(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; revising the eligibility requirements for certain pupils who did not graduate from high school at the time regularly scheduled for their graduation; 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.

 

 

 

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

2-2    396.911  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

2-3  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

2-4  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

2-5    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

2-6  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

2-7    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

2-8  health.

2-9    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

2-10  the best interest of the residents of the State of Nevada that all money

2-11  received by the State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by

2-12  the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money

2-13  recovered by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against

2-14  a manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

2-15  achievement of the following goals:

2-16    (a) Increasing the number of residents of the State of Nevada who enroll

2-17  in and attend a university , college or community college [of the University

2-18  and Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

2-19    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

2-20  illegal drugs, especially by children;

2-21    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

2-22  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

2-23  disabilities;

2-24    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

2-25  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

2-26  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

2-27  independent of institutional care; and

2-28    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

2-29    Sec. 3.  NRS 396.914 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-30    396.914  As used in NRS 396.914to 396.938, inclusive, and section 1

2-31  of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms

2-32  defined in NRS 396.918 and 396.922 and section 1 of this act have the

2-33  meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

2-34    Sec. 4.  NRS 396.930 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-35    396.930  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, a

2-36  student may apply to the board of regents for a millennium scholarship if

2-37  he:

2-38    (a) Has been a resident of this state for at least 2 years before he applies

2-39  for the scholarship;

2-40    (b) [Graduated] Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c),

2-41  graduated from a public or private high school in this state:

2-42      (1) After May 1, 2000; and

2-43      (2) Not more than 8 years before he applies for the scholarship;

2-44    (c) Does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph (b) and:

2-45      (1) Was enrolled as a pupil in a public or private high school in this

2-46  state with a class of pupils who were regularly scheduled to graduate

2-47  after May 1, 2000;

2-48      (2) Received his high school diploma within 5 years after he was

2-49  regularly scheduled to graduate; and

3-1       (3) Applies for the scholarship not more than 8 years after he was

3-2  regularly scheduled to graduate from high school;

3-3    (d) Maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale

3-4  in high school in the core curriculum, as determined by the board of

3-5  regents pursuant to subsection 2; and

3-6    [(d)] (e) Is enrolled in at least [12 semester credit hours in a university

3-7  or at least 6] :

3-8       (1) Six semester credit hours in a community college [.] within the

3-9  system; or

3-10      (2) Twelve semester credit hours in another eligible institution.

3-11    2.  The board of regents shall:

3-12    (a) Define the core curriculum that a student must complete in high

3-13  school to be eligible for a millennium scholarship.

3-14    (b) Develop a plan to ensure that needy students and students from

3-15  families that otherwise could not afford to send their children to college

3-16  receive millennium scholarships.

3-17    3.  [For] Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of subsection

3-18  1, for students who did not graduate from a public or private high school in

3-19  this state and who have been residents of this state for at least 2 years, the

3-20  board of regents shall establish:

3-21    (a) The minimum score on a standardized test that such students must

3-22  receive; or

3-23    (b) Other criteria that students must meet,

3-24  to be eligible for millennium scholarships.

3-25    4.  In awarding scholarships, the board of regents shall enhance its

3-26  outreach to students who:

3-27    (a) Are pursuing a career in education or health care;

3-28    (b) Come from families who lack sufficient financial resources to pay

3-29  for the costs of sending their children to [a university or community

3-30  college;] an eligible institution; or

3-31    (c) Substantially participated in an anti-smoking, anti-drug or anti-

3-32  alcohol program during high school.

3-33    Sec. 5.  NRS 396.934 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-34    396.934  1.  Within the limits of money available in the trust fund, a

3-35  student who is eligible for a millennium scholarship is entitled to receive:

3-36    (a) If he is enrolled in a community college [,] within the system, $40

3-37  per credit for each lower division course and $60 per credit for each

3-38  upper division course in which the student is enrolled, or the amount of

3-39  money that is necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the

3-40  community college that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or

3-41  scholarships, whichever is less. The board of regents shall provide for the

3-42  designation of upper and lower division courses for the purposes of this

3-43  paragraph.

