MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations
By: Representative Scoggin
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-106-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE PLAN (HELP) GRANT TO PRESCRIBE AWARD MINIMUMS BASED ON CLASSIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT STATUS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-106-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RESIDENT TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING MISSISSIPPI'S WORKFORCE PIPELINE; TO PROVIDE MORE MISSISSIPPIANS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE EDUCATION PATHWAYS FOR IN-DEMAND CAREERS; TO RENAME THE PROGRAM AS THE "MTAG WORKS GRANT PROGRAM"; TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR RECIPIENTS TO QUALIFY FOR GRANT AWARDS; TO PROVIDE FOR BONUSES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-NEED OR HIGH-DEMAND FIELD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-106-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-106-75. (1) The Legislature hereby establishes the Higher Education Legislative Plan Grant Program.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Institution of higher education" shall mean any state institution of higher learning or public community or junior college, or any regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit two-year or four-year college or university located in the State of Mississippi approved by the board.
(b)
"Tuition" shall mean the semester or trimester or term charges and
all required fees imposed by an institution of higher education as a condition
of enrollment by all students. * * *
(3) * * * The state * * * shall make awards to
students who enroll at any approved state institution of higher
education to pursue an academic undergraduate degree who apply for the
assistance under the program and who meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) Resident of the State of Mississippi. Resident status for the purpose of receiving assistance under this chapter shall be determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29, with the exception of Section 37-103-17;
(b) Graduate from high school within the two (2) years preceding the application with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale;
* * *
( * * *c) Have a composite score on the
American College Test of at least twenty (20) on the 1989 version or an
equivalent concordant value on an enhanced version of such test;
( * * *d) Have no criminal record, except for
misdemeanor traffic violations; and
* * *
(4) * * * The state * * * shall make awards to
students who enroll at any approved state institution of higher education
to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or associate degree who apply for
assistance under the program and who meet the qualifications established
in * * * subsection (3) * * *. The award may be applied to
tuition, rooms, meals, books, materials and fees, and any other education-related
expenses as long as the student's total award package does not exceed the student's
cost of attendance as determined by the institution.
(5) Award amounts for junior and senior students attending public four-year universities in the State of Mississippi shall be equal to tuition and required fees. Award amounts for junior and senior students attending four-year regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit colleges and universities in the State of Mississippi shall be equal to the average tuition and required fees charged by the state's public four-year universities. Award amounts for freshmen and sophomore students attending public two-year colleges in the State of Mississippi shall be equal to tuition and required fees. Award amounts for freshmen and sophomore students attending public four-year universities or regionally accredited, state-approved nonprofit two-year or four-year colleges and universities in the State of Mississippi, shall be equal to the average tuition and required fees charged by the state's public two-year colleges.
( * * *6) To maintain continued state payment
of * * * the
grant, once enrolled in an institution of higher education, a student shall
meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Make steady academic progress toward a degree, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing in each academic period requiring such enrollment;
(b) Maintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the board;
(c) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of the first academic year and thereafter maintain such a cumulative grade point average as evaluated at the end of each academic year;
(d) Have no criminal record, except for misdemeanor traffic violations; and
(e) Be in financial need.
( * * *7) The provisions of this section
shall be administered by the board. The board may promulgate rules for all
matters necessary for the implementation of this section. By rule, the board
shall provide for:
(a) A mechanism for informing all students of the availability of the assistance provided under this section early enough in their schooling that a salutary motivational effect is possible; and
(b) Applications,
forms, financial audit procedures, eligibility and other program audit
procedures and other matters related to efficient operation * * *.
* * *
( * * *8) An applicant shall be found to be
in financial need if:
(a) The family has one (1) child under the age of twenty-one (21), and the annual adjusted gross income of the family is less than Forty-two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($42,500.00); or
(b) The family has an annual adjusted gross income of less than Forty-two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($42,500.00) plus Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each additional child under the age of twenty-one (21).
The annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be verified by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the completion of the verification process if the applicant is selected for it.
As used in this subsection, the term "family" for an unemancipated applicant means the applicant, the applicant's parents and other children under age twenty-one (21) of the applicant's parents. The term "family" for an emancipated applicant means the applicant, an applicant's spouse, and any children under age twenty-one (21) of the applicant and spouse.
( * * *9) No student shall receive a grant
under this section in an amount greater than the tuition charged by the
school. The student must apply for a federal grant prior to receiving state
funds.
SECTION 2. Section 37-106-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-106-29. (1) There is established the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant Program, which shall be called "MTAG Works" to signify the state's commitment to strengthening Mississippi's workforce pipeline by providing expanded access to postsecondary education for working adults and part-time students in addition to students matriculating from high school. The grant shall be for college or university freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to be administered by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board established under Section 37-106-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, which shall set the dates and deadlines for applying for an award under this section. The board shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
(2) The board shall approve grants to full-time freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior Mississippi residents who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(3) * * * MTAG
Works grants shall be for Mississippi resident students from any
Mississippi family whose prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) * * * does not exceed two hundred
percent (200%) of the state's family median income as determined by the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid. The award * * * may be applied to tuition, rooms
and meals, books, materials * * *, fees and any other education-related
expense, as long as the student's total award package does not exceed the student's
cost of attendance as determined by the institution. Award amounts for full-time
students shall not be less than * * * Two
Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for junior and senior students attending state
institutions of higher learning in Mississippi or four-year regionally accredited,
state-approved, nonprofit colleges and universities in Mississippi, and * * * One Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00) for freshmen and sophomores attending state institutions of
higher learning or public community or junior colleges in Mississippi, or
regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit two-year or four-year colleges
in Mississippi * * *. Award amounts for part-time students will be reduced
as determined by the board.
