House Bill 1618

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AND AT-RISK ACADEMICALLY TALENTED YOUTH TO ATTEND THE SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE FRANCES A. KARNES CENTER FOR GIFTED STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2008.

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

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the purpose of funding scholarships for low socioeconomic and at-risk academically talented youth to attend the Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth at the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008............................... $225,000.00.

SECTION 2. The money appropriated by Section 1 of this act is for the purpose of providing scholarships to: "low socioeconomic academically talented youth," defined as those students in seventh through tenth grades who earn college entrance exam scores equal to or above those of entering college freshman and are eligible for free and reduced lunches in the public schools of this state or come from families having an annual income at or below the poverty level in Mississippi; and "at-risk academically talented youth," defined as those students in seventh through tenth grades who earn college entrance exam scores equal to or above those of entering college freshman and who also may be at risk for underachievement in middle or high school.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.