Revision: Jan. 25, 2017, 2:31 p.m.
HB 607-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0537
04/05
HOUSE BILL 607-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire student access grant program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Grenier, Sull. 7; Rep. Irwin, Sull. 6; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Education
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This bill establishes the New Hampshire student access grant 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0537
04/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire student access grant program.
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, all aspects of the New Hampshire student access grant program established in RSA 21-N:8-c.
(11) Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.
2 New Section; New Hampshire Student Access Grant Program. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-b the following new section:
21-N:8-c New Hampshire Student Access Grant Program Established.
I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire student access grant program which shall be administered by the higher education commission. The purpose of this program is to provide postsecondary education and training opportunities to graduates of any public or private secondary school approved for operation in New Hampshire by the department of education, including chartered public schools, home educated students, and students who have received a high school equivalency certificate, by providing a grant of up to $1,000 each year for a maximum of 4 years to eligible students pursuing a degree at any public or private postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire.
II. A student shall be eligible to apply for a grant under this program if he or she:
(a) Is admitted as a first-year student to any public or private postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire in a program approved by the United States Department of Education to receive Title 4 funds;
(b) Has graduated secondary school with at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale; and
(c) Has submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is eligible to receive a Pell grant.
III. Eligible students shall submit an application to the higher education commission, on a form developed by the commission.
IV. Applicants who are selected to participate in this program shall pursue postsecondary studies at a public or private postsecondary educational institution in New Hampshire and shall maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Applicants selected shall receive a grant of up to $1,000 each year for a maximum of 4 years.
V. All funds in the New Hampshire student access grant fund established in this section shall be used annually to provide grants under this program.
VI. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a fund to be known as the New Hampshire student access grant 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 grants 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.
VII. The higher education commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:
(a) Instituting a grant application process, including necessary forms and deadlines.
(b) Establishing academic and other standards by which grants shall be awarded.
(c) Establishing priorities in awarding grants where the funds available are less than the amount needed for eligible applicants.
(d) Establishing procedures for awarding and disbursing grants.
3 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; New Hampshire Student Access Grant Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (333) the following new subparagraph:
(334) Moneys deposited in the New Hampshire student access grant 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 New Hampshire student access grant 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.
17-0537
1/20/17
HB 607-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
as introduced
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire student access grant program.
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 ] New Hampshire Student Access Grant Fund | |||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes the New Hampshire student access grant program, to be administered by the Higher Education Commission, and is intended to provide grants for qualifying New Hampshire high school or equivalency certificate holders graduates pursuing a degree at a New Hampshire postsecondary educational institution. 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 need up to three 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