3-44    (b) If he is enrolled in a state college within the system, $60 per credit

3-45  for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is

3-46  necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the state college

3-47  that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or scholarships,

3-48  whichever is less.

4-1    (c) If he is enrolled in [a university,] another eligible institution, $80

4-2  per credit for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money that is

4-3  necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the university that

4-4  are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or scholarships, whichever is

4-5  less.

4-6  No student may be awarded a scholarship for a total amount in excess of

4-7  $10,000.

4-8    2.  A student who receives a millennium scholarship shall:

4-9    (a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

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

4-11  [6;] 5; and

4-12    (b) Maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale.

4-13    3.  A millennium scholarship must be used only:

4-14    (a) For the payment of registration fees and laboratory fees and

4-15  expenses;

4-16    (b) To purchase required textbooks and course materials; and

4-17    (c) For other costs related to the attendance of the student at the

4-18  [university or community college.

4-19    4.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if a student drops

4-20  out of school or fails to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average in any

4-21  semester, the student shall repay the millennium scholarship before the

4-22  student is eligible to receive an additional millennium scholarship or

4-23  otherwise receive money pursuant to NRS 396.914 to 396.934, inclusive.

4-24  The board of regents shall establish criteria for a waiver from the

4-25  repayment required by this subsection, including, without limitation,

4-26  service in the military and conditions of hardship such a medical necessity.

4-27    5.] eligible institution.

4-28    4. The board of regents shall certify a list of eligible students to the

4-29  state treasurer. The state treasurer shall disburse a millennium scholarship

4-30  for each semester on behalf of an eligible student directly to the

4-31  [community college or university] eligible institution in which the student

4-32  is enrolled, upon certification from the [community college or university]

4-33  eligible institution of the number of credits for which the student is

4-34  enrolled, which must meet or exceed the minimum number of credits

4-35  required for eligibility and certification that the student is in good standing

4-36  and making satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized degree or

4-37  certificate, as determined by the board of regents pursuant to subsection

4-38  [6.] 5. The scholarship must be administered by the [community college or

4-39  university] eligible institution as other similar scholarships are

4-40  administered and may be used only for the expenditures authorized

4-41  pursuant to subsection 3.

4-42    [6.] 5. The board of regents shall establish criteria for determining

4-43  whether a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward a

4-44  recognized degree or certificate for purposes of subsection [5.] 4.

4-45    Sec. 6.  NRS 439.600 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-46    439.600  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

4-47  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

4-48  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

5-1    (a) To increase the number of Nevada students who attend and graduate

5-2  from Nevada institutions of higher education; and

5-3    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

5-4  health.

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

5-6  the best interest of the residents of this state that all money received by the

5-7  State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by the State of

5-8  Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money recovered

5-9  by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against a

5-10  manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

5-11  achievement of the following goals:

5-12    (a) Increasing the number of Nevada residents who enroll in and attend

5-13  a university , college or community college [of the University and

5-14  Community College System] in the State of Nevada;

5-15    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

5-16  illegal drugs, especially by children;

5-17    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

5-18  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

5-19  disabilities;

5-20    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

5-21  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

5-22  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

5-23  independent of institutional care; and

5-24    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

5-25    Sec. 7.  Section 10 of chapter 536, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page

5-26  2753, is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-27    Sec. 10.  On or before February 1, 2003, the board of regents of

5-28  the University of Nevada shall submit a report to the director of the

5-29  legislative counsel bureau for transmittal to the 72nd session of the

5-30  Nevada legislature that includes:

5-31    1.  An examination of the projected enrollment of students in [the

5-32  University and Community College System of] Nevada who will be

5-33  eligible for millennium scholarships;

5-34    2.  An actuarial study to determine the approximate costs of

5-35  continuing the millennium scholarship program; and

5-36    3.  A report setting forth any enhanced outreach efforts carried out

5-37  pursuant to subsection 4 of section 7 of this act.

5-38    Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

5-39  H