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<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Numerous bills have
"died" in the past two weeks as they failed to be passed out of committee
by a certain deadline. However, a couple of bills are still alive and
moving through the process. Following is a brief
update.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>HB 2446 (Rep.
Braddock/Sen. Paddack) - This has now become a very important bill for the
Oklahoma's Promise program. The bill initially dealt only with special
income eligibility provisions for adopted children. However the Senate
author of the bill agreed to include some important amendments that we
requested. These were added to the bill on the Senate floor
yesterday. The amendments would do the following:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>
-Delay for one year the new second income limit requirement and the new college
GPA requirement that were passed by the Legislature in 2007. These two new
requirements would be delayed until the 2010 high school graduating class
(rather than the 2009 class as currently in the law).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>
-Create a Task Force on Oklahoma's Promise to meet later this year to conduct a
comprehensive review of the program's income eligibility requirements and
college retention requirements and make recommendations for the 2009 Legislature
(we asked for the one-year delay in the two new requirements so that this Task
Force would have time to conduct the review and make recommendations before the
new provisions go into effect).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>
-Change the language on the new college GPA requirement to a <U>cumulative</U>
GPA calculation rather than the unique calculation currently in the
statute.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>In addition, on the
Senate floor, Sen. Kenneth Corn further amended HB 2446 to include the
provisions of his Second Century Promise Act, which he has amended to several
bills previously. In addition to creating the Second Century Promise
program, his amendments would expand the OKPromise income eligibility by
changing the $50,000 limit from "taxable and nontaxable" to "taxable"
only. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>The bill will now
return to the House and we expect it to end up in a conference committee.
There the bill can be further re-written before possibly coming out for a final
vote in both the House and Senate. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>The current text of HB 2446 is
available at: <A
href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/SB/hb2446_sahb.rtf">http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/SB/hb2446_sahb.rtf</A> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Other bills still
alive:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-SB 1988 - OKPromise
- exception to the 3-yr limit to start college for students in the
military. The bill is pending action on the House floor. Text at <A
href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/SB1988_hflr.rtf">http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/SB1988_hflr.rtf</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-HB 3397- Guaranteed
Tuition - this bill makes amendments to the guaranteed tuition law passed in
2007 impacting state system institutions. Changes include removing
two-year colleges from the legislation. This bill has actually already
passed both the House and Senate and is now pending action by the Governor
(expected to be signed). Text at <A
href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/hb3397_enr.rtf">http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/hb3397_enr.rtf</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008></SPAN><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Bills that recently died (the content of these bills can
always be amended into another bill) include:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-SB 1931- OKPromise
- providing a $100,000 income eligibility limit for certain public school
teachers.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-SB 2164 - OKPromise
- providing an "OHLAP Enhancement Award" to cover fees &
books.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-HB 3120 - Academic
Scholars - increasing the limit on participation of nonresident students from
25% to 30%.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>-HB 2513 - Concealed
weapons on campus.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me know if you
have any questions.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Bryce</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=403263120-18042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryce Fair</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Assoc.
Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Phone: (405) 225-9162</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax:
(405) 225-9230</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>E-mail:
bfair@osrhe.edu</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mailing Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>P.O. Box 108850</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oklahoma City,
OK 73101-8850</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Street Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>655 Research Parkway, Suite 200</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma City, OK 73104</FONT> </P>
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