House Bill 243

Chair's Name: Bill Hembree

Committee: Higher Education

House Sponsor: Bill Hembree

HB 243 defines �dual credit enrollment� in reference to the HOPE scholarship. This clarifies that students can participate in programs that allow them to take courses which count toward both high school and postsecondary requirements and which are paid for by HOPE grants, without them counting towards their attempted hours HOPE grant cap.

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Higher Education Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Hembree�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill enables High School students who wish to participate in dual-enrollment in a technical school or a college to lift the cap on HOPE scholarship hours.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

This bill will remove the fear and encourage High School students who wish to dual enroll in a technical school or college, that HOPE hours will not be used while dual enrolled.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Increases Personal Responsibility:

This bill enables High School students who may not have a direction toward the future to look toward technical schools and colleges for direction.

Senate Changes:

The Senate added language from SB 68, which establishes and provides start-up funds for career academies through the partnership of technical colleges and local boards of education. The House disagreed to the Senate Substitute.