Revision: Jan. 25, 2017, 2:38 p.m.
HB 606-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0534
04/05
HOUSE BILL 606-FN-A
SPONSORS: Rep. Leishman, Hills. 24; Rep. Sterling, Ches. 14; Rep. Nordgren, Graf. 12; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 10; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 6; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Rogers, Merr. 28
COMMITTEE: Finance
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This bill establishes a health care professionals scholarship program.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0534
04/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Higher Education Commission. Amend RSA 21-N:8-a, II(e)(10) to read as follows:
(10) Administer, at no cost to the state, the health care professionals scholarship program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.
(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.
2 New Section; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:
21-N:8-c Health Care Professionals Scholarship Program Established.
I. There is hereby established a health care professionals scholarship program for high school students who elect to pursue careers in any of the health care professions, 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 reimbursement for the costs of tuition and books to any student who is a resident of this state, who is pursuing a degree at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in a field in the health care professions, and who is employed in a health care profession in this state for at least 5 years after graduation. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of this program.
II. A student who is interested in pursuing a degree in a health care professions field at any public postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire 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.
III. 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 by the commission. Applicants selected shall receive reimbursement for up to $5,000 per year for up to 4 years for the costs of tuition and books. Scholarship recipients shall be required to work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 5 years after graduation.
IV. All funds in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide scholarships under this program.
V. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the health care professionals 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 reimburse students for the costs of tuition and books 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.
VI. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:
(a) Instituting a scholarship application process.
(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which scholarships shall be awarded.
(c) Establishing priorities in awarding scholarships where the funds available for scholarships are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.
(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing scholarships.
3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Health Care Professionals Scholarship Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:
(334) Moneys deposited in the health care professionals scholarship fund established in RSA 21-N:8-c.
4 Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 are hereby appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes of the health care professionals 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.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.
17-0534
1/20/17
HB 606-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
as introduced
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 |
Appropriation | $1 | $1 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Health Care Professionals Scholarship Fund | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes the health care professionals scholarship program, to be administered by the Higher Education Commission, and is intended to provide scholarships to qualifying New Hampshire public secondary school graduates pursing a degree at any public postsecondary institution in New Hampshire in the health care professions and who is employed in a health care profession in the state for five years after graduation. This bill also establishes a dedicated fund for the program where funds from any public or private grants, gifts, or donations may be accepted into the fund. It is assumed any costs to administer the program will be a charge against the fund. The Department of Education estimates development and approval of administrative rules would occur in FY 2018 with the program becoming operational in FY 2019. The Department further states it does not have the resources to develop the required rules and expects it would contract for such services at an estimated cost of $50,000. Additionally, the Department states in FY 2019 and each year thereafter, depending on the rules ultimately developed, it may require up to two full-time employees to manage the program. This bill makes a general fund appropriation of $1 in FY 2018 and $1 in FY 2019 for this program.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education