[Oasfaa] State legislative update on HB 1421

Fri Mar 11 11:13:06 CST 2011

Yesterday the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed HB 1421 (by Rep.
Dennis Casey, R - Morrison).  As originally introduced, HB 1421 would
have required OKPromise college students to repay the program for any
courses that they failed or from which they withdrew (text of original
introduced version:  
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20INT/hB/HB1421%20INT.DOC
<http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20INT/hB/HB1421%20INT.DOC>
).  In the committee process, the bill was amended and the original
language was replaced with language that would require that OKPromise
students to be subject to the federal Satisfactory Academic Program
(SAP)standards required of all students receiving federal aid (see text
of bill as approved in committee and considered on the House floor: 
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20FLR/HFLR/HB1421%20HFLR.DO
C
<http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20FLR/HFLR/HB1421%20HFLR.D
OC>  ).  The primary new requirement that the federal SAP policy would
impose on OKPromise students that is not currently in place is a
quantitative requirement to complete at least two-thirds of the courses
in which they enroll.  However, on the House floor yesterday, much of
the discussion of the bill apparently was about provisions as contained
in the introduced version, not the version as passed in committee and as
presented on the floor.  

The following article and press release provide some more background on
this issue. 

(article in Friday morning's Daily Oklahoman)

Oklahoma House passes guidelines for state-funded scholarships 

Oklahoma House members vote for bill thinking it would require college
and university students on the scholarship program to pay back the state
for courses they drop out of or flunk, but that provision had been taken
out. 

BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt at opubco.com Oklahoman

Published: March 11, 2011

House members thought Thursday they were passing a bill that would
require college and university students on a state scholarship program
to pay the state back for courses they drop out of or flunk. But the
measure simply stiffens requirements for students who receive money from
Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program.

House Bill 1421 would require students in the program to meet the same
academic standards as students receiving federal financial aid. It
passed 70-27, with all Democrats voting no. Due to a parliamentary
procedure by Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, it will be delayed
a couple days before moving to the Senate.

The requirement maintains students have to pass at least two-thirds of
their courses, said Ben Hardcastle, a spokesman with the State Regents
for Higher Education. It would take effect for the 2012-13 academic
year.

Oklahoma's Promise pays for tuition at state schools for qualifying
students whose family's income is less than $50,000. Students must
maintain a 2.0 GPA for classes they take through their sophomore year
and a 2.5 GPA for classes they take their junior year and after.

Rep. Dennis Casey, the author of HB 1421, originally filed the measure
requiring students in the program who flunk or drop out of the program
to repay the state for those courses. He later filed an amendment that
deleted that language and inserted the wording that students would have
to follow the same guidelines as those on student aid.

For nearly an hour, Casey, R-Morrison, debated the measure, maintaining
it would require students who flunk or drop a course to repay the state.

At one point, Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Choteau, told Casey that he couldn't
find any such language in the current form of the bill. 

Casey in an interview later gave no reason for his confusion.

The approved guidelines make students ineligible if they do not complete
most of the courses they are enrolled in, he said. They provide
exemptions for students who withdraw due to circumstances such as a
family emergency.

(Revised press release issued by Rep. Casey at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday)

NOTE: Due to amended language in the bill, the fiscal impact of the bill
has changed and its effect has been modified. The $6.8 million figure is
no longer accurate and there is no longer a "clawback" revision that
would require students to reimburse OHLAP after receiving a payment. The
following release explains these changes.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

March 10, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Dennis Casey

Capitol: (405) 557-7344

Lawmakers Approve Bill to Reform State-funded Scholarships

OKLAHOMA CITY - Legislation passed by the Oklahoma House of
Representatives today would change eligibility requirements for students
who receive Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program scholarship
payments.

            House Bill 1421, by state Rep. Dennis Casey, would require
students receiving an OHLAP scholarship to "maintain satisfactory
academic progress as required for eligibility for federal Title IV
student financial aid programs." The legislation would become effective
for the 2012-2013 school year.

            "The legislation's current language is piggybacking on
federal Title IV guidelines, but basically maintains its original
intent," said Casey, R-Morrison. "Federal Title IV guidelines make
students ineligible if they do not complete most of the courses they are
enrolled in. It also addresses withdrawing from courses, but includes
exemptions for students who have withdrawn due to a family emergency or
a similarly understandable reason."

            Casey said he thinks the OHLAP program is an important in
the state and his intent is to encourage higher standards for
eligibility rather than hurt responsible, hardworking students.

            "The Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program is a critical
program to help encourage higher education in the state," said Casey,
R-Morrison. "My legislation simply adds a little accountability to
ensure that the students who are receiving the funding are using it to
responsibly. Taxpayers should not foot the bill for a student who is
irresponsible and neglects his or her studies for social activities."

            House Bill 1421 passed by a vote of 70 to 27 and now
proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

-30-

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Bryce Fair

Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Phone:  405-225-9162

Fax:  405-225-9392

e-mail:  bfair at osrhe.edu <mailto:bfair at osrhe.edu> 

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 108850

Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850

Street address:

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200

Oklahoma City, OK  73104

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