Revision: Feb. 4, 2013, midnight
SB 4-FN-A – AS INTRODUCED
2013 SESSION
04/03
SENATE BILL 4-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a scholarship program for New Hampshire residents to attend any New Hampshire public postsecondary education institution.
SPONSORS: Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Bragdon, Dist 11; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Cataldo, Dist 6; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Rausch, Dist 19; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 9; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Rep. L. Ober, Hills 37; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Weyler, Rock 13; Rep. Elliott, Rock 8
This bill establishes the making opportunities occur for student excellence (MOOSE) program to provide scholarships to eligible students attending an institution within the university system of New Hampshire or the community college system of New Hampshire.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
13-0433
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT establishing a scholarship program for New Hampshire residents to attend any New Hampshire public postsecondary education institution.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Making Opportunities Occur for Student Excellence (MOOSE) Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 11 the following new subdivision:
Making Opportunities Occur for Student Excellence
(MOOSE) Scholarship Program
21-N:12 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. “Commission” means the higher education commission established in RSA 21-N:8-a.
II. “Eligible educational institution” means any institution within the university system of New Hampshire as defined in RSA 187-A or any institution within the community college system of New Hampshire as defined in RSA 188-F.
III. “Program” means the making opportunities occur for student excellence (MOOSE) program.
IV. “Tuition” means the amount charged to a student for registering for credit hours of instruction, and shall not include any other fees, charges, or costs of textbooks.
21-N:13 Program Established. There is hereby established the making opportunities occur for student excellence (MOOSE) scholarship program in the department of education, division of higher education, and which shall be administered by the commission. The program shall provide scholarships within the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire. All scholarships granted under this subdivision shall be applied toward tuition at an eligible educational institution.
21-N:14 Eligibility.
I. A student shall meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a scholarship:
(a) Residency.
(1) A student shall meet the residency requirements of RSA 193:12, and be a graduate of a public high school, public academy, chartered public school, or a high school level home education program approved under RSA 193-A, and have completed at least 3 years of high school in this state; or
(2) A student shall be a graduate of a preparatory high school outside of this state while a dependent of a parent or legal guardian who is a legal resident of this state and who has custody of the dependent; or
(3) A student whose parent or guardian has served in or has retired from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard within the last 4 years and is a resident of this state.
(b) Academic Performance. A student shall have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade average on a 4.0 scale or have scored at or above the national average SAT or ACT score for the year in which the student is applying.
(c) Enrollment. A student shall be enrolled as a full-time student at an eligible educational institution.
(d) Criminal Record. A student shall not have been adjudicated delinquent or convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies or any second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related offenses under the laws of this or any other state, or under the laws of the United States, except that an otherwise eligible student who has been adjudicated delinquent or has been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense shall be eligible or continue to be eligible for a scholarship after the expiration of one academic year from the date of the adjudication, conviction, or plea.
II. In order to retain the scholarship, a recipient shall maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale in each semester and earn at least 30 credit hours each academic year.
III. If a student does not meet the eligibility requirements set forth in this section for enrollment in his or her freshman year but chooses to attend an eligible educational institution, the student may apply for a scholarship after his or her freshman year at such institution provided the student meets all other eligibility requirements.
IV. For home educated students, students whose high school graduating class is less than 50 students, and exceptionally gifted students who have been accepted into an eligible educational institution without having attended high school, the commission shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A defining alternative criteria, as may be necessary, for such students to qualify for a scholarship under this subdivision.
21-N:15 Administrative Provisions.
I. A student may receive a scholarship for not more than 8 semesters of undergraduate study for a 4-year degree program, or 4 semesters of undergraduate study for a 2-year degree program. Students pursuing graduate studies shall not be eligible for a scholarship under this subdivision.
II. A student transferring from one eligible educational institution of this state to another shall retain eligibility for a scholarship if he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements of this subdivision.
III. A scholarship recipient enrolled at an eligible educational institution may pursue a study-abroad program or other out-of-state program, if approved by the student’s educational institution. A summer school program may be substituted for one fall or spring semester in any year.
IV. Any credit hours attempted or earned before high school graduation or through advanced placement examinations shall not count toward the semester credit hours requirement under RSA 21-N:14, II.
V. No scholarship funds shall be applied to the costs of continuing education or remedial courses.
21-N:16 MOOSE Scholarship Fund Established.
I. There is hereby established in the office of the treasurer the MOOSE scholarship fund which shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds. The fund shall provide scholarships for the benefit of eligible residents of the state pursuing programs of study at an eligible educational institution within the state.
II. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund any appropriation relating to the MOOSE scholarship program made to the department of education, division of higher education for each fiscal year. The state treasurer shall invest the fund in accordance with RSA 6:8. Any earnings on trust fund moneys shall be added to the fund.
III. All moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the commission for purposes of providing scholarships under this subdivision.
IV. The commission may institute promotional programs and solicit and receive gifts or donations of any kind for the purpose of supporting educational scholarships from the fund. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commission may accept gifts to the fund including, but not limited to, cash gifts and real or personal property, without the approval of the governor and council.
V. All gifts, grants, and donations of any kind shall be credited to the fund.
21-N:17 Rulemaking. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to establish forms and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of this subdivision.
21-N:18 Reports.
I. All eligible educational institutions participating in the MOOSE program shall annually report enrollment and other relevant data to the commission
II. The commission shall monitor the distribution of grades at eligible educational institutions which receive scholarship funds under this subdivision.
2 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; MOOSE Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (310) the following new subparagraph:
(311) Moneys deposited into the MOOSE scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:16.
3 Applicability. The higher education commission shall initiate review of applicants for scholarships under the MOOSE program beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0433
01/22/13
SB 4-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a scholarship program for New Hampshire residents to attend any New Hampshire public postsecondary education institution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Due to time constraints, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, at this time. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.