LRB-5153/1
MDK:jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
January 19, 2018 - Introduced by Senators Nass, Craig, Feyen and LeMahieu,
cosponsored by Representatives August, Sanfelippo, Anderson, E. Brooks,
Petryk, Edming, Felzkowski, Steffen, Rodriguez, Duchow, Tranel,
Summerfield, Tauchen, R. Brooks, Quinn, Horlacher, Murphy, Jacque,
Hutton, Thiesfeldt and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Government
Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection.
SB700,1,3 1An Act to amend 20.285 (1) (rm) (title), 36.49 (title) and 36.49 (3); and to create
236.49 (4) of the statutes; relating to: merit scholarships for certain University
3of Wisconsin System students and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
to award merit-based annual $5,000 scholarships to students enrolled in two-year
or four-year UW schools who have graduated from an in-state high school or been
granted a high school diploma by the administrator of an in-state home-based
private educational program. The scholarships are called “Wisconsin Merit
scholarships.” The bill requires the Board of Regents to determine student merit
based on performance on standardized college entrance examinations and, if
applicable, cumulative high school grade point averages. Under current law, income
and interest from the normal school fund is appropriated to the Board of Regents to
do the following annually: 1) make need-based grants totaling $100,000 to students
at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies who are members of
underrepresented groups; 2) provide scholarships totaling $100,000 to students
enrolled in the sustainable management degree program through the
UW-Extension; and 3) award the balance to the UW-Stevens Point for
environmental programs. Under the bill, the Board of Regents must provide
$300,000 annually to the UW-Stevens Point for environmental programs and award
the balance in the scholarships required under the bill.

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:
SB700,1 1Section 1 . 20.285 (1) (rm) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB700,2,32 20.285 (1) (rm) (title) Environmental program grants and scholarships;
3Wisconsin Merit scholarships
.
SB700,2 4Section 2. 36.49 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB700,2,6 536.49 (title) Environmental program grants and scholarships;
6Wisconsin Merit scholarships
.
SB700,3 7Section 3. 36.49 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB700,2,98 36.49 (3) Award the balance Provide $300,000 to the University of
9Wisconsin-Stevens Point for environmental programs.
SB700,4 10Section 4. 36.49 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB700,2,1811 36.49 (4) Award the balance in annual scholarships called “Wisconsin Merit
12scholarships,” which shall be based only on merit to students who are enrolled in an
13institution or college campus and who have either graduated from high school in this
14state or been granted a high school diploma by the administrator of a home-based
15private educational program, as defined in s. 115.001 (3g), in this state. The board
16shall determine merit based on a performance on standardized college entrance
17examinations and, if applicable, cumulative high school grade point averages. An
18annual scholarship awarded to a student under this subsection shall equal $5,000.
SB700,2,1919 (End)
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