AB860: Bill Text

LRB-4595/1

TNF:jlg:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 860

March 2, 1998 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB860,1,6 An Act to renumber and amend 39.41 (5) (a); to amend 39.41 (2) (b) and 39.41 (3) (b); and to create 39.41 (5) (a) 2. of the statutes; relating to: participation by institutions of higher education in the academic excellence higher education scholarship program and 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. As a condition of participating in the program, an institution of higher education is annually required to notify HEAB by October 1 that the institution wishes to participate in the program in the upcoming academic year.

This bill eliminates the requirement that institutions of higher education provide annual notice to HEAB that they wish to participate in the program in the upcoming academic year. Instead, an institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the program in academic year 1999-2000 and thereafter must notify HEAB by October 1, 1998. If a participating institution of higher education subsequently wishes to end its participation in the program, the institution must notify HEAB of this fact in writing by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution will no longer participate.

Under current law, 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 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 in the 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.

AB860, s. 1 Section 1 . 39.41 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB860,3,2 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, 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.

AB860, s. 2 Section 2 . 39.41 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB860,3,9 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: Sections 1 and 2 revise the required minimum grade point average for the academic excellence higher education scholarship program, administered by HEAB, 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.

AB860, s. 3 Section 3 . 39.41 (5) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 39.41 (5) (a) 1. and amended to read:

AB860,3,16 39.41 (5) (a) 1. 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 in academic year 1999-2000 and thereafter shall notify the board by October 1 prior to the academic year in which, 1998, that the institution wishes to participate.

AB860, s. 4 Section 4 . 39.41 (5) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB860,3,22 39.41 (5) (a) 2. If an institution of higher education that has notified the board under subd. 1. subsequently wishes to no longer participate in the scholarship program under this section, the institution of higher education shall notify the board of this fact in writing by October 1 prior to the academic year in which the institution will no longer participate.

Note: Sections 3 and 4 eliminate the requirement that institutions of higher education provide annual notice to HEAB that they wish to participate in the academic excellence higher education scholarship program. Rather, the institution must provide a statement to HEAB by October 1, 1998, that it wishes to participate in academic year 1999-2000 and thereafter. To end its participation in the program, the institution would have to notify HEAB of this fact in writing.

AB860,4,1 (End)