COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 3035


(By Delegates Canterbury, Trump, Frich and Schoen)

(Originating in the Committee on Education)

[February 25, 2003]



A BILL to amend article seven, 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 nine, relating to establishing a method of calculating the West Virginia providing real opportunities for maximizing in- state student scholarship program awards for students at various levels of expected family contribution.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article seven, 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 nine, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDING REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MAXIMIZING IN-STATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
§18C-7-9. Award calculation.
(a) The amount of the award for each eligible applicant shall be calculated pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
(1) The award amount for a student whose expected family contribution is less than or equal to the cost of higher education is the full tuition cost at the institution at which the student is enrolled;
(2) The award amount for a student whose expected family contribution is greater than the cost of higher education is the full tuition cost multiplied by an equity adjustment factor. The equity adjustment factor is computed by subtracting the student's expected family contribution from twice the cost of higher education, then dividing that difference by the cost of higher education.
(3) A student whose expected family contribution equals or exceeds twice the cost of higher education does not receive an award.
(b) For the purpose of this section:
(1) "Cost of higher education" is the average annual cost among state institutions of higher education of one academic year of attendance at each institution, including tuition, fees, room and board;
(2) "Expected family contribution" is determined according to the free application for federal student aid; and
(3) "Full tuition cost" is:
(A) The total tuition and fee charges of the state institution at which the student is enrolled; or
(B) The award limit established by rule of the board for any other institution at which the student is enrolled.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section six of this article and the board rule promulgated pursuant to said section six, a student remains eligible for an award for four academic years following the date of initial application if:
(1) The student's initial and subsequent applications are denied pursuant to subdivision (3), subsection (a) of this section; and
(2) The student continues to meet the continuing eligibility requirements of this article.
(d) The award calculation established in this section shall be computed annually for any student who meets the continuing eligibility requirements of this article and the board rule.
(e) Nothing in this section establishes award eligibility for any student who does not meet the initial and continuing eligibility requirements of this article and the board rule.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.