SB162: Bill Text

LRB-0776/1

PG:kmg:cph

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Senate BILL 162

May 14, 2003 - Introduced by Senators Roessler, Ellis, A. Lasee and Schultz, cosponsored by Representatives Weber, Nass, Gunderson, Hahn, Albers, Owens, Musser, Petrowski, Ott, Plouff, J. Lehman and Seratti. Referred to Committee on Education, Ethics and Elections.

SB162,1,3 An Act to repeal 118.55 (4) (d); to amend 118.55 (2) (a) and 118.55 (7r) (a); and to create 118.55 (7t) (c) of the statutes; relating to: the Youth Options Program.

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. A pupil may not take more than 15 credits in any semester.

This bill provides that a pupil may take no more than two courses under the program. The 15-credit limitation is eliminated.

The bill also provides that if a pupil receives a grade of D in a course the pupil must reimburse the school board one-half of the amount paid on the pupil's behalf. If the pupil receives a failing grade, the pupil must reimburse the school board the entire amount. If the pupil fails to complete a course, the pupil must reimburse the entire amount unless the incompletion is the result of a death in the pupil's family or a family emergency.

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:

SB162, s. 1 Section 1. 118.55 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB162,2,12 118.55 (2) (a) Any public school pupil enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade who is not attending a technical college under sub. (7r) or s. 118.15 (1) (b) may enroll in an institution of higher education for the purpose of taking one or more 1 or 2 nonsectarian courses at the institution of higher education, subject to par. (b). The pupil shall submit an application to the institution of higher education in the previous school semester. The pupil shall indicate on the application whether he or she will be taking the course or courses for high school credit or postsecondary credit. The pupil shall also specify on the application that if he or she is admitted the institution of higher education may disclose the pupil's grades, the courses that he or she is taking, and his or her attendance record to the public school in which the pupil is enrolled.

SB162, s. 2 Section 2. 118.55 (4) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

SB162, s. 3 Section 3. 118.55 (7r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB162,2,18 118.55 (7r) (a) Upon the pupil's request and with the written approval of the pupil's parent or guardian, any public school pupil who satisfies the following criteria may apply to attend a technical college for the purpose of taking one or more 1 or 2 courses:

SB162, s. 4 Section 4. 118.55 (7t) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB162,2,20 118.55 (7t) (c) Notwithstanding subs. (5), (6) (a), and (7r) (d) and (f):

SB162,2,23 1. If a pupil receives a grade of D in 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 50% of the amount paid on the pupil's behalf.

SB162,3,3 2. If a pupil receives a failing grade in 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.

SB162,3,7 3. 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 unless the incompletion is the result of a death in the pupil's family or a family emergency.

SB162, s. 5 Section 5. Initial applicability.

SB162,3,10 (1) This act first applies to courses taken in the academic semester that begins after the effective date of this subsection.

SB162,3,11 (End)