HB1551 (2016) Detail

Establishing the John and Molly Stark scholarship program and making an appropriation therefor.


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HB 1551-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

10Feb2016... 0182h

2016 SESSION

\t16-2044

\t04/03

 

HOUSE BILL\t1551-FN-A

 

AN ACT\testablishing the John and Molly Stark scholarship program and making an appropriation therefor.

 

SPONSORS:\tRep. Burton, Straf. 6; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Gile, Merr. 27

 

COMMITTEE:\tEducation

 

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ANALYSIS

 

\tThis bill establishes the John and Molly Stark scholarship program and makes an appropriation therefor.

 

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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.

\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

10Feb2016... 0182h\t16-2044

\t04/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

 

AN ACT\testablishing the John and Molly Stark scholarship program and making an appropriation therefor.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

\t1  Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:

\t\t\t\t(10)  Administer, at no cost to the state, all aspects of the John and Molly Stark scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

\t\t\t\t(11)  Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

\t2  New Section; John and Molly Stark Scholarship Program.  Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:

\t21-N:8-c  Program Established.  

\t\tI.  There is hereby established the John and Molly Stark scholarship program which shall be administered by the higher education commission.  The purpose of this program is to provide public postsecondary education and training opportunities to every graduate of a public secondary school in New Hampshire by providing a 1/2 tuition scholarship for a maximum of 3 years to any student who is a resident of this state and who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire or who is pursuing education or training through a noncredit training or certificate program operating in this state.  All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.

\t\tII.  A student who is interested in pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire or in pursuing education or training through a noncredit training or certificate program operating in this state and who graduated in the top 20 percent of his or her graduating class shall be eligible to apply for the scholarship.  An eligible student shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.

\t\tIII.  Applicants who are selected to receive a scholarship under this program shall maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet such other criteria as may be established in this section.  Applicants selected shall receive a 1/2 tuition scholarship for the applicable tuition and fees, reduced by the amount of any other scholarship aid they may receive.  The scholarship shall be for a maximum of 3 years.  Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 4 years after graduation or shall repay the scholarship amount received in full.  

\t\tIV.  All funds in the John and Molly Stark scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.

\t\tV.  There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the John and Molly Stark scholarship fund.  The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose.  In addition, the higher education commission may accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts, or donations of any kind for the purpose of funding the provisions of this section.  The moneys in this fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the higher education commission.  The fund shall be expended by the higher education commission to award scholarships to selected students in accordance with this section.  The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.

\t\tVI.  The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

\t\t\t(a)  Instituting a scholarship application process.

\t\t\t(b)  Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.

\t\t\t(c)  Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.

\t\t\t(d)  Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.

\t3  New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; John and Molly Stark Scholarship Fund  Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (330) the following new subparagraph:

\t\t(331)  Moneys deposited in the John and Molly Stark scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.

\t4  Appropriation.  The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the John and Molly Stark scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.  The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

\t5  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage

 

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2044

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmended 2/17/16

 

HB 1551-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

 

AN ACT\testablishing the John and Molly Stark scholarship program and making an appropriation therefor.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Education states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2016-0182h), may increase state restricted revenue and expenditure by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each year thereafter.  There will be no impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

 

This bill appropriates $1 in FY 2016 and $1 in FY 2017 from the state general fund to the Department of Education for the purpose of this act.

 

This bill establishes a nonlapsing, continually appropriated dedicated fund for the purpose of this act.

 

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Education states this bill establishes a scholarship program and a related non-lapsing, continually appropriated, dedicated fund.  The bill allows the Department to accept grants, gifts, donations of any kind for the purposes of funding the provisions of the program set forth in this bill.  Any costs to administer the program are assumed to be a charge against the dedicated fund.  Depending on the timing and amounts contributed to the fund, state restricted revenues and expenditures may increase by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each year thereafter.