Assembly Bill No. 145–Assemblyman Brower

 

February 15, 2001

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Joint Sponsor: Senator Jacobsen

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Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Expands program for millennium scholarships to provide for disbursement of scholarships to students of certain additional colleges and universities in this state. (BDR 34‑581)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to the program for millennium scholarships; expanding the program to provide for the disbursement of scholarships to students of certain additional colleges and universities in this state; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 396 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new section to read as follows:

1-3    “Eligible institution” means:

1-4    1.  A community college;

1-5    2.  A university; or

1-6    3.  Any other college or university that is:

1-7    (a) Organized under the laws of this state;

1-8    (b) Exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3); and

1-9    (c) Accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the

1-10  United States Department of Education.

1-11    Sec. 2.  NRS 396.911 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-12    396.911  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

1-13  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

1-14  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

1-15    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

1-16  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

2-1    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

2-2  health.

2-3    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

2-4  the best interest of the residents of the State of Nevada that all money

2-5  received by the State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by

2-6  the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money

2-7  recovered by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against

2-8  a manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

2-9  achievement of the following goals:

2-10    (a) Increasing the number of residents of the State of Nevada who enroll

2-11  in and attend a university , college or community college [of the University

2-12  and Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

2-13    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

2-14  illegal drugs, especially by children;

2-15    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

2-16  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

2-17  disabilities;

2-18    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

2-19  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

2-20  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

2-21  independent of institutional care; and

2-22    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

2-23    Sec. 3.  NRS 396.914 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-24    396.914  As used in NRS 396.914 to 396.938, inclusive, and section 1

2-25  of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms

2-26  defined in NRS 396.918 and 396.922 and section 1 of this act have the

2-27  meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

2-28    Sec. 4.  NRS 396.930 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-29    396.930  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, a

2-30  student may apply to the board of regents for a millennium scholarship if

2-31  he:

2-32    (a) Has been a resident of this state for at least 2 years before he applies

2-33  for the scholarship;

2-34    (b) Graduated from a public or private high school in this state:

2-35      (1) After May 1, 2000; and

2-36      (2) Not more than 8 years before he applies for the scholarship;

2-37    (c) Maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale

2-38  in high school in the core curriculum, as determined by the board of

2-39  regents pursuant to subsection 2; and

2-40    (d) Is enrolled in at least [12 semester credit hours in a university or at

2-41  least 6] :

2-42      (1) Six semester credit hours in a community college[.] ; or

2-43      (2) Twelve semester credit hours in another eligible institution.

2-44    2.  The board of regents shall:

2-45    (a) Define the core curriculum that a student must complete in high

2-46  school to be eligible for a millennium scholarship.

2-47    (b) Develop a plan to ensure that needy students and students from

2-48  families that otherwise could not afford to send their children to college

2-49  receive millennium scholarships.

3-1    3.  For students who did not graduate from a public or private high

3-2  school in this state and who have been residents of this state for at least 2

3-3  years, the board of regents shall establish:

3-4    (a) The minimum score on a standardized test that such students must

3-5  receive; or

3-6    (b) Other criteria that students must meet,

3-7  to be eligible for millennium scholarships.

3-8    4.  In awarding scholarships, the board of regents shall enhance its

3-9  outreach to students who:

3-10    (a) Are pursuing a career in education or health care;

3-11    (b) Come from families who lack sufficient financial resources to pay

3-12  for the costs of sending their children to [a university or community

3-13  college;] an eligible institution; or

3-14    (c) Substantially participated in an anti-smoking, anti-drug or anti-

3-15  alcohol program during high school.

3-16    Sec. 5.  NRS 396.934 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-17    396.934  1.  Within the limits of money available in the trust fund, a

3-18  student who is eligible for a millennium scholarship is entitled to receive:

3-19    (a) If he is enrolled in a community college, $40 per credit for which the

3-20  student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is necessary for the student

3-21  to pay the costs of attending the community college that are not otherwise

3-22  satisfied by other grants or scholarships, whichever is less.

3-23    (b) If he is enrolled in [a university,] another eligible institution, $80

3-24  per credit for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is

3-25  necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the [university]

3-26  eligible institution that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or

3-27  scholarships, whichever is less.

3-28  No student may be awarded a scholarship for a total amount in excess of

3-29  $10,000.

3-30    2.  A student who receives a millennium scholarship shall:

3-31    (a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

3-32  certificate, as determined by the board of regents pursuant to subsection 6;

3-33  and

3-34    (b) Maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale.

3-35    3.  A millennium scholarship must be used only:

3-36    (a) For the payment of registration fees and laboratory fees and

3-37  expenses;

3-38    (b) To purchase required textbooks and course materials; and

3-39    (c) For other costs related to the attendance of the student at the

3-40  [university or community college.] eligible institution.

3-41    4.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if a student drops

3-42  out of school or fails to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average in any

3-43  semester, the student shall repay the millennium scholarship before the

3-44  student is eligible to receive an additional millennium scholarship or

3-45  otherwise receive money pursuant to NRS 396.914 to 396.934, inclusive[.]

3-46  , and section 1 of this act. The board of regents shall establish criteria for a

3-47  waiver from the repayment required by this subsection, including, without

3-48  limitation, service in the military and conditions of hardship such as

3-49  medical necessity.

4-1    5.  The board of regents shall certify a list of eligible students to the

4-2  state treasurer. The state treasurer shall disburse a millennium scholarship

4-3  for each semester on behalf of an eligible student directly to the

4-4  [community college or university] eligible institution in which the student

4-5  is enrolled, upon certification from the [community college or university]

4-6  eligible institution of the number of credits for which the student is

4-7  enrolled, which must meet or exceed the minimum number of credits

4-8  required for eligibility and certification that the student is in good standing

4-9  and making satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

4-10  certificate, as determined by the board of regents pursuant to subsection 6.

4-11  The scholarship must be administered by the [community college or

4-12  university] eligible institution as other similar scholarships are

4-13  administered and may be used only for the expenditures authorized

4-14  pursuant to subsection 3.

4-15    6.  The board of regents shall establish criteria for determining whether

4-16  a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized

4-17  degree or certificate for purposes of subsection 5.

4-18    Sec. 6.  NRS 439.600 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-19    439.600  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

4-20  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

4-21  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

4-22    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

4-23  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

4-24    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

4-25  health.

4-26    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

4-27  the best interest of the residents of this state that all money received by the

4-28  State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by the State of

4-29  Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money recovered

4-30  by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against a

4-31  manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

4-32  achievement of the following goals:

4-33    (a) Increasing the number of Nevada residents who enroll in and attend

4-34  a university , college  or community college [of the University and

4-35  Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

4-36    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

4-37  illegal drugs, especially by children;

4-38    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

4-39  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

4-40  disabilities;

4-41    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

4-42  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

4-43  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

4-44  independent of institutional care; and

4-45    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

4-46    Sec. 7.  Section 10 of chapter 536, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page

4-47  2753, is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-48  Sec. 10.  On or before February 1, 2003, the board of regents of

4-49  the University of Nevada shall submit a report to the director of the

5-1  legislative counsel bureau for transmittal to the 72nd session of the

5-2  Nevada legislature that includes:

5-3  1.  An examination of the projected enrollment of students in [the

5-4  University and Community College System of] Nevada who will be

5-5  eligible for millennium scholarships;

5-6  2.  An actuarial study to determine the approximate costs of

5-7  continuing the millennium scholarship program; and

5-8  3.  A report setting forth any enhanced outreach efforts carried out

5-9  pursuant to subsection 4 of section 7 of this act.

5-10    Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

5-11  H