Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 64 First Substitute (2017GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Fillmore, L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• changes the amount of the centennial scholarship;
• allows a student to defer a centennial scholarship for certain reasons; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
House Sponsor: 
 Adam Gardiner
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to the centennial scholarship.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ changes the amount of the centennial scholarship;
▸ allows a student to defer a centennial scholarship for certain reasons; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53A-15-102
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapters 236 and 415
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53A-15-102
 is amended to read:
53A-15-102.
Early graduation incentives -- Incentive to school district -- Partial
tuition scholarship for student -- Student deferral -- Payments.
(1) [
Any
] 
A
 secondary public school student who has completed all required courses or
demonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies may[
,
] 
graduate at any time
 with the
approval of
:
(a)
 the student[
,
]
;
(b)
 the student's parent or guardian[
, and an authorized
]
; and
(c) a
 local school official[
, graduate at any time
] 
who is authorized by the school's
principal or director to approve early graduation
.
(2) [
Each
] 
The State Board of Education shall make a payment to a
 public high school
[
shall receive
] 
in
 an amount equal to 1/2 of the scholarship awarded to each student 
under this
section
 who graduates from the school at or [
prior to
] 
before
 the conclusion of [
the eleventh
]
grade 
, or a proportionately lesser amount for [
any
] 
a
 student who graduates after the
conclusion of [
the eleventh
] grade 
 but [
prior to
] 
before
 the conclusion of [
the twelfth
] grade
.
(3) (a) [
A
] 
The State Board of Education shall award to each
 student who graduates
from high school at or [
prior to
] 
before
 the conclusion of [
the eleventh
] grade [
shall receive
] 
a centennial scholarship in the [
lesser amount of full tuition for one year or $1,000 to be used
]
amount of the greater of 30% of the previous year's value of the weighted pupil unit, as defined
in Section 
53A-1a-703
, or $1,000, subject to this Subsection (3) through Subsection (6).
(b) A student who is awarded a centennial scholarship may use the scholarship
 for full
time enrollment at
:
(i)
 a Utah public college, university, 
or
 community college[
,
]
;
(ii) an
 applied technology college within the Utah College of Applied Technology[
,
]
;
or
(iii)
 any other institution in the state of Utah[
, accredited by the Northwest Association
of Schools and Colleges
] that
:
(A) is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the State Board of
Regents; and
(B)
 offers postsecondary courses of the student's choice [
upon verification
]
.
(c) Before making a payment of a centennial scholarship, the State Board of Education
shall verify
 that the student has registered at [
the
] 
an
 institution 
described in Subsection (3)(b):
(i)
 during the fiscal year following 
the student's
 graduation from high school[
.
]
; or
(ii) at the end of the student's deferral period, in accordance with Subsection (4).
[
(b) In the case of
]
(d) If
 a student [
who
] graduates after the conclusion of [
the eleventh
] grade 
 but
[
prior to
] 
before
 the conclusion of [
the twelfth
] grade 
, 
the State Board of Education shall
award
 the student [
shall receive
] a centennial scholarship of a proportionately lesser amount
than the scholarship amount described in Subsection (3)(a)
.
(4) (a) A student who is eligible for a centennial scholarship under Subsection (3) may
make a request to the State Board of Education to defer the scholarship for:
(i) health reasons;
(ii) religious reasons;
(iii) military service; or
(iv) humanitarian service.
(b) If a student makes a request to the State Board of Education to defer a centennial
scholarship under Subsection (4)(a), the State Board of Education shall:
(i) (A) review the student's request; and
(B) approve or reject the student's request; and
(ii) if the State Board of Education approves the student's request:
(A) in consultation with the student, set the length of the deferral period, ensuring that
the deferral period is sufficient to meet the student's needs under Subsection (4)(a); and
(B) make the payment of the scholarship to the student at the end of the student's
deferral period.
(5) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the State Board of Education:
[
(4)
] (a) [
The
] 
shall make the
 payments authorized in Subsections (2) and (3)(a) [
shall
be made
] during the fiscal year that follows the student's graduation[
.
]
; and
(b) [
The
] 
may make the
 payments authorized in Subsection (3)(b) [
may be made
]
during the fiscal year
:
(i)
 in which the student graduates
;
 or [
the fiscal year
]
(ii)
 following the student's graduation.
[
(5) (a) The State Board of Education shall administer the payment program authorized
in Subsections (2), (3), and (4).
]
[
(b) The Legislature shall make an annual appropriation from the Education Fund to
the State Board of Education for the costs associated with the Centennial Scholarship Program
based on the projected number of students who will graduate before the conclusion of the
twelfth grade in any given year.
]
(6) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall adjust the appropriation
for the Centennial Scholarship Program based on:
(a) the anticipated increase of students awarded a centennial scholarship; and
(b) the percent increase of the prior year's weighted pupil unit value, as provided in
Subsection (3).
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel