Senate Bill No. 391–Committee on Finance

 

March 19, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Finance

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing millennium scholarships. (BDR 34‑282)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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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 education; authorizing certain students who attend institutions of higher education that are located outside this state to apply for millennium scholarships; requiring the state treasurer to disburse millennium scholarships to eligible students who attend institutions of higher education that are located outside 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 397 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2  the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act.

1-3    Sec. 2.  As used in sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act, unless the

1-4  context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3, 4

1-5  and 5 have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

1-6    Sec. 3.  “Board of regents” means the board of regents of the

1-7  University of Nevada.

1-8    Sec. 4.  “Millennium scholarship” has the meaning ascribed to it in

1-9  NRS 396.918.

1-10    Sec. 5.  “Millennium scholarship trust fund” means the trust fund

1-11  created pursuant to NRS 396.926.

1-12    Sec. 6.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a student

1-13  may apply to the state treasurer for a millennium scholarship if he:

1-14    (a) Has been a resident of this state for at least 2 years before he

1-15  applies for the scholarship;

1-16    (b) Graduated from a public or private high school in this state:

1-17      (1) After May 1, 2000; and

1-18      (2) Not more than 8 years before he applies for the scholarship;

1-19    (c) Maintained at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading

1-20  scale in high school in the core curriculum, as determined by the board

1-21  of regents pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 396.930; and

1-22    (d) Is enrolled:

2-1       (1) Full time in a university or other institution of higher education

2-2  that is located outside this state; or

2-3       (2) At least part time in a community college that is located outside

2-4  this state.

2-5    2.  A student who did not graduate from a public or private high

2-6  school in this state may apply to the state treasurer for a millennium

2-7  scholarship if he:

2-8    (a) Has been a resident of this state for at least 2 years before he

2-9  applies for the scholarship;

2-10    (b) Otherwise satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection 1 and the

2-11  criteria established by the board of regents pursuant to subsection 3 of

2-12  NRS 396.930; and

2-13    (c) Receives at least the minimum score on a standardized test

2-14  established by the board of regents pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS

2-15  396.930.

2-16    3.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the board of regents

2-17  shall not prescribe or establish any additional requirements for eligibility

2-18  for receipt of millennium scholarships by students who are enrolled in

2-19  universities, community colleges and other institutions of higher

2-20  education that are located outside this state.

2-21    4.  The provisions of this section do not apply to a student who is

2-22  enrolled in a university or community college within the University and

2-23  Community College System of Nevada.

2-24    Sec. 7.  1.  Within the limits of money available in the millennium

2-25  scholarship trust fund, a student who is eligible for a millennium

2-26  scholarship pursuant to section 6 of this act is entitled to receive:

2-27    (a) If he is enrolled in a community college located outside this state,

2-28  $40 per credit for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of money

2-29  that is necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the

2-30  community college that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or

2-31  scholarships, whichever is less.

2-32    (b) If he is enrolled in a university or other institution of higher

2-33  education that is located outside this state, other than a community

2-34  college, $80 per credit for which the student is enrolled, or the amount of

2-35  money that is necessary for the student to pay the costs of attending the

2-36  university or institution that are not otherwise satisfied by other grants or

2-37  scholarships, whichever is less.

2-38  No student may be awarded a millennium scholarship for a total amount

2-39  in excess of $10,000.

2-40    2.  A student who receives a millennium scholarship pursuant to this

2-41  section shall:

2-42    (a) Make satisfactory academic progress toward a recognized
degree or certificate, as determined by the state treasurer pursuant to

2-43  subsection 7; and

2-44    (b) Maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 grading scale.

2-45    3.  A millennium scholarship received pursuant to this section must

2-46  be used only:

2-47    (a) For the payment of tuition, registration fees and laboratory fees

2-48  and expenses;

3-1    (b) To purchase required textbooks and course materials; and

3-2    (c) For other costs related to the attendance of a student at a

3-3  university, community college or other institution of higher education

3-4  that is located outside this state.

3-5    4.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if a student drops

3-6  out of school or fails to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average in any

3-7  semester or quarter, as applicable, the student shall repay the millennium

3-8  scholarship before the student is eligible to receive an additional

3-9  millennium scholarship or otherwise receive money pursuant to sections

3-10  2 to 7, inclusive, of this act. The state treasurer shall establish criteria for

3-11  a waiver from the repayment required by this subsection, including,

3-12  without limitation, service in the military and conditions of hardship

3-13  such as medical necessity.

3-14    5.  The state treasurer shall disburse a millennium scholarship

3-15  directly to each student whose application is approved for each semester

3-16  or quarter, as applicable, upon proof that:

3-17    (a) The student is enrolled:

3-18      (1) Full time in a university or other institution of higher education

3-19  that is located outside this state; or

3-20      (2) At least part time in a community college that is located outside

3-21  this state; and

3-22    (b) The student is in good standing and making satisfactory academic

3-23  progress toward a recognized degree or certificate, as determined by the

3-24  state treasurer pursuant to subsection 7.

