MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations

By: Representative Reynolds

House Bill 1069

AN ACT TO CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR PERSONS PURSUING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY; TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS MUST ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING OBLIGATING THEMSELVES TO PURSUE TO COMPLETION THE COURSE OF STUDY AGREED UPON AND IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER TO SPEND A PERIOD OF TIME PROVIDING SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICES IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE A LOAN OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR EACH MONTH OF FULL-TIME STUDY IN A GRADUATE SPEECH PATHOLOGY PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE REPAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST OF SUCH LOANS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEFERMENT DURING ATTENDANCE AS A FULL-TIME STUDENT IN AN APPROVED GRADUATE SPEECH PATHOLOGY PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT A LOAN RECIPIENT'S CONTRACT WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL OBLIGATE THE RECIPIENT TO REPAY THE LOAN BY PROVIDING SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICES IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE FOR NOT LESS THAN TWO YEARS; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICE SHALL CONVERT THE LOAN TO AN INTEREST-FREE SCHOLARSHIP, AND DISCHARGE THE LOAN ON THE BASIS OF TWO YEARS OF SERVICE FOR ONE-YEAR'S LOAN AMOUNT; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ESTABLISH SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES AND INTENT OF THIS SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a scholarship program for advanced study in speech pathology. Scholarships are established and shall be allocated to students who: (a) have graduated from an accredited high school and from an accredited college or university; (b) are approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning; and (c) enter into contract with the board of trustees and its successors in office, obligating themselves to pursue to completion the course of study agreed upon, and immediately following the completion of such work, to spend a period of time, equal to the period of study provided in the scholarship, in providing speech pathology services at any public school in Mississippi or in performing other work in the interest of public health in the state, to be approved by the board of trustees. Such period of service, after completion of study under a scholarship, shall in no event be less than one (1) year.

(2) In addition to a scholarship, any such student may be allocated a loan not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for each month of full-time study in a graduate speech pathology program. The repayment of the principal and interest of such loans shall be eligible for deferment during attendance as a full-time student in an approved program for advanced study in an accredited graduate school of speech pathology. For any student who receives this loan, the student's contract with the board of trustees shall obligate the student, immediately following completion of the course of study, to repay the loan by working in the area of speech pathology in a state public school for not less than two (2) years. Such speech pathology service shall convert the loan to an interest-free scholarship, and discharge the same, on the basis of two (2) years of service for one-year's loan amount, or the appropriate proportion of the total outstanding balance of principal and interest, all as established by rule and regulation of the board of trustees. Any such student who fails to complete all of the speech pathology service obligation shall be liable to the board of trustees for the remaining balance of the principal and interest that remains undischarged.

(3) The board of trustees shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.