily completed.
ACCESS MISSOURI: This act modifies the financial assistance amounts provided through the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. The financial assistance amounts currently in existence will be applicable for academic year 2010-2011 through academic year 2013-2014. In addition, this act adds new financial assistance amounts for the 2014-2015 academic year and beyond. A student attending an institution classified as part of the public two-year sector will be eligible for $1,300 maximum and $300 minimum. A student attending an institution classified as part of the public four-year sector, including Linn State Technical College, or approved private institutions will be eligible for $2,850 maximum and $1,500 minimum.
This act removes the sunset clause and termination date for Access Missouri.
Section 173.1205: This act provides that when a public institution of higher education holds an ownership or membership interest in a for-profit or non-profit entity, such entity shall not be deemed a public governmental body or quasi-governmental body subject to the open records law under chapter 610, if such entity is engaged primarily in activities involving current or prospective commercialization of the skills or knowledge of the institution's faculty or of the institution's research, research capabilities, intellectual property, technology, or technological resources. The public higher education institution must maintain as an open record an annual report, available no later than October 1st each year. It also details the lists of items required in the annual report, but includes detailing the funds and benefits paid by the higher education institution to the entity and the employees of the institution who received funds from the entity.
Meetings, records, and votes may be closed to the extent that they relate to records or information submitted by an individual, corporation, or other business entity to a public institution of higher education in connection with opportunities for or results of collaboration involving students, faculty, or staff, or in connection with institution activities to promote or pursue economic development. The meetings may also be closed if it relates to sales, projections, business plans, financial information, or trade secrets if the disclosure of such information would endanger the competitiveness of a business.
This act contains provisions similar to SB 784 (2010), HCS/HB 1473 (2010), HCS#2/HB 1812 (2010), SB 390 (2009), HB 792 (2009), SB 40 (2009), SS/SCS/SB 558 (2009) and SB 984 (2008).
MICHAEL RUFF