H. B. 2324
(By Delegates Mezzatesta and Williams)
[Introduced January 16, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article one, chapter eighteen-c of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
five; and to amend and reenact section three, article seven
of said chapter, all relating to higher education generally;
making student financial aid a priority over other funding
necessities in circumstances requiring budget reductions for
an institution or commission of higher education; and,
including a nationally accredited institution in this state
as an eligible institution under the West Virginia PROMISE
scholarship program.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter eighteen-c of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section five; and that section three, article seven of said chapter be amended
and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GENERALLY.
§18C-1-5. Eligibility of commuting students for state financial
aid, grants, or scholarships.
The Legislature finds that student financial aid is of great
importance to the welfare of the citizens of the state, is a
valuable economic development resource to the state, and has
priority over other funding necessities in circumstances requiring
budget reductions to any institution or commission of higher
education. When budget reductions to higher education funds are
required, each entity shall strive to maintain the current levels
of student financial aid, and may not reduce student financial aid
funding levels appropriated by the Legislature prior to reducing
all other appropriations to other higher education funds except
those higher education funds which appropriate debt service. If
reduced, a financial aid appropriation shall be reduced in a
proportion lesser than that of other spending accounts.
ARTICLE 7. WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDING REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MAXIMIZING IN-STATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
§18C-7-3. Definitions.
(a) "Eligible institution" means:
(1) A state institution of higher education as is defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code;
(2) Alderson-Broaddus College, Appalachian Bible College,
Bethany College, the College of West Virginia, Davis and Elkins
College, Ohio Valley College, Salem International University, the
University of Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan College and
Wheeling Jesuit University, all in West Virginia: Provided, That
if any institution listed in this subdivision is not regionally
accredited, it shall may not be included as an eligible
institution; or
(3) Any other regionally or nationally accredited institution
in this state, public or private, approved by the board.
(b) "Board" means the West Virginia PROMISE scholarship board
of control of the West Virginia PROMISE scholarship program as
provided for in section four of this article.
(c) "Tuition" means the quarter, semester or term charges
imposed by a state institution of higher education and all
mandatory fees required as a condition of enrollment by all
students.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to
make student financial
aid a priority over other funding necessities in circumstances
requiring budget reductions for an institution
or commission of
higher education and to include a nationally accredited
institution in this state as an eligible institution under the
West Virginia PROMISE scholarship program
§18C-1-5 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring
have been omitted.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that
would be added.