[Oasfaa] 2 OKPromise bills passed on legislative floors

[Fair, Bryce]

Yesterday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives amended and passed HB 3592 (authored by House Speaker Charles McCall, but carried on the House floor by Rep. Dennis Casey) which now relates to institutional refunds of OKPromise awards when an OKPromise student withdraws from a class after the 2nd week of a semester and before the 8th week of a semester.  The bill passed by a vote of 58 yes, 25 no.  The following text shows how the bill was amended between the introduced version and the version passed on the floor yesterday.  The stricken text shows what was deleted from the introduced version of the bill and the underlined text shows what was added with yesterday's amendment.

SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2606 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A. If a student withdraws from a class in which he or she has received an award from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, the awarded funds shall remain available for the student to use to enroll in classes for a five-year period. If the student does not use the awarded funds during the five-year period, the funds shall be available for use for other students in be returned to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. The provisions of this subsection shall only apply to awarded funds when a student withdraws after the second instructional week and before the end of the eighth instructional week of the semester.  If a student withdraws after the end of the eighth instructional week of the semester, the awarded funds shall remain with the institution of higher education.

B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2018.

There was about a 20 minute discussion and debate on HB 3592 on the House floor.  You can view a recording of the debate at https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00283/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20180314/-1/18453#agenda_.  Scroll down to HB3592 and click on the link to the left of the bill number.  You can find a roll call of how each representative voted at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB3592_VOTES.HTM.

On Monday, the Oklahoma Senate passed SB 97 which would allow children of public school teachers who have taught at least five years and have family income under $150,000 to enroll in the OKPromise program.  The bill passed by a vote of 37 yes, 7 no.  The text of the bill as passed on the Senate floor can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2017-18%20ENGR/SB/SB97%20ENGR.PDF.  The roll call of the Senate vote can be found at http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/Senate/SB97_VOTES.HTM.

HB 3591, the bill authored by House Speaker Charles McCall related to a "last dollar" requirement for the application of the OKPromise award has not been considered on the House floor yet.  The bill could be taken up today or tomorrow.  Tomorrow, March 15 is the deadline for floor action on bills that have been passed out of committee.

Bryce Fair


Bryce Fair
Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
P.O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850
Phone: 405-225-9162
Email: bfair at osrhe.edu<mailto:bfair at osrhe.edu>
Fax:  405-225-9230

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