10
LC 33 3635
Senate
Bill 496
By:
Senators Hill of the 4th, Seabaugh of the 28th, Harp of the 29th, Douglas of the
17th, Smith of the 52nd and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to establish
the HOPE needs based scholarship; to provide for a definition; to provide for
eligibility requirements; to provide for scholarship amounts; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, is amended by adding a new
paragraph to Code Section 20-3-519, relating to definitions, to read as
follows:
"(13.1)
'HOPE needs based scholarship' means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally
needs based scholarship for education awarded in accordance with Code Section
20-3-519.4."
SECTION
2.
Said
part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-519.4, which is reserved,
as follows:
"20-3-519.4.
(a)
To be eligible for a HOPE needs based scholarship, a student seeking an
associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible public postsecondary
institution shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by:
(A)
Meeting the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as
established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student
Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state tuition policy of the
board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set by the Technical
College System of Georgia; and
(B)(i)
If the student was classified as a legal resident of Georgia at the time of
graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the
requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the
requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at
least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE
scholarship is to be awarded; or
(ii)
If the student was not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation
from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code
Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 24 months
immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE needs based
scholarship is to be awarded.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a dependent child of military personnel stationed in Georgia
shall be deemed to be a legal resident of Georgia and, subject to meeting all
other eligibility requirements, shall be eligible to receive the HOPE needs
based scholarship as a freshman if the student graduated from a high school
located in Georgia or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code
Section 20-2-690 that is located in Georgia;
(2)
Meet further eligibility standards established by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission which shall be based on criteria aimed at serving the neediest
students; and
(3)
Be a recipient of federal educational assistance funds awarded under the federal
Pell Grant Program for any academic term for which a HOPE needs based
scholarship is sought under this Code section.
(b)
Only full-time students who attend an eligible public postsecondary institution
shall be eligible for a HOPE needs based scholarship under this Code
section.
(c)(1)
Except as set out in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a student may receive the
HOPE needs based scholarship until the first of these events:
(A)
The student has earned a baccalaureate degree; or
(B)
The student has attempted at any postsecondary institution a total of 190
quarter hours or 127 semester hours.
(2)
A student enrolled in an undergraduate or first professional degree program
designed to be more than 190 quarter hours or 127 semester hours in length is
eligible to receive the HOPE needs based scholarship for a total of 225
attempted quarter hours or 150 attempted semester hours.
(d)
Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Georgia Student Finance
Commission shall determine HOPE needs based scholarship award amounts, which may
be determined on a sliding scale based on income. It is the intent of the
General Assembly that the HOPE needs based scholarships awarded pursuant to this
Code section be targeted at the neediest students.
Reserved."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.