Missouri HB 168: Establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Grant program for Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program award recipients

Bill Text

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 168
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN (149).
0442H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics grant.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 173.685, to read as follows:
173.685. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
2 (1) "Approved institution", any approved private institution, approved public
3 institution, or approved virtual institution, as such terms are defined in section
4 173.1102, that is located in this state, has been approved under 6 CSR 10-2.140, and has
5 been approved to participate in the federal student financial assistance programs
6 created under Title IVof the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;
7 (2) "CGPA", a student's cumulative grade-point average as calculated based on
8 the policies of the student's approved institution as such policies are applied to other
9 students in similar circumstances;
10 (3) "Department", the department of higher education and workforce
11 development;
12 (4) "Initial recipient", a student who qualifies for initial financial assistance
13 under section 173.1104, has received an award under the access Missouri financial
14 assistance program established in sections 173.1101 to 173.1107, and has not received a
15 STEM grant in any prior academic year;
16 (5) "Renewalrecipient",astudentwhoqualifiesforrenewedfinancialassistance
17 under section 173.1104, has received an award under the access Missouri financial
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

18 assistance program established in sections 173.1101 to 173.1107, and has received a
19 STEM grant;
20 (6) "Satisfactory academic progress":
21 (a) Forastudent'sgrade-pointaverage,aCGPAofatleasttwoandone-halfona
22 four-point scale or the equivalent on another scale; and
23 (b) Fordeterminationsofacademicprogressotherthangrade-pointaverage,the
24 institution's measures of a student's academic progress as otherwise determined by the
25 approved institution's policies as applied to other students at the approved institution
26 receiving assistance from federal student financial assistance programs created under
27 Title IVof the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;
28 (7) "STEM degree", an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or certificate in a
29 STEM field;
30 (8) "STEM field", a field of study involving science, technology, engineering, or
31 mathematics including, but not limited to:
32 (a) Agriculture and related sciences;
33 (b) Computer science;
34 (c) Information technology and information systems;
35 (d) STEM-related education;
36 (e) Engineering;
37 (f) Biological and biomedical sciences;
38 (g) Mathematics and statistics; and
39 (h) Physical sciences;
40 (9) "STEM grant", a renewable award of one thousand five hundred dollars of
41 financial assistance granted under this section.
42 2. Subject to appropriation, the department shall make available a STEM grant
43 to a student of an approved institution who is an initial recipient or a renewal recipient
44 and who has committed to a program of study that will result in a STEM degree at an
45 approved institution as provided in this section. No student shall receive more than six
46 thousand dollars of STEM grants under this section.
47 3. A renewal recipient may continue to receive a STEM grant as long as such
48 recipient:
49 (1) Maintains satisfactory academic progress;
50 (2) Continues to meet eligibility criteria under the access Missouri financial
51 assistance program established under sections 173.1101 to 173.1107; and
52 (3) Hasnotexceededfivesemestersatanapprovedtwo-yearinstitutionoratotal
53 of ten semesters or fifteen quarters at an approved four-year institution or any
54 combination of approved institutions.
HB 168 2

55 4. No STEM grant shall be awarded under this section to a student who also
56 received an award under the access Missouri financial assistance program after:
57 (1) A baccalaureate degree has been granted to the student;
58 (2) The hours or the equivalent to the hours required for a baccalaureate degree
59 have been completed by the student; or
60 (3) The student has completed coursework equal to:
61 (a) One hundred fifty semester hours or the equivalent; or
62 (b) Two hundred twenty-five quarter hours or the equivalent.
63 5. The department may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the
64 administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in
65 section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall
66 become effective only if it complies