[Oasfaa] Legislative update for 2023 session

[Fair, Bryce]

As you know, the 2023 legislative session is scheduled to begin next Monday, Feb. 6.  We are still trying to review all bills to identify those that may impact our state financial aid programs.  Below is an initial list of bills that we will be tracking.  We will try to update the list as needed if we identify more bills and let you know the status of the bills.  There is a link to the text of each bill.

Bryce Fair
Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education


FAFSA
SB 93 (Sen. Dave Rader): Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, requires students to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to graduate from a public high school accredited by the State Board of Education. It provides exemptions authorizing parents to opt the student out of the requirement. The bill requires the State Department of Education to develop and publish materials for students, parents, and legal guardians explaining the requirements to complete the FAFSA, the benefits to completing the FAFSA, the opt-out provisions and to provide an opt-out form to be used by school districts, charter schools, and virtual charter schools.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB93%20INT.PDF


Oklahoma's Promise
HB 1015 (Rep. Rick West): Oklahoma's Promise. Reduces the minimum ACT score required for homeschool students and students graduating from non-accredited high schools from 22 to 19.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB1015%20INT.PDF

HB 2718 (Rep. Ellyn Hefner): Creates the Oklahoma's Promise Inclusive program to provide a tuition scholarship for students with intellectual disabilities participating in comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs.  Defines eligibility and application process.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB2718%20INT.PDF

HB 2772 (Rep. Cyndi Munson): Oklahoma's Promise.  Modifies the program requirement for refraining from substance abuse and commission of criminal or delinquent acts.  Deletes reference to refraining from substance abuse.   Specifies that students must refrain from the commission of violent crimes.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB2772%20INT.PDF

SB 27 (Sen. Dewayne Pemberton): Oklahoma's Promise. Allows completion of the "core" high school curriculum rather than the current required college preparatory high school curriculum for students seeking admission to a technology center school overseen by the State Board of Career and Technology Education.  Also specifies an equivalent SAT score to the required ACT score for homeschool students and students graduating from non-accredited high schools
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB27%20INT.PDF


Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG)
HB 2865 (Rep. Kevin Wallace): Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant - OTAG. Makes comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs approved by the U.S. Department of Education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities eligible to participate in the OTAG program.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB2865%20INT.PDF

SB 11 (Sen. Dave Rader): Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant - OTAG. Authorizes persons incarcerated in a state, federal or private correctional facility to be eligible to receive an OTAG award.  Deletes the current prohibition.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB11%20INT.PDF

SB 322 (Sen. Ally Seifried): Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant - OTAG. Makes comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs approved by the U.S. Department of Education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities eligible to participate in the OTAG program.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB322%20INT.PDF


National Guard Educational Assistance Program
SB 55 (Sen. Brenda Stanley): Amends the Oklahoma National Guard Education Assistance Program.  Increases the maximum number of graduate credit hours for which the benefit may be used toward a master's degree from 40 to 60.  Modifies some eligibility requirements.  Deletes repayment requirement.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB55%20INT.PDF


Student Borrower Bill of Rights
HB 1443 (Rep. Melissa Provenzano): Amends the Oklahoma Student Borrowers Bill of Rights.  Clarifies that student loan servicers must inform student loan borrowers if their type of loan does not qualify for loan forgiveness programs.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB1443%20INT.PDF


Teacher Scholarships
HB 2559 (Rep. Mark McBride): Changes the name of the Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive to "Inspired to Teach".  Amends certain requirements.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB2559%20INT.PDF

SB 529 (Sen. Adam Pugh): Creates the Oklahoma Teacher Corps Program to be administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to help students who graduate from an approved teacher preparation degree program and agree to teach at a school meeting certain criteria for four years.  Establishes eligibility requirements and assistance amount.  Provides for repayment if participant fails to complete the full term of service.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB529%20INT.PDF


Tuition and Fee Rates (State System Institutions)
HB 2663 (Rep. Jay Steagall):  Related to in-state status for resident tuition at a state system institution for any person currently serving in the U.S. military, their spouse or dependent children.  Deletes certain time period limitations.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB2663%20INT.PDF

SB 363 (Sen. Adam Pugh): Freeze on tuition and fees at state system institutions.  Requires that beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, that the tuition and fee rates to be charged to students enrolled at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall not exceed the tuition and fee rates approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for the 2022-2023 academic year.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB363%20INT.PDF


Tuition and Fee Waivers (State System Institutions & Career Tech)
HB 1795 (Rep. Mike Osburn): Creates the Sergeant CJ Nelson Legacy Act.  Requires that no fees at State System institutions shall be charged to children of Oklahoma peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have died in the line of duty.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB1795%20INT.PDF

SB 654 (Sen. Paul Rosino): Creates the Captain Steven L. Farley Goldstar Families Act. Provides that the surviving spouse and children of a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces killed in action or in the line of duty after September 11, 2001, shall be eligible for a waiver of undergraduate resident tuition at a State System institution or resident tuition at a technology center school operated under the State Board of Career and Technology Education.  Estabishes eligibility requirements.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/SB/SB654%20INT.PDF


Scholarships
HB 1626 (Rep. Regina Goodwin):  Amends the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program.  Creates a Community Advisory Committee.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20INT/hB/HB1626%20INT.PDF





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