Plain English Breakdown
The source material confirms the bill passed both chambers but does not provide an effective date.
HB385: Changes to HOPE Scholarship Hour Limits for Certain Students
This bill allows academically successful students seeking a bachelor's degree and a first professional degree at the same time, or starting graduate school within 18 months of finishing college, to use their full number of eligible HOPE scholarship hours.
What This Bill Does
- Allows academically successful students who are concurrently seeking a baccalaureate degree and a first professional degree to use the full number of hours of HOPE scholarship eligibility.
- Allows academically successful students who start a graduate program at an eligible postsecondary institution within 18 months of earning a baccalaureate degree to use the full number of hours of HOPE scholarship eligibility.
- Provides for exceptions based on previous participation in the dual enrollment program.
- Repeals conflicting laws.
Who It Names or Affects
- Academically successful students concurrently seeking a baccalaureate degree and a first professional degree.
- Academically successful students who commence a graduate program within 18 months of earning a baccalaureate degree.
- Eligible postsecondary institutions.
Terms To Know
- HOPE scholarship
- A state-funded financial aid award with eligibility requirements and an award amount defined in Code Section 20-3-519.2.
- Baccalaureate degree
- The undergraduate degree referenced in the bill, often known as a bachelor's degree.
- First professional degree
- A specific type of graduate-level degree mentioned alongside baccalaureate degrees for concurrent study eligibility.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not define the specific criteria that make a student 'academically successful.'
- The bill summary lists exceptions based on dual enrollment but does not explain how those exceptions work.
- The effective date of this law is currently unknown.