SB476: Bill Text

LRB-3619/1

MDK:emw

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 476

December 29, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Gudex, Darling, Harsdorf, Olsen, Lassa and L. Taylor, cosponsored by Representatives Krug, Ballweg, Kessler, E. Brooks, A. Ott, Thiesfeldt, Mursau, Petryk and Skowronski. Referred to Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges.

SB476,1,3 An Act to amend 39.415 (4) (a), 39.415 (4) (b) and 39.415 (6) (b); and to create 39.415 (4) (bg) of the statutes; relating to: eligibility for the Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes changes to the eligibility requirements for the Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program. Under that program, the Higher Educational Aids Board awards annual scholarships to certain scholars, designated on the basis of their level of proficiency in technical education subjects, who enroll in a technical college district school (school). Upon enrollment, a student may receive annual scholarships if he or she satisfies the following eligibility requirements for each academic year. First, the student must be enrolled full-time. Second, the student must make satisfactory progress toward an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or vocational diploma. Third, the student must maintain at least a 3.000 grade point average or the equivalent, as determined by the school. A student is eligible for the scholarships for no more than three years. If a student satisfies the eligibility requirements for an academic year, then the student is eligible to receive the scholarship in the subsequent year. However, if a student does not enroll in a school in the subsequent year, he or she is eligible to receive the scholarship in the second year following the academic year in which he or she previously received the scholarship.

The bill changes the first requirement described above so that a student must be enrolled for at least six credits. The bill changes the second requirement so that a school must certify a student's progress. The bill changes the third requirement so that a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 or the equivalent determined by the school. If a student satisfies the requirements for a year, the bill provides that the student is eligible for the scholarship in the subsequent year. However, if the student does not enroll in a school in the subsequent year, he or she is eligible in the semester immediately following the subsequent year. As under current law, a student is eligible for the scholarships for no more than three years.

The bill also allows a student who has received a scholarship to regain eligibility if he or she fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 or the equivalent determined by the school. Under the bill, if a student is ineligible for the scholarship for a year because he or she did not maintain a cumulative grade point average at the required level, the student regains eligibility if the student increases his or her cumulative grade point average to the required level for a year. Under the bill, a student is eligible for the scholarship in the year immediately following the year in which the increase occurs, provided that the student satisfies the other eligibility requirements described above.

For further information see the state and local 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:

SB476,1 Section 1. 39.415 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB476,2,7 39.415 (4) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (3) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis for at least 6 credits, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a technical college district school that is participating in the program under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship in an amount not to exceed $2,250 per academic year.

SB476,2 Section 2. 39.415 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB476,3,5 39.415 (4) (b) For each academic year that a scholar who receives a scholarship under par. (a) is enrolled full time for at least 6 credits, maintains at least a 3.000 2.000 cumulative grade point average or the equivalent as determined by the district school, and makes satisfactory academic progress toward an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, or a vocational diploma as certified by the district school, the student is eligible to receive a higher education scholarship as determined under par. (a) in the subsequent year or, if the scholar does not enroll in a participating district school in the subsequent year, in the 2nd year following the year in which the scholar received the scholarship semester immediately following the subsequent year.

SB476,3,7 (br) No scholar is eligible for a higher education scholarship for more than 3 years at a district school.

SB476,3 Section 3. 39.415 (4) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

SB476,3,14 39.415 (4) (bg) If a student who received a higher education scholarship under par. (a) is not eligible under par. (b) for the scholarship for a year because the scholar failed to maintain for a prior year at least a 2.000 cumulative grade point average or the equivalent determined by the district school, the student is eligible to receive a scholarship under par. (a) for the year immediately following a year for which all of the following criteria are satisfied:

SB476,3,15 1. The student enrolls for at least 6 credits.

SB476,3,16 2. The student's cumulative grade point average increases to at least 2.000.

SB476,3,18 3. The district school certifies that the student has made satisfactory academic progress.

SB476,4 Section 4. 39.415 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB476,4,4 39.415 (6) (b) Each designated scholar who is eligible for an original higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable of the district school he or she will be attending in the next academic year. Each designated scholar who is eligible for a subsequent higher education scholarship under sub. (4) (a) shall notify the board as soon as practicable whether he or she will be enrolling in a participating district school in the academic year immediately following the academic year in which he or she received an original or subsequent scholarship under sub. (4) (a), or in the 2nd academic year following that academic year semester immediately following that immediately following year, and of the district school in which he or she will be enrolling.

SB476,5 Section 5. Initial applicability.

SB476,4,7 (1) This act first applies to students who enroll for the semester following the effective date of this subsection.

SB476,4,8 (End)