HCS/SB 67 – This act modifies provisions relating to higher education.TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS: This act updates references to higher education statutes that have been repealed. Several statutes contain references to Sections 173.205 and 173.215, which were repealed in 2007. This act removes these references and replaces them with references to either Section 173.1102 or Section 173.1104, as appropriate. (Sections 30.750, 173.003, 173.051, 173.236, 173.239, 173.254, 173.260, 173.262, 173.778, 174.770)
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY EXCEPT IN FEE SIMPLE: Current law provides that the governing bodies of certain public higher education institutions may convey or transfer the title to certain real property, except in fee simple, without authorization from the General Assembly until August 28, 2017. This act removes the August 28, 2017 date and makes this authority to transfer such property permanent.
This section contains an emergency clause. This section is identical to SB 293 (2013). (Section 37.005)
HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must provide guidance to school districts for allowing students to retake the necessary end-of-course assessments that are required to be eligible for financial aid through the A+ Program, Bright Flight, and Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program.
This provision is identical to a provision contained in HB 745 (2013). (Section 160.520)
A+ PROGRAM: For a student who graduates from high school during the 2016-2017 school year and after to be eligible for A+ reimbursements, the student must have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end-of-course assessment and on the English I end-of-course assessment, unless the student's high school has met all of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's waiver requirements. Alternatively, the student may have achieved a qualifying score on the COMPASS exam or ACT. These requirements will not apply to a student enrolling in a certificate program.
A student must successfully complete at least twenty-four credit hours during the first twelve month period of enrollment and at least twenty-four credit hours each subsequent twelve month period of enrollment to receive renewed scholarship benefits. An eligible student who is unable to successfully complete at least twenty-four semester credit hours in a twelve month period may seek a waiver from this requirement due to serious and unusual personal circumstances by appealing to the designated person or committee at the student's institution.
This act adds provisions allowing an eligible student who is unable to enroll or ceases attendance because of illness, disability, pregnancy, medical need, service to a nonprofit organization, service to a state or federal government agency, or military service to maintain eligibility if certain criteria, as described in the act, are met.
This act also changes several references to the Commissioner of Education to the Department of Higher Education to reflect that the administration of A+ reimbursements was transferred by executive order to the Department of Higher Education.
This provision is similar to SCS/SB 378 (2013) and HB 745 (2013). (Section 160.545)
BRIGHT FLIGHT: For a student who graduates from high school during the 2016-2017 school year and after to be eligible for a Bright Flight scholarship, the student must have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end-of-course assessment and on the English I end-of-course assessment, unless the student's high school has met all of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's waiver requirements. Alternatively, the student may have achieved a qualifying score on the COMPASS exam or ACT. These requirements will not apply to a student enrolling in a certificate program.
A student must successfully complete at least twenty-four credit hours during the first twelve month period of enrollment and at least twenty-four credit hours each subsequent twelve month period of enrollment to receive renewed scholarship benefits. An eligible student is unable to successfully complete at least twenty-four semester credit hours in a twelve month period may seek a waiver from this requirement due to serious and unusual personal circumstances by appealing to the designated person or committee at the student's institution.
This provision is similar to SCS/SB 378 (2013) and HB 745 (2013). (Section 173.250)
ACCESS MISSOURI: For a student who graduates from high school during the 2016-2017 school year and beyond to be eligible for financial assistance, the student must have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end-of-course assessment and on the English I end-of-course assessment, unless the student's high school has met all of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's waiver requirements. Alternatively, the student may have achieved a qualifying score on the COMPASS exam or ACT. These requirements will not apply to a student enrolling in a certificate program.
Beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year, a student must successfully complete at least twenty-four credit hours during the first year of enrollment to receive renewed financial assistance. A student may receive a second renewal if he or she has completed forty-eight credit hours, a third renewal if he or she has completed seventy-two credit hours, and a fourth renewal if he or she has completed ninety-six credit hours. An eligible student is unable to successfully complete the required number of semester credit hours as provided in the act may seek a waiver from this requirement due to serious and unusual personal circumstances by appealing to the designated person or committee at the student's institution.
This act adds provisions allowing an eligible student who is unable to enroll or ceases attendance because of illness, disability, pregnancy, medical need, service to a nonprofit organization, service to a state or federal government agency, or military service, to maintain eligibility if certain criteria, as described in the act, are met.
This provision is similar to SCS/SB 378 (2013) and HB 745 (2013). (Section 174.1104)
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES: This act allows the governing body of any state college or university to establish regulations to control vehicular traffic on campus. Any such regulations must be consistent with state law. The governing body of any state college or university may also enforce any such regulations and general motor vehicle laws of Missouri through college or university police officers. Any regulations adopted must be codified, printed, and distributed for public use. There must be adequate signs displaying the speed limit on thoroughfares. Violations will have the same effect as a municipal ordinance, as well as penalty provisions and points. State college or university police officers must be certified under the requirements of Chapter 590 and will have the same powers as other law enforcement officers.
This provisions are identical to SB 296 (2013) and HB 312 (2013) and are also contained in CCS/SCS/HB 103 (2013), CCS/SS/SCS/HB 307 (2013), HCS/HB 468 (2013), and HCS/SS/SB 282 (2013). (Sections 174.700 to 174.712, 544.157)
MICHAEL RUFF