AB502: Bill Text

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 502

September 19, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Hundertmark, M. Lehman, Gronemus, Musser, Boyle, Nass, Townsend, Krawczyk, Ladwig, Jeskewitz, Hahn, Gundrum, Gunderson, Stone and Ott, cosponsored by Senator Roessler. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB502,1,5 An Act to amend 39.30 (2) (intro.), 39.30 (3) (intro.), 39.435 (1), 118.55 (5) (intro.) and 118.55 (7r) (d) 2.; and to create 118.55 (7t) (c) of the statutes; relating to: limiting school board payment for courses taken under the youth options program and making pupils in the youth options program eligible for certain grants.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a pupil enrolled in a public school in the 11th or 12th grade may attend an institution of higher education for one or more courses under the youth options program. The school board of the district in which the pupil is enrolled is responsible for paying the cost of tuition, fees, and books for the pupil under certain circumstances. This bill provides that the school board is not responsible for payment for more than six credits in any semester. The bill also provides that, if a pupil fails to complete a course, the pupil must reimburse the school board the amount paid on the pupil's behalf.

Under current law, the Wisconsin higher education grant program (WHEG) provides need-based grants to resident undergraduates enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a tribal college. The tuition grant program provides need-based grants to resident undergraduates who attend private, nonprofit postsecondary institutions. This bill provides that pupils participating in the youth options program are eligible for both of these grant programs.

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:

AB502, s. 1 Section 1. 39.30 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB502,2,7 39.30 (2) Eligibility. (intro.) A resident student enrolled at least half-time and registered as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in an accredited, nonprofit, post-high school, educational institution in this state, and a pupil attending an institution of higher education or technical college under the youth options program under s. 118.55, shall be eligible for grants under this section for each semester of attendance, but:

AB502, s. 2 Section 2. 39.30 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB502,2,11 39.30 (3) Basis of grants. (intro.) The grant to be paid to a resident student enrolled at least half-time and registered as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior after August 1, 1979, shall be determined as follows:

AB502, s. 3 Section 3. 39.435 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB502,2,21 39.435 (1) There is established, to be administered by the 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 or in tribally controlled colleges in this state, and for pupils attending an institution of higher education or a technical college under the youth options program under s. 118.55. Except as authorized under sub. (5) and except for pupils participating in the youth options program under s. 118.55, such grants shall be made only to students enrolled in nonprofit public institutions or tribally controlled colleges in this state.

AB502, s. 4 Section 4. 118.55 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB502,3,7 118.55 (5) Payment. (intro.) Within 30 days after the end of the semester, the school board of the school district in which a pupil attending an institution of higher education under this section is enrolled shall pay the institution of higher education, on behalf of the pupil, the following amount for any course that is taken for high school credit and that is not comparable to a course offered in the school district, but for no more than a total of 6 credit hours in any semester:

AB502, s. 5 Section 5. 118.55 (7r) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB502,3,16 118.55 (7r) (d) 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., if the pupil is attending the technical college for less than 10 credits during any semester, the school board is not responsible for payment for any courses that are comparable to courses offered in the school district. If the pupil is attending the technical college for 10 or more credits during any semester, the school board is responsible for payment for courses that are comparable to courses offered in the school district for one-half of the credits taken but no. In either case, the school board is not responsible for payment for more than 6 credits in any semester.

AB502, s. 6 Section 6. 118.55 (7t) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB502,3,21 118.55 (7t) (c) Notwithstanding subs. (5) (a) and (c) 1., (6) (a), and (7r) (d) and (f), if a pupil fails to complete a course at an institution of higher education or technical college for which the school board has made payment, the pupil shall reimburse the school board the amount paid on the pupil's behalf.

AB502, s. 7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB502,3,24 (1) This act first applies to courses taken in the academic semester that begins after the effective date of this subsection.

AB502,3,25 (End)