MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Huggins

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION WAIVER FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WHO WERE ADOPTED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-103-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-103-25. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the junior colleges are hereby authorized to prescribe the amount of fees to be paid by students attending the several state-supported institutions of higher learning and junior colleges of the State of Mississippi. In prescribing the rates to be paid by residents of other states, the total fees shall not be less than the average cost per student from appropriated funds.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the community and junior colleges shall exempt from payment of all dues, fees and charges, including correspondence courses by excluding property deposit fees and student services fees, for students in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Human Services and students previously in the custody of said department who were adopted on or after their twelfth birthday, provided that the person seeking the exemption has been a citizen of Mississippi at the time of application to the university or college and has resided in Mississippi for at least the period of twelve (12) months before the date of registration.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.