(4) The general
requirements for initial eligibility of students for * * * MTAG
Works Grants consist of the following:
(a) Member of a
Mississippi family whose prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds * * * one hundred percent (100%) of the
state's median family income as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid.
(b) Acceptance for enrollment at any state institution of higher learning or public community or junior college located in Mississippi, or any regionally accredited, state-approved, nonprofit two-year or four-year college or university located in Mississippi and approved by the board.
* * *
( * * *c) Any student currently enrolled in
any qualified institution shall have to only meet the same requirements as
students who are applying for a renewal award.
* * *
( * * *5) Eligibility for renewal of * * * MTAG
Works grants shall be evaluated at the end of * * * each academic year.
As a condition for renewal, a student shall:
(a) Make steady academic progress toward a certificate or degree, as outlined in the school Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards and certified by the institution's registrar.
* * *
( * * *b) Have a cumulative grade point
average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each * * * academic year.
( * * *6) Each student, each year, must
complete * * * the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid * * * to determine his or her eligibility for a * * * MTAG
Works grant.
( * * *7) (a) The amount of the * * * MTAG
Works grant awarded to any one (1) full-time student shall be determined
by the board, but shall not be less than the * * * amount provided in
subsection (3) of this section * * *. The amount of the MTAG Works grant awarded to any one
(1) student enrolled less than full-time shall be a reduced amount determined by
the board.
(b) A bonus shall be paid to any MTAG Works recipient who is enrolled as a full-time student in an education program that leads to employment in a high-need or high-demand field as determined by the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development (Accelerate Mississippi). A reduced bonus amount determined by the board shall be paid to any MTAG Works recipient who is enrolled less than full-time in an approved education program that led to employment in a high-need or high-demand field.
( * * *c) Payment of the * * * MTAG
Works grant shall be made payable to the recipient and the educational institution
and * * * delivered
directly to the institution * * *.
(8) (a) By accepting a MTAG Works grant, the student is attesting that the information provided demonstrates that the student's eligibility is accurate, complete and correct. Falsification of such information shall result in the denial of any pending grant and revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no further payments shall be made by the board on the student's behalf. Any student knowingly making false statements in order to receive a grant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or imprisonment up to one (1) year in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) In addition to any such fine or imprisonment which may be imposed, the court shall order that restitution be made to the board. The measure for restitution in money shall be the current replacement value of the actual monetary benefit received under the MTAG Works Grant Program plus any interest accrued thereon.
(9) In order for an
institution to remain eligible for its students to participate in the * * * MTAG
Works Grant Program, the institution shall comply with the following
requirements:
(a) A complete and
accurate roster of the eligibility status of each awarded student shall be made
to the board for each term, semester or quarter of the academic year the
student receives a * * * MTAG Works grant.
(b) The institution is
required to make refunds to the * * * MTAG
Works Grant Fund for any funds for which the student is ineligible according
to the rules established by the board * * *.
(c) * * * The award for an eligible student * * * enrolled for less than full-time
status, as defined by the board, will be prorated based on the student's level
of enrollment * * *.
(d) The board may
conduct its own annual audits of any institution participating in the * * * MTAG
Works Grant Program. The board may suspend or revoke an institution's
eligibility to receive future monies under the program if it finds that the
institution has not complied with the provisions of this section. In
determining a student's initial eligibility, the number of prior semesters enrolled
will not be counted against the student.
(10) No student may receive
a * * * MTAG Works grant for more than the
equivalent semesters or quarters required to complete one (1) baccalaureate
degree or one (1) certificate or associate degree program per institution.
(11) No student receiving * * * another state grant for undergraduate
education shall be eligible to receive the * * * MTAG
Works Grant pursuant to this section * * *.
For purposes of this section, certificated shall mean, but not be limited to, all postsecondary vocational programs in eligible institutions approved by the board.
SECTION 3. The board shall determine the annual award and bonus amounts. It is the intention of the Legislature that award amounts for full-time junior and senior students equal approximately twenty percent (20%) to twenty-five percent (25%) of the average tuition of the state's public four-year universities and bonus amounts equal approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the full-time award. Award amounts for full-time freshmen and sophomore students shall be half of the amount determined by the board to be awarded for juniors and seniors. If funds are insufficient to make full awards to all eligible students, the board shall first withhold or restrict bonuses. The board shall then prorate awards among all eligible students.
SECTION 4. Initial awards under the MTAG Works Grant Program shall be made first available during the 2024-2025 academic year.
SECTION 5. Any student who previously received a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant, but does not qualify for a MTAG Works Grant, shall continue to receive the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant through the 2026-2027 academic year according to the rules and regulations established by the board.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2023.