Introduced Version




SENATE BILL No. 22

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 20-12-22.3.

Synopsis: Scholarships for academic honors. Establishes the Indiana honors diploma higher education award as a scholarship program for persons domiciled in Indiana who graduate from a public or private high school with an Indiana honors diploma, and attend a public or private nonprofit institution of higher learning in Indiana on a full-time or part-time basis. Provides eligible students with a scholarship award in an amount (subject to the availability of appropriations) equal to 50% of the educational costs at public universities in Indiana, less an adjustment for money awarded to the student under other state higher education award programs. Provides for administration of the program by the state student assistance commission. Appropriates from the state

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Effective: July 1, 1999.



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    January 6, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.





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general fund a sufficient amount to provide honors diploma higher education awards.


Introduced

First Regular Session 111th General Assembly (1999)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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SENATE BILL No. 22


    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education and to make an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. IC 20-12-22.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999]:
     Chapter 22.3. Indiana Honors Diploma Higher Education Award
    Sec. 1. The purpose of this chapter is to increase the opportunities for a higher education in Indiana for persons domiciled in Indiana who graduate from an Indiana public or nonpublic high school with an academic honors diploma.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "academic honors diploma" means a certificate of graduation that certifies that the student has satisfied the requirements specified by the Indiana department of education for graduation with academic honors.
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "academic year" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-12-21-3(1).
    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "approved institution of higher

learning" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-12-21-3(2) and includes:
        (1) a nursing diploma program that is accredited by the Indiana state board of nursing and operated by a hospital; or
        (2) a technical certificate or associate degree program at Ivy Tech State College.
    Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "award" refers to an Indiana honors diploma higher education award under this chapter.
    Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the state student assistance commission established by IC 20-12-21-4.
    Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "educational costs" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-12-21-3(5).
    Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the Indiana honors diploma scholarship fund established by this chapter.
    Sec. 9. The Indiana honors diploma higher education award program is established to provide monetary awards under this chapter.
    Sec. 10. The commission shall administer this chapter. The powers of the commission under IC 20-12-21 apply to the administration of this chapter, including the power to deny awards under IC 20-12-21-7.6.
    Sec. 11. The commission shall issue an initial award to each qualified applicant for an award.
    Sec. 12. An applicant qualifies for an initial award under this chapter by meeting the following requirements:
        (1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the commission.
        (2) The applicant:
            (A) holds an Indiana academic honors diploma; or
            (B) is a student in good standing who is engaged in a program that:
                (i) will be completed by the end of the current academic year; and
                (ii) will result in the applicant receiving an Indiana academic honors diploma.
        (3) The applicant will use the award to attend an approved institution of higher learning in Indiana.
     Sec. 13. (a) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for the purpose of awards under this chapter, the amount of an initial or renewal award is as follows:
        (1) For a qualifying student who attends an approved institution of higher learning operated by the state of Indiana, fifty percent (50%) of the educational costs for

undergraduates charged by the institution for the academic year or equivalent for which the award is made, less any money awarded to the student for the following:
            (A) A higher education award under IC 20-12-21.
            (B) A freedom of choice grant established by IC 20-12-21-15.
            (C) A hoosier scholar award established by IC 20-12-21-20.
            (D) A minority or special education teacher scholarship under IC 20-12-21.7.
            (E) A nursing scholarship under IC 20-12-21.9.
          (2) For a qualifying student who attends an approved institution of higher learning that is operated as a nonprofit institution, the average amount determined under subdivision (1) to attend a state operated institution of higher learning other than Ivy Tech State College, less any money awarded to the student under a program listed in subdivision (1).
    (b) If money is not available to provide the full award as established under subsection (a), the commission shall reduce the award to an amount within available money.
    Sec. 14. (a) A person who qualifies for an award is entitled to an award for the equivalent of a total of eight (8) semesters or twelve (12) quarters of postsecondary school education. However, eligibility does not extend more than ten (10) years after the beginning of the academic year for which an initial award is granted.
    (b) To maintain eligibility an award recipient is not required to:
        (1) attend an institution of higher learning; or
        (2) receive an award;
in consecutive semesters or quarters or on a full-time basis.
    (c) An award may be renewed only upon application and only upon the commission's finding the following:
        (1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the commission.
        (2) The applicant will use the award to attend an approved institution of higher learning in Indiana.
        (3) The applicant has successfully completed an academic year at an approved institution of higher learning in Indiana during which the applicant maintained:
            (A) a passing grade point average in the applicant's first academic year; or
            (B) a "C" grade point average or the equivalent in each year after the applicant's first academic year.
        (4) The applicant is in compliance with subsections (a) and (b).
    Sec. 15. (a) The auditor of state shall create a separate and segregated Indiana honors diploma scholarship fund. All money disbursed from the fund shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
    (b) Money remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund but remains available to be used for making higher education awards under this chapter.
    SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999] (a) There is appropriated to the state student assistance commission from the state general fund an amount sufficient to provide Indiana honors diploma higher education awards under IC 20-12-22.3, as added by this act, beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2001.
     (b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2001.