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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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 2<sup>nd</sup> week of a semester and before the 8<sup>th</sup> 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
<s>stricken</s> text shows what was deleted from the introduced version of the bill and the
<u>underlined</u> text shows what was added with yesterday’s amendment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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
<s>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</s>
<u>be returned to </u>the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. <u>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.</u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">B. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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
<a href="https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00283/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20180314/-1/18453#agenda_">
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00283/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20180314/-1/18453#agenda_</a>. 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
<a href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB3592_VOTES.HTM">
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB3592_VOTES.HTM</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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
<a href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2017-18%20ENGR/SB/SB97%20ENGR.PDF">
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2017-18%20ENGR/SB/SB97%20ENGR.PDF</a>. The roll call of the Senate vote can be found at
<a href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/Senate/SB97_VOTES.HTM">
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2017-18%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/Senate/SB97_VOTES.HTM</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Bryce Fair<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bryce Fair<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Associate Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.O. Box 108850<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: 405-225-9162<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:bfair@osrhe.edu">bfair@osrhe.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: 405-225-9230<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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