H. B. 2052


(By Delegates Williams and Mezzatesta)

[Introduced January 8, 2003; referred to the

Committee on Education.]





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 four-a; and to amend and reenact section three, article seven of said chapter, all relating to higher education; definition of "eligible institution" to include a nationally accredited institution in the state; and student financial aid and funding priority.

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 four-a; and that section three, article seven of said chapter be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GENERALLY.

§18C-1-4a. Funding priority.

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 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 the student financial aid funding level appropriated by the Legislature prior to reducing all other appropriations to 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 include nationally accredited institutions in the definition of "eligible institution" for purposes of the in-state student excellence scholarship program; and to provide a funding priority for student financial aid.

§18C-1-4a 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.