3-25    6.  The state treasurer shall make periodic reports to the board of

3-26  regents regarding the disbursements made pursuant to subsection 5 to

3-27  inform the board of regents of the amount of money available in the

3-28  millennium scholarship trust fund for disbursement by the board of

3-29  regents to students pursuant to NRS 396.914 to 396.934, inclusive.

3-30    7.  The state treasurer:

3-31    (a) Shall adopt regulations establishing the criteria for determining

3-32  whether a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward a

3-33  recognized degree or certificate for purposes of subsection 5.

3-34    (b) May adopt such additional regulations as are necessary to carry

3-35  out the provisions of sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act.

3-36    Sec. 8.  NRS 396.911 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-37    396.911  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

3-38  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

3-39  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

3-40    (a) To increase the number of Nevada [students] residents who attend

3-41  and graduate from [Nevada] institutions of higher education; and

3-42    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

3-43  health.

3-44    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

3-45  the best interest of the residents of the State of Nevada that all money

3-46  received by the State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by

3-47  the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money

3-48  recovered by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against

4-1  a manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

4-2  achievement of the following goals:

4-3    (a) Increasing the number of residents of the State of Nevada who enroll

4-4  in and attend [a university or community college of the University and

4-5  Community College System of Nevada;] institutions of higher education;

4-6    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

4-7  illegal drugs, especially by children;

4-8    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

4-9  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

4-10  disabilities;

4-11    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

4-12  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

4-13  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

4-14  independent of institutional care; and

4-15    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

4-16    Sec. 9.  NRS 396.926 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-17    396.926  1.  The millennium scholarship trust fund is hereby created

4-18  in the state treasury. The state treasurer may accept gifts, grants, bequests

4-19  and donations for deposit in the trust fund.

4-20    2.  The state treasurer shall deposit in the trust fund:

4-21    (a) Forty percent of all money received by the State of Nevada pursuant

4-22  to any settlement entered into by the State of Nevada and a manufacturer of

4-23  tobacco products;

4-24    (b) Forty percent of all money recovered by the State of Nevada from a

4-25  judgment in a civil action against a manufacturer of tobacco products; and

4-26    (c) Any gifts, grants, bequests or donations specifically designated for

4-27  the trust fund by the donor.

4-28    3.  The state treasurer shall administer the trust fund. As administrator

4-29  of the trust fund, the state treasurer:

4-30    (a) Shall maintain the financial records of the trust fund;

4-31    (b) Shall invest the money in the trust fund as the money in other state

4-32  funds is invested;

4-33    (c) Shall manage any account associated with the trust fund;

4-34    (d) Shall maintain any instruments that evidence investments made with

4-35  the money in the trust fund;

4-36    (e) May contract with vendors for any good or service that is necessary

4-37  to carry out the provisions of this section; and

4-38    (f) May perform any other duties necessary to administer the trust fund.

4-39    4.  All interest and income earned on the money in the trust fund must,

4-40  after deducting any applicable charges, be credited to the trust fund. All

4-41  claims against the trust fund must be paid as other claims against the state

4-42  are paid.

4-43    5.  Not more than 2 percent of the amount of money in the trust fund

4-44  may be used to pay the costs of administering the trust fund.

4-45    6.  The money in the fund remains in the fund and does not revert to the

4-46  state general fund at the end of any fiscal year.

4-47    7.  Money in the trust fund may be used only for the purposes set forth

4-48  in NRS 396.914 to 396.934, inclusive[.] , and sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of

4-49  this act.

5-1    Sec. 10.  NRS 439.600 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-2    439.600  1.  The legislature hereby declares that its priorities in

5-3  expending the proceeds to the State of Nevada from settlement agreements

5-4  with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products are:

5-5    (a) To increase the number of Nevada [students] residents who attend

5-6  and graduate from [Nevada] institutions of higher education; and

5-7    (b) To assist Nevada residents in obtaining and maintaining good

5-8  health.

5-9    2.  To further these priorities, the legislature hereby declares that it is in

5-10  the best interest of the residents of this state that all money received by the

5-11  State of Nevada pursuant to any settlement entered into by the State of

5-12  Nevada and a manufacturer of tobacco products and all money recovered

5-13  by the State of Nevada from a judgment in a civil action against a

5-14  manufacturer of tobacco products be dedicated solely toward the

5-15  achievement of the following goals:

5-16    (a) Increasing the number of Nevada residents who enroll in and attend

5-17  [a university or community college of the University and Community

5-18  College System of Nevada;] institutions of higher education;

5-19    (b) Reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, alcohol and

5-20  illegal drugs, especially by children;

5-21    (c) Expanding the availability of health insurance and health care for

5-22  children and adults in this state, especially for children and for adults with

5-23  disabilities;

5-24    (d) Assisting senior citizens who have modest incomes in purchasing

5-25  prescription drugs and assisting those senior citizens in meeting their needs

5-26  related to health care, home care, respite care and their ability to live

5-27  independent of institutional care; and

5-28    (e) Promoting the general health of all residents of the State of Nevada.

5-29    Sec. 11.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

5-30  H