(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Senate Bill No. 113–Committee on Human
Resources and Facilities

 

(On Behalf of University and Community College
System of Nevada)

 

February 13, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes to provisions governing program for millennium scholarships. (BDR 34‑433)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

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; increasing the amount of scholarships for upper division courses at community colleges; eliminating the requirement that the scholarship be repaid if a student drops out of school or fails to maintain a certain grade-point average; 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 university, state college or community college within the system;

1-5  or

1-6    2.  Any other nonsectarian college or university that:

1-7    (a) Was originally established in, and is organized under the laws of,

1-8  this state;

1-9    (b) Is exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3); and

1-10    (c) Is accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the

1-11  United States Department of Education.

1-12    Sec. 2.  NRS 396.911 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-13    396.911  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

1-14  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

1-15  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

2-1    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

2-2  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

2-3    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

2-4  health.

2-5    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

2-6  the best interest of the residents of the State of Nevada that all money

2-7  received by the State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by

2-8  the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money

2-9  recovered by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against

2-10  a manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

2-11  achievement of the following goals:

2-12    (a) Increasing the number of residents of the State of Nevada who enroll

2-13  in and attend a university , college or community college [of the University

2-14  and Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

2-15    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

2-16  illegal drugs, especially by children;

2-17    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

2-18  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

2-19  disabilities;

2-20    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

2-21  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

2-22  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

2-23  independent of institutional care; and

2-24    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

2-25    Sec. 3.  NRS 396.914 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-26    396.914  As used in NRS 396.914to 396.938, inclusive, and section 1

2-27  of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms

2-28  defined in NRS 396.918 and 396.922 and section 1 of this act have the

2-29  meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

2-30    Sec. 4.  NRS 396.930 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-31    396.930  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, a

2-32  student may apply to the board of regents for a millennium scholarship if

2-33  he:

2-34    (a) Has been a resident of this state for at least 2 years before he applies

2-35  for the scholarship;

2-36    (b) Graduated from a public or private high school in this state:

2-37      (1) After May 1, 2000; and

2-38      (2) Not more than 8 years before he applies for the scholarship;

2-39    (c) Maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale

2-40  in high school in the core curriculum, as determined by the board of

2-41  regents pursuant to subsection 2; and

2-42    (d) Is enrolled in at least [12 semester credit hours in a university or at

2-43  least 6] :

2-44      (1) Six semester credit hours in a community college [.] within the

2-45  system; or

2-46      (2) Twelve semester credit hours in another eligible

2-47  institution.

3-1  A person who obtains a high school diploma by completing an

3-2  educational program for adults is not eligible to receive a millennium

3-3  scholarship.

3-4    2.  The board of regents shall:

3-5    (a) Define the core curriculum that a student must complete in high

3-6  school to be eligible for a millennium scholarship.

3-7    (b) Develop a plan to ensure that needy students and students from

3-8  families that otherwise could not afford to send their children to college

3-9  receive millennium scholarships.

3-10    3.  For students who did not graduate from a public or private high

3-11  school in this state and who have been residents of this state for at least 2

3-12  years, the board of regents shall establish:

3-13    (a) The minimum score on a standardized test that such students must

3-14  receive; or

3-15    (b) Other criteria that students must meet,

3-16  to be eligible for millennium scholarships.

3-17    4.  In awarding scholarships, the board of regents shall enhance its

3-18  outreach to students who:

3-19    (a) Are pursuing a career in education or health care;

3-20    (b) Come from families who lack sufficient financial resources to pay

3-21  for the costs of sending their children to [a university or community

3-22  college;] an eligible institution; or

3-23    (c) Substantially participated in an anti-smoking, anti-drug or anti-

3-24  alcohol program during high school.

3-25    Sec. 5.  NRS 396.934 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-26    396.934  1.  Within the limits of money available in the trust fund, a

3-27  student who is eligible for a millennium scholarship is entitled to receive:

3-28    (a) If he is enrolled in a community college [,] within the system, $40

3-29  per credit for each lower division course and $60 per credit for each

3-30  upper division course in which the student is enrolled, or the amount of

3-31  money that is necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the

3-32  community college that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or

3-33  scholarships, whichever is less. The board of regents shall provide for the

3-34  designation of upper and lower division courses for the purposes of this

3-35  paragraph.

