[OkStudentPrep] UPDATE - Current Legislative Bills Impacting Oklahoma's Promise

[Nelson, Lisa]

>From the Oklahoma's Promise program:

Following is an update on the status of the three Oklahoma's Promise bills that we noted in an email sent on March 24.  The text of the earlier email is further below.


  *   SB 639 - Yesterday, Rep. Baker, the House author of SB 639, filed a proposed committee amendment to SB 639 that would delete the language in the bill related to the "claw back" requirement.  The amendment text [ http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20COMMITTEE%20AMENDMENTS/House/SB639%20FULLAMD1%20RHONDA%20BAKER-EK.PDF ] must be read in conjunction with the current text of the bill [ http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENGR/SB/SB639%20ENGR.PDF ].



SB 639 is scheduled to be heard in the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee on Monday, April 5, at 3:00 p.m. [ see meeting notice at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2021-22HB/CMN-HIGHERED-20210405-15000000.pdf ].  If the amendment is approved in committee, the bill would then contain only the provisions to authorize use of the scholarship for additional career technology programs and to expand the time period for use of the scholarship from the current five years to six years.



  *   SB 132 (extending the OKPromise application period to the 11th grade) passed the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee on March 29 by a vote of 10 yes, 0 no.  The bill will next move to consideration on the House floor.
Current text of the bill - http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/HFLR/SB132%20HFLR.PDF


  *   HB 2399 (allowing students of parents who become deceased after the 10th grade to enroll in OKPromise in the 11th or 12th grade) is still pending consideration in committee in the Senate.  At this time, the bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.




[Original email sent on March 24, 2021}

>From the Oklahoma's Promise program:

Below is information about three bills still alive in the Oklahoma Legislature that would impact the Oklahoma's Promise program.


  *   SB 639 (Sen. Pugh and Rep. Baker) - [bill text at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENGR/SB/SB639%20ENGR.PDF]  Beginning with all students enrolling in Oklahoma's Promise in 2021-22 and thereafter, all participants would be subject to a "claw back" provision that would require students to repay the full amount of the Oklahoma's Promise award if the student does not complete a baccalaureate degree or postsecondary vocational-technical program within six years (the bill would extend the time period to use the scholarship from the current five years to six years).

Each student would be required to enter into a repayment agreement with the college or technology center school in which the student was enrolled. The college or technology center school would be responsible for collecting the repayment and be allowed to consider hardship circumstances on a case-by-case basis in determining the repayment amount.

The bill would also authorize use of the award for postsecondary vocational-technical programs that are not eligible for federal financial aid but have been identified as critical occupation programs through a process established in the bill.

SB 639 has passed the Senate and is currently pending consideration in the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee.



  *   SB 132 (Sen. Bullard and Rep. Baker) - [bill text at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENGR/SB/SB132%20ENGR.PDF]  SB 132 would extend the Oklahoma's Promise application period to the 11th grade.  Currently, students must apply during the 8th-10th grades.

SB 132 has passed the Senate and is currently pending consideration in the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee.



  *   HB 2399 (Rep. Russ and Sen. Quinn) - [bill text at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENGR/hB/HB2399%20ENGR.PDF]  HB 2399 would allow students whose parents become deceased after the 10th grade to apply for Oklahoma's Promise in the 11th or 12th grade.

HB 2399 has passed the House and has been double-assigned to committees in the Senate -  first to the Senate Education Committee and second in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bryce Fair
Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Email: okpromise at osrhe.edu<mailto:okpromise at osrhe.edu>

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