Senate Bill No. 154

(By Senator Sprouse)

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[Introduced January 14, 2003; referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article seven, chapter eighteen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to eligibility requirements for PROMISE scholarships to include educational institutions that are nationally accredited.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article seven, chapter eighteen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
 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 or nationally accredited, it shall 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 include nationally accredited educational institutions within the eligibility requirements for PROMISE scholarships.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.