AB765: Bill Text

LRB-4942/2

TNF:skg:ks

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 765

January 2, 1996 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB765,1,4 An Act to amend 39.41 (2) (b) and 39.41 (3) (b) of the statutes; relating to: clarifying the required grade point average for academic excellence higher education scholarships (suggested as remedial legislation by the higher educational aids board).

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the higher educational aids board (HEAB) administers the academic excellence higher education scholarship program. The program awards scholarships for up to 4 years of enrollment at participating institutions of higher education in this state to one or more designated scholars with the highest grade point averages from each public and private high school of at least 80 pupils and from the Wisconsin schools for the visually handicapped and the deaf. Ten scholarships are awarded to designated scholars enrolled at public and private high schools with enrollment of less than 80 pupils. Scholars are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their academic studies as a condition of eligibility for scholarships under the program.

This bill changes the minimum grade point average required for continued eligibility for a scholarship under the academic excellence higher education scholarship program from 3.0 to 3.000.

For further information, see the Notes provided by the law revision committee of the joint legislative council.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Law revision committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation proposal, requested by the higher educational aids board and introduced by the law revision committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4., stats. After careful consideration of the various provisions of the bill, the law revision committee has determined that this bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are desirable as a matter of public policy.

AB765, s. 1 Section 1. 39.41 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB765,2,12 39.41 (2) (b) For each year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.0 3.000 grade point average, or the equivalent as determined by the center, institution or district school, and makes satisfactory progress toward an associate or a bachelor's degree, the student shall be exempt from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, in the subsequent year, subject to the availability of funds, except that the maximum scholarship for a scholar who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $2,250 per academic year. No scholar is eligible for an exemption for more than 4 years at a center or institution or more than 3 years at a district school.

AB765, s. 2 Section 2. 39.41 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB765,2,19 39.41 (3) (b) For each year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time, maintains at least a 3.0 3.000 grade point average, or the equivalent as determined by the private institution, and makes satisfactory progress toward a bachelor's degree, the student is eligible for a higher education scholarship as determined under par. (a). No scholar is eligible for a higher education scholarship for more than 4 years at a private institution of higher education.

Note: These amendments revise the required minimum grade point average for the academic excellence higher education scholarship program, administered by the higher educational aids board, from "3.0" to "3.000". The purpose of the revision is to clarify that a grade point average of less than 3.0 (which may equal 3.0 when rounded up) would not qualify a scholar as eligible for a scholarship under the program because it would not be interpreted as being a 3.0 grade point average if calculated to 3 decimal places.

AB765,3,1 (End)