House Bill 719

AN ACT TO CREATE A TUITION WAIVER PROGRAM FOR SPOUSES OF ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD; TO PROVIDE THAT WAIVERS EQUAL TO 50% OF THE COST OF TUITION MAY BE AWARDED TO ELIGIBLE SPOUSES WHO ARE STUDENTS AT THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING OR PUBLIC COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL BE THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY FOR THE PROGRAM; TO CREATE A TUITION STABILIZATION PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD; TO PROVIDE THAT ELIGIBLE GUARD MEMBERS MAY RECEIVE ANNUAL TUITION ASSISTANCE IN FURTHERANCE OF AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AT THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL BE THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY FOR THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a tuition waiver program for spouses of active members of the Mississippi National Guard. Under the program, an eligible spouse of an active Mississippi National Guard member may receive a waiver equal to one-half (1/2) of the cost of tuition at a state institution of higher learning or a public community or junior college in Mississippi.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term "spouse" is defined as a person who is a party to a marriage that is legally recognized by the State of Mississippi with a member of the Mississippi National Guard and who is defined by the Mississippi National Guard as a dependent of the guard member.

(3) A spouse who is a legal resident of the state and enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at a state institution of higher learning or a public community or junior college in Mississippi may apply for a tuition waiver under this program. Both full-time and part-time students may apply for tuition waivers. Students enrolling on a full-time basis may be awarded tuition waivers for a maximum of eight (8) semesters. The number of waivers which may be awarded to a part-time student may not exceed the number of semester hours required to complete the associate or baccalaureate degree or certificate toward which the student is working. All tuition waivers awarded under this section must be used within a period of ten (10) consecutive years, and no spouse may be awarded a tuition waiver more than ten (10) years after being awarded the first tuition waiver. If a person awarded a tuition waiver under this section ceases to be a legal resident of this state or married to an active member of the Mississippi National Guard, the person shall no longer be eligible for tuition waivers. A spouse who has a baccalaureate degree is not eligible for a tuition waiver, and any person who has an associate degree may receive tuition waivers only in furtherance of a baccalaureate degree.

(4) The amount of a tuition waiver awarded under this section shall be equal to one-half (1/2) of the cost of tuition at the state institution of higher learning or public community or junior college at which the spouse is enrolled or accepted for enrollment. Tuition waivers may be applied only to tuition, and no waiver may be used for the costs of room or meals, books, materials, supplies, dues or fees assessed by the college or university.

(5) As a condition for renewal of a tuition waiver, a student must make steady academic progress toward a certificate or associate or baccalaureate degree, as certified by the institution's registrar, and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale at the end of each term. If a student fails to achieve a 2.50 grade point average during any semester, the student will be considered on probation for tuition waiver purposes. A student on probation may be awarded a tuition waiver for the next succeeding semester that the student enrolls in the college or university; however, if a student fails to achieve a 2.50 grade point average during each of two (2) consecutive semesters in which the student is enrolled, the student may not receive any additional tuition waivers under this program.

(6) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges jointly shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this section. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall be the administering agency of the tuition waiver program.

(7) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide sufficient funds for tuition waivers for all eligible spouses under this program. If funds are insufficient to provide tuition waivers for all eligible spouses, the board shall award the waivers to first-time students on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority consideration must be given to spouses previously receiving waivers under the program who are making steady academic progress toward completion of a certificate program or associate or baccalaureate degree.

SECTION 2. (1) There is established a tuition stabilization program for active members of the Mississippi National Guard, including Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) cadets. Under the program, an eligible Mississippi National Guard member may receive tuition assistance at a state institution of higher learning in an amount equal to Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) or the amount authorized under the Federal Tuition Assistance Program, whichever is greater.

(2) An active member of the Mississippi National Guard, including an SMP cadet, who is a legal resident of the state and enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at a state institution of higher learning in Mississippi is eligible for tuition assistance under this section. Upon initial enrollment, the tuition assistance may be awarded to an eligible student for a period of four (4) continuous years. For purposes of this section, the term "year" includes a spring and fall semester, each comprised of eighteen (18) or fewer academic hours, and a summer semester comprised of six (6) or fewer hours. Tuition stabilization assistance under this section is available only for undergraduate studies in furtherance of a baccalaureate degree. If a guard member awarded tuition assistance under this section ceases to be a legal resident of this state or an active member of the Mississippi National Guard, the person shall no longer be eligible for tuition waivers.

(3) Tuition assistance awarded under this section may be applied to tuition and any required fees directly related to enrollment at the state institution or to the guard member's course of study.

(4) As a condition for the continued receipt of tuition stabilization assistance, a guard member must make steady academic progress toward a baccalaureate degree, as certified by the institution's registrar, and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale at the end of each term. If a student fails to achieve a 2.50 grade point average during any semester, the student will be considered on probation for tuition assistance purposes. A student on probation may be awarded tuition assistance for the next succeeding semester that the student enrolls in the state institution; however, if a student fails to achieve a 2.50 grade point average during each of two (2) consecutive semesters in which the student is enrolled, the student may not receive any additional tuition assistance under this program.

(5) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this section. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall be the administering agency of the Mississippi National Guard tuition stabilization program.

(6) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide sufficient funds for tuition assistance for all eligible guard members under this program. If funds are insufficient to provide tuition assistance for all eligible guard members, the board shall award the tuition assistance to first-time students on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority consideration must be given to guard members previously receiving assistance under the program who are making steady academic progress toward completion of a baccalaureate degree.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.