S.B. 180

1

REGENTS' SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
2 2008 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard
5 House Sponsor: Mark W. Walker
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill establishes the Regents' Scholarship Program to award merit scholarships to
10 students who complete a rigorous core course of study in high school.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . establishes the Regents' Scholarship Program, including:
14 . a base scholarship and supplemental scholarship awards; and
15 . scholarship qualifications, amounts, and procedures;
16 . establishes a Regents' Diploma Endorsement;
17 . requires the State Board of Regents to make certain policies; and
18 . makes certain appropriations nonlapsing.
19 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
20 This bill appropriates:
21 . for fiscal year 2008-09 only, $50,000,000 from the Education Fund to the State
22 Board of Regents; and
23 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $7,500,000 from
24 the Education Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 to the State Board of Regents.
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 ENACTS:
29 53B-8-108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30 53B-8-109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 53B-8-110, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 53B-8-111, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 53B-8-112, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34
35 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36 Section 1. Section 53B-8-108 is enacted to read:
37 53B-8-108. Regents' Scholarship Program -- General provisions -- Board policies.
38 (1) The Regents' Scholarship Program is created to award merit scholarships to
39 students who complete a rigorous core course of study in high school.
40 (2) A student who is awarded the Base Regents' Scholarship established in Section
41 53B-8-109 may also be awarded each of the supplemental awards established in Sections
42 53B-8-110 , 53B-8-111 , and 53B-8-112 .
43 (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a Regents' Scholarship may only be
44 used at a higher education institution within the state system of higher education, including the
45 Utah College of Applied Technology.
46 (b) A Regents' Scholarship may be used at a Western Undergraduate Exchange
47 program that is approved by the board.
48 (4) (a) The board shall annually report on the Regents' Scholarship Program at the
49 beginning of each school year to the Education Interim Committee and the Higher Education
50 Appropriations Subcommittee.
51 (b) The report shall include the number of students in each school district and public
52 high school who meet the academic criteria for the Base Regents' Scholarship and for the
53 Exemplary Academic Achievement Scholarship.
54 (c) The State Board of Education, school districts, and public high schools shall
55 cooperate with the State Board of Regents to facilitate the collection and distribution of
56 Regents' Scholarship Program data.
57 (5) The State Board of Education shall annually provide the State Board of Regents a
58 complete list of directory information, including student name and address, for all grade 8

59 students in the state.
60 (6) The board shall, by July 15, 2008, adopt policies establishing:
61 (a) the high school and college course requirements, including group credit
62 requirements, described in Subsection 53B-8-109 (1)(e);
63 (b) the cumulative grade point average required in Sections 53B-8-109 and 53B-8-112 ;
64 (c) the additional weights assigned to grades earned in certain courses for purposes of
65 calculating a student's cumulative high school grade point average;
66 (d) the regional accrediting bodies that may accredit a private high school described in
67 Subsection 53B-8-109 (1)(a)(ii);
68 (e) the application process for a Regents' Scholarship, including procedures to allow a
69 parent or student to apply for the scholarship on-line; and
70 (f) Western Undergraduate Exchange programs that are approved for the use of a
71 Regents' Scholarship.
72 (7) (a) The Legislature shall make an annual appropriation from the Education Fund to
73 the State Board of Regents for the costs associated with the Regents' Scholarship Program
74 authorized under this section and Sections 53B-8-109 , 53B-8-110 , 53B-8-111 , and 53B-8-112 .
75 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the appropriation shall be offset in part by the
76 state moneys that would otherwise be required and appropriated for these students if they were
77 enrolled in a program at a state-operated institution.
78 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and Sections 53B-8-109 , 53B-8-110 ,
79 53B-8-111 , and 53B-8-112 , if the appropriation under Subsection (7)(a) is insufficient to cover
80 the costs associated with the Regents' Scholarship Program, the State Board of Regents may
81 limit or reduce the Base Regents' Scholarships and supplemental awards.
82 Section 2. Section 53B-8-109 is enacted to read:
83 53B-8-109. Regents' Scholarship Program -- Base Regents' Scholarship --
84 Qualifications -- Application.
85 (1) A Base Regents' Scholarship shall be awarded to a student who, by September 1 of
86 the year the student's class graduates from high school:
87 (a) completes the high school graduation requirements of:
88 (i) a public school established by the State Board of Education and the student's school
89 district or charter school; or

90 (ii) a private high school in the state that is accredited by a regional accrediting body
91 approved by the board;
92 (b) passes the basic skills competency test established in Section 53A-1-611 ;
93 (c) completes high school with a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
94 determined by the board's policies;
95 (d) has at least one reported ACT test score; and
96 (e) completes:
97 (i) at least 22 units of core high school credit in grades 9-12, with no individual core
98 course grade below a "C", including credit subtotals required by the board from each of the
99 following groups:
100 (A) English;
101 (B) algebra or higher mathematics;
102 (C) social studies;
103 (D) lab-based natural science;
104 (E) sequential world or classical language other than English;
105 (F) arts;
106 (G) physical and health education;
107 (H) career and technical education;
108 (I) computer technology; and
109 (J) general financial literacy; or
110 (ii) the International Baccalaureate requirements, with no individual course grade
111 below a "C".
112 (2) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student:
113 (a) shall submit an application to the board with a copy of the student's official high
114 school transcript;
115 (b) shall be a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen who is eligible to receive
116 federal student aid;
117 (c) may not have a criminal record, with the exception of misdemeanor traffic citations;
118 and
119 (d) shall enroll full time at a higher education institution within the state system of
120 higher education within 12 months of the student's high school graduation.

121 (3) For purposes of calculating a student's cumulative high school grade point average,
122 the board shall, by policy, assign additional weights to grades earned in English, mathematics,
123 laboratory science, social science, and foreign language courses identified as:
124 (a) advanced placement;
125 (b) pre-International Baccalaureate;
126 (c) International Baccalaureate; or
127 (d) concurrent enrollment.
128 (4) (a) The amount of the Base Regents' Scholarship is $1,000.
129 (b) The board shall annually increase the amount of the Base Regents' Scholarship by a
130 percentage equal to the average percentage tuition increase approved by the board for USHE
131 institutions.
132 Section 3. Section 53B-8-110 is enacted to read:
133 53B-8-110. Regents' Scholarship Program -- Supplemental award to encourage
134 college savings.
135 (1) A student who qualifies for the Base Regents' Scholarship in accordance with the
136 provisions of Section 53B-8-109 may be awarded up to an additional $400 as provided in this
137 section.
138 (2) A student who qualifies for the Base Regents' Scholarship shall be awarded up to
139 $100 for a year that:
140 (a) the student was 14, 15, 16, or 17 years of age; and
141 (b) at least $100 in contributions, excluding transfers, investment earnings, and
142 interest, was deposited in a