Perfected

STEM GRANT (Section 173.685)

This act requires the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) to make available a grant to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) subjects for up to $2000 to eligible recipients. The act outlines eligibility criteria for a grant, including financial considerations that are also included in the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. The act specifies certain requirements for renewing a grant, such as the achievement of satisfactory academic progress, as the term "satisfactory academic progress" is defined in the act, and having completed five or fewer semesters at a two-year institution or a total of 10 semesters at an approved four-year institution.

This provision shall sunset August 28, 2030.

This provision is identical to HB 2313 (2024).

CAREER-TECH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Section 173.836)

The act establishes the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program" and the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program Fund" to reimburse the costs of eligible students' tuition, books, and fees to certain approved institutions, such as two-year community colleges and technical schools, that offer training programs or eligible programs of study.

The act defines an "eligible student" as a student who meets the eligibility requirements for the A+ Schools Program under current law, provided that such student has not received reimbursement for tuition, books, or fees under the A+ Schools Program.

A "training program" is defined as a program of study that leads to a certificate or degree that does not meet the length-of-program requirements for an eligible program under federal regulations regarding federal grants and loans for postsecondary students. Training programs include but are not limited to certified nurse assistant programs, certified medication technician programs, and commercial driver's license programs.

An "eligible program of study" is a program of instruction that results in the award of a certificate or credential below the graduate level in an area of occupational shortage, as determined annually by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The length of an eligible program of study shall not exceed the equivalent of 60 credit hours.

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year and all subsequent years, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish a procedure to reimburse the costs of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC Program Fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program of study or a training program. Tuition reimbursements shall not exceed the tuition rate charged by a public community college for coursework offered by a two-year private vocational or technical school, virtual institution, or eligible training provider. Tuition reimbursements shall not be provided to an eligible student who enrolls in a private school or training provider if a public community college or vocational or technical school located within the service region of the private school or training provider offers the same or a substantially similar eligible program of study or training program, unless the private school obtains authorization from the Department, as set forth in the act.

Eligibility for reimbursements under the act shall expire upon the earliest of (a) the approved institution's receipt of the reimbursement for the required length of the eligible program of study or training program, (b) a student's successful completion of an eligible program of study or training program, or (c) a student's completion of 150% of the time usually required to complete an eligible program of study or training program.

The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish by rule procedures for the reimbursement of tuition, books, and fees to all approved institutions, provided that no rule established shall prohibit students from qualifying for tuition reimbursement solely because such student's program of study or training program does not meet the length-of-program requirements for federal financial aid or does not participate in federal student aid programs.

This provision is similar to SB 1065 (2024) and HB 76 (2023).

ACCESS MISSOURI FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (Section 173.1105)

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, this act increases the financial assistance award for eligible recipients of the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. For students who attend public two-year institutions, the minimum award increases from $300 to $500, and the maximum award increases from $1,300 to $1,700. For students who attend public four-year institutions, the State Technical College, and approved private and virtual institutions, the minimum award increases from $1,500 to $1,750, and the maximum award increases from $2,850 to $3,500.

This provision is identical to HB 2326 (2024).

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMINATIONS (Section 173.1352)

This act requires public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy for undergraduate course credit for any student who receives a score of 4 or higher on an International Baccalaureate exam.

This provision is identical to HB 1578 (2024), HB 2051 (2024), and HB 2415 (2024).

FAST TRACK WORKFORCE INCENTIVE GRANT (Section 173.2553)

Beginning January 1, 2025, this act increases the maximum gross income for eligibility for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant from $80,000 to $100,000 for taxpayers who are married filing jointly and from $40,000 to $50,000 for all other taxpayers, adjusted annually based on inflation.

This provision is identical to HB 2278 (2024) and substantially similar to SB 1056 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON