1997 Wisconsin Act 27

27,1261 Section 1261 . 39.40 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.40 (3) Loans under sub. (2) shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (cr). The department board shall forgive 25% of the loan and 25% of the interest on the loan for each school year the recipient teaches in a school district described under sub. (2) (d).

27,1262 Section 1262 . 39.40 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.40 (4) The department board shall deposit in the general fund as general purpose revenue-earned all repayments of loans made under sub. (2) and the interest on the loans.

27,1263 Section 1263 . 39.40 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.40 (5) The department board shall administer the repayment and forgiveness of loans made under s. 36.25 (16), 1993 stats. The department board shall treat such loans as if they had been made under sub. (2).

27,1265 Section 1265 . 39.41 (1) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:

39.41 (1) (ae) “Executive secretary" means the executive secretary of the board.

27,1266 Section 1266 . 39.41 (1) (bg) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1267 Section 1267 . 39.41 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (b) By February 15 of each school year, the school board of each school district operating one or more high schools and the governing body of each private high school may, for each high school with an enrollment of less than 80 pupils, nominate the senior with the highest grade point average in all subjects who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary under par. (c) 3.

27,1268 Section 1268 . 39.41 (1m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (c) (intro.) The executive secretary shall:

27,1269 Section 1269 . 39.41 (1m) (c) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (c) 5. For each public or private high school with an enrollment of less than 80 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private high school that the school board or governing body may nominate a senior under par. (b) who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary.

27,1270 Section 1270 . 39.41 (1m) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (cm) The executive secretary may grant waivers under par. (m).

27,1271 Section 1271 . 39.41 (1m) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (d) By February 15 of each school year, if 2 or more seniors from the same high school of at least 80 pupils have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation on the number of designated scholars, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (a), the faculty of the high school shall select the applicable number of seniors for designation under par. (a) as scholars and shall certify, in order of priority, any remaining seniors as alternates for a scholar with the same grade point average. If a senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), an alternate for the scholar with the same grade point average as any senior from that high school designated as a scholar under par. (a) shall be eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the department board.

27,1272 Section 1272 . 39.41 (1m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (e) If 2 or more seniors from the same high school of less than 80 pupils have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one nominated senior, are otherwise eligible for nomination under par. (b), the faculty of the high school shall select the senior who may be nominated by the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private high school for designation under par. (b) as a scholar by the executive secretary. If that senior is designated as a scholar by the executive secretary and does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), faculty of the high school shall select one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar and the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school shall certify to the department board one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the department board.

27,1273 Section 1273 . 39.41 (1m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (f) If 2 or more seniors from the Wisconsin school for the visually handicapped have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 1., the executive secretary shall make the designation under par. (c) 1. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar and, if that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), shall designate one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the department board.

27,1274 Section 1274 . 39.41 (1m) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (fm) If 2 or more seniors from the Wisconsin school for the deaf have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 2., the executive secretary shall make the designation under par. (c) 2. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar and, if that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), shall designate one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the department board.

27,1275 Section 1275 . 39.41 (1m) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (i) Notwithstanding par. (d), if the school board of a school district operating a high school or the governing body of a private high school has complied with s. 39.41 (1m) (d), 1991 stats., for the 1993-94 school year and a senior from that high school designated as a scholar under s. 39.41 (1m) (a), 1991 stats., and s. 39.41 (1m) (d), 1991 stats., does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar. The school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school shall certify to the department board one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the department board.

27,1276 Section 1276 . 39.41 (1m) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (1m) (m) Notwithstanding pars. (a), (b) and (d), if a high school ranks its seniors on the basis of grades in academic subjects, the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school or, for purposes of par. (d), the faculty of the high school may request a waiver from the executive secretary in order to fulfill its requirements under par. (a), (b) or (d) on the basis of grade point averages in academic subjects.

27,1277d Section 1277d. 39.41 (1m) (r) of the statutes is created to read:

39.41 (1m) (r) The board, in consultation with the department of public instruction, shall develop guidelines that may be used by the faculty of a high school to fulfill its requirements under par. (d) or (e). The guidelines shall include a method of weighting courses differently for purposes of the calculation of grade point averages.

27,1277g Section 1277g. 39.41 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (2) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (1m) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a center or institution within the university of Wisconsin system or in a technical college district school that is participating in the program under this section, the scholar shall receive a higher education scholarship that exempts the scholar from all tuition and fees, including segregated fees, at the center, institution or district school for one 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.

27,1277j Section 1277j. 39.41 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

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 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.

27,1278 Section 1278 . 39.41 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (2) (c) Subject to sub. (4), for each year the student is exempt from tuition and fees under par. (a) or (b), the department board shall pay the center, institution or district school, on behalf of the student, an amount equal to 50% of the student's tuition and fees, except that the maximum payment for a student who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $1,125 per academic year.

27,1279 Section 1279 . 39.41 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (3) (a) If a designated scholar under sub. (1m) is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated a scholar, in a private institution of higher education that is located in this state and participating in the program under this section, the department board shall pay the institution, on behalf of the pupil, an amount equal to 50% of the tuition and fees charged a resident undergraduate at the university of Wisconsin-Madison in the same academic year, except that the maximum payment for a pupil who receives an original scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year or for any academic year thereafter may not exceed $1,125 per academic year.

27,1280 Section 1280 . 39.41 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (4) (a) The department board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) only if the center, institution, district school or private institution matches the amount of the payment from institutional funds, gifts or grants. Beginning in the 1992-93 school year, the matching requirement under this paragraph for the centers and institutions within the university of Wisconsin system shall be satisfied by payments of an amount equal to the total payments from the centers and institutions made under this paragraph in the 1991-92 school year and, if such payments are insufficient to satisfy the matching requirement, by the waiver of academic fees established under s. 36.27.

(b) The department board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fy) subject to the availability of funds. If the amount in the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fy) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fully make the payments, the amount of each payment shall be reduced proportionately.

27,1281 Section 1281 . 39.41 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (5) (a) Each center or institution within the university of Wisconsin system, technical college district school and private institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the scholarship program under this section shall notify the department board by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution wishes to participate.

(b) Each designated scholar who is eligible for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) shall notify the department board as soon as practicable of the institution of higher education he or she will be attending in the next academic year.

(c) Annually, the department board shall notify each scholar who will be attending a participating institution of higher education in the next academic year of the amount of his or her higher education scholarship.

27,1284 Section 1284 . 39.41 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (7) By August 1, 1993 1997, and annually thereafter, the department board shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance evaluating the success of the program under this section. The report shall specify the number and amount of the scholarships awarded in the current fiscal year and the institutions of higher education chosen by the scholarship recipients.

27,1285 Section 1285. 39.41 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.41 (8) The executive secretary shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for the designation of scholars under sub. (1m) (c) 3.

27,1286 Section 1286 . 39.42 of the statutes is amended to read:

39.42 Interstate agreements. The department board, with the approval of the joint committee on finance, or the governing boards of any publicly supported institution of post-high school education, with the approval of the department board and the joint committee on finance, may enter into agreements or understandings which include remission of nonresident tuition for designated categories of students at state institutions of higher education with appropriate state agencies and institutions of higher education in other states to facilitate use of public higher education institutions of this state and other states. Such agreements and understandings shall have as their purpose the mutual improvement of educational advantages for residents of this state and such other states or institutions of other states with which agreements are made.

27,1287 Section 1287 . 39.435 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (1) There is established, to be administered by the department board, a higher education grant program for postsecondary resident students enrolled at least half-time and registered as freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors in accredited institutions of higher education in this state. Except as authorized under sub. (5), such grants shall be made only to students enrolled in nonprofit public institutions in this state.

27,1288 Section 1288 . 39.435 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (2) The department board shall award talent incentive grants to uniquely needy students enrolled at least half-time as first-time freshmen at public and private nonprofit institutions located in this state and to sophomores, juniors and seniors who received such grants as freshmen. No grant under this subsection may exceed $1,800 for any academic year. The department board may not award a grant to the same student for more than 10 consecutive semesters or their equivalent. The department board shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection.

27,1289 Section 1289 . 39.435 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (3) Grants under sub. (1) shall not be less than $250 during any one academic year, unless the joint committee on finance approves an adjustment in the amount of the minimum grant. Grants under sub. (1) shall not exceed $1,800 during any one academic year. The department board shall, by rule, establish a reporting system to periodically provide student economic data and shall promulgate other rules the department board deems necessary to assure uniform administration of the program.

27,1290 Section 1290 . 39.435 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (4) (a) The department board shall promulgate rules establishing policies and procedures for determining dependent and independent status and for the calculation of expected parental and student contributions. The rules shall be consistent with generally accepted definitions and nationally approved needs analysis methodology.

27,1291 Section 1291 . 39.435 (4) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:

39.435 (4) (b) 1. Annually, the department board shall establish equity award levels for students enrolled in the university of Wisconsin system and for students enrolled in technical colleges.

2. From the equity levels established under subd. 1., the department board shall subtract the amount of the expected parental contribution and the expected student contribution to determine the amount of the student's grant.

27,1292 Section 1292 . 39.435 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (4) (c) Grants paid to independent students shall be determined by the department board consistent with the rules and procedures under pars. (a) and (b).

27,1293 Section 1293. 39.435 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (4) (d) The awarding of grants under this section is subject to any formula approved or modified by the education commission board under s. 39.285 (1).

27,1294 Section 1294 . 39.435 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (5) The department board shall ensure that grants under this section are made available to students attending private or public institutions in this state who are deaf or hard of hearing or visually handicapped and who demonstrate need. Grants may also be made available to such handicapped students attending private or public institutions in other states under criteria established by the department board. In determining the financial need of these students special consideration shall be given to their unique and unusual costs.

27,1295 Section 1295 . 39.435 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.435 (6) The department board may not make a grant under this section to a person if the department board receives a certification under s. 49.855 (7) that the person is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or owes past support, medical expenses or birth expenses.

27,1296 Section 1296 . 39.44 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.44 (1) (b) There is established, to be administered by the department board, the minority undergraduate retention grant program for minority undergraduates enrolled in private, nonprofit higher educational institutions in this state or in technical colleges in this state.

27,1297 Section 1297 . 39.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.44 (2) Funds for the grants under this section shall be distributed from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fg), with 50% distributed to the eligible private institutions and 50% distributed to the eligible technical colleges, except as provided in 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, section 9127 (1et). The department board shall audit the enrollment statistics annually.

27,1298 Section 1298 . 39.44 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.44 (3) (b) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department board that such funds do not replace institutional grants to the recipients.

27,1299 Section 1299 . 39.44 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.44 (3) (c) Annually report to the department board the number of awards made, the amount of each award, the minority status of each recipient, other financial aid awards made to each recipient and the total amount of financial aid made available to the eligible students.

27,1300 Section 1300 . 39.44 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.44 (4) The department board shall notify an institution or school receiving funds under sub. (2) if the department board receives a certification under s. 49.855 (7) that a student is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or owes past support, medical expenses or birth expenses. An institution or school may not award a grant under this section to a student if it receives a notification under this subsection concerning that student.

27,1301 Section 1301 . 39.45 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.45 (2) There is established, to be determined by the department board, a grant program for resident students who are current recipients of aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19.

27,1302 Section 1302 . 39.45 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.45 (3) Grants under this section shall be awarded on the basis of financial need, as determined by the department board, to resident students enrolled for at least 6 academic credits in the 2nd or 3rd year in programs leading to an associate degree or the 3rd, 4th or 5th year in programs leading to a bachelor's degree. Except as provided in sub. (5), no grant may exceed $4,000 per academic year. Students may apply for grants, upon a form prepared and furnished by the department board, on or after February 1 of any year for the fall semester or session of the upcoming academic year. No student is eligible to receive a grant under this section for more than 3 academic years.

27,1303 Section 1303 . 39.45 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.45 (4) The department board shall give preference, as much as practicable, in awarding grants under this section to students enrolled in courses likely to increase the immediate employment opportunities of such students. The department board shall publish a list of such courses and shall include courses that have an occupational or vocational objective in areas with existing labor needs.

27,1304 Section 1304 . 39.45 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

39.45 (5) The department board may award supplemental grants of between $500 and $1,000 per child per semester or session to students for the cost of child care for preschool children of the students. The student shall demonstrate, as determined by the department board, financial need for the supplemental grant. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department board may not exceed 20% of the appropriation for a given fiscal year for the grant program.