House Bill 229

Chair's Name: Ben Harbin

Committee: Appropriations

House Sponsor: Ben Harbin

HB 229 establishes a better measurement of decreasing lottery reserve funds prior to eliminating student funding. Under current law, students are in jeopardy of losing their book allowances if there is any decline in lottery funds for education. The legislation requires there to be an actual trend of less than 90% of a previous year-end budget before removing any funding currently issued to Hope Scholarship recipients. Under the new formula, during the first year after a significant funding decrease all scholarships and grants for book allowances may not exceed $150.00 per academic year.  If the trend continues the next year, the book stipends will be suspended entirely.  If lottery funds continue to decrease, mandatory institution fees will no longer be covered by the Hope Scholarship. This legislation does not affect students eligible for the federal Pell Grant program.

This bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the Appropriations Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Modified Structured Rule.

The Senate added additional definitions of "Assignee", "Assignment", and "Assignor" to a preceding code section. 

Chairman Harbin's opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

HB 229 establishes a true measure in the decline of lottery funds prior to removing book grant funds and other fees provided by HOPE.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

HB 229 addresses the absence of a true measure of available lottery funds.  Under current law, lottery reserves could decrease by $1 and affect funding awarded to students.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Strengthens the Traditional Family Structure by assisting the families of students by protecting their book allowances and institution fees provided by HOPE.

• Helps insure that book grants and other fees provided by HOPE are not taken away from students unnecessarily.

House Vote: 161-0

Senate Vote: 50-2