3-36    (b) If he is enrolled in a state college within the system, $60 per credit

3-37  for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is

3-38  necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the state college

3-39  that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or scholarships,

3-40  whichever is less.

3-41    (c) If he is enrolled in [a university,] another eligible institution, $80

3-42  per credit for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is

3-43  necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the university that

3-44  are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or scholarships, whichever is

3-45  less.

3-46  No student may be awarded a scholarship for a total amount in excess of

3-47  $10,000.

3-48    2.  A student who receives a millennium scholarship shall:

4-1    (a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

4-2  certificate, as determined by the board of regents pursuant to subsection

4-3  [6;] 5; and

4-4    (b) Maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale.

4-5    3.  A millennium scholarship must be used only:

4-6    (a) For the payment of registration fees and laboratory fees and

4-7  expenses;

4-8    (b) To purchase required textbooks and course materials; and

4-9    (c) For other costs related to the attendance of the student at the

4-10  [university or community college.

4-11    4.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if a student drops

4-12  out of school or fails to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average in any

4-13  semester, the student shall repay the millennium scholarship before the

4-14  student is eligible to receive an additional millennium scholarship or

4-15  otherwise receive money pursuant to NRS 396.914 to 396.934, inclusive.

4-16  The board of regents shall establish criteria for a waiver from the

4-17  repayment required by this subsection, including, without limitation,

4-18  service in the military and conditions of hardship such a medical necessity.

4-19    5.] eligible institution.

4-20    4. The board of regents shall certify a list of eligible students to the

4-21  state treasurer. The state treasurer shall disburse a millennium scholarship

4-22  for each semester on behalf of an eligible student directly to the

4-23  [community college or university] eligible institution in which the student

4-24  is enrolled, upon certification from the [community college or university]

4-25  eligible institution of the number of credits for which the student is

4-26  enrolled, which must meet or exceed the minimum number of credits

4-27  required for eligibility and certification that the student is in good standing

4-28  and making satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

4-29  certificate, as determined by the board of regents pursuant to subsection

4-30  [6.] 5. The scholarship must be administered by the [community college or

4-31  university] eligible institution as other similar scholarships are

4-32  administered and may be used only for the expenditures authorized

4-33  pursuant to subsection 3.

4-34    [6.] 5. The board of regents shall establish criteria for determining

4-35  whether a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward a

4-36  recognized degree or certificate for purposes of subsection [5.] 4.

4-37    Sec. 6.  NRS 439.600 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-38    439.600  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

4-39  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

4-40  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

4-41    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

4-42  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

4-43    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

4-44  health.

4-45    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

4-46  the best interest of the residents of this state that all money received by the

4-47  State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by the State of

4-48  Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money recovered

4-49  by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against a

5-1  manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

5-2  achievement of the following goals:

5-3    (a) Increasing the number of Nevada residents who enroll in and attend

5-4  a university , college or community college [of the University and

5-5  Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

5-6    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

5-7  illegal drugs, especially by children;

5-8    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

5-9  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

5-10  disabilities;

5-11    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

5-12  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

5-13  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

5-14  independent of institutional care; and

5-15    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

5-16    Sec. 7.  Section 10 of chapter 536, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page

5-17  2753, is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-18    Sec. 10.  On or before February 1, 2003, the board of regents of

5-19  the University of Nevada shall submit a report to the director of the

5-20  legislative counsel bureau for transmittal to the 72nd session of the

5-21  Nevada legislature that includes:

5-22    1.  An examination of the projected enrollment of students in [the

5-23  University and Community College System of] Nevada who will be

5-24  eligible for millennium scholarships;

5-25    2.  An actuarial study to determine the approximate costs of

5-26  continuing the millennium scholarship program; and

5-27    3.  A report setting forth any enhanced outreach efforts carried out

5-28  pursuant to subsection 4 of section 7 of this act.

5-29    Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

5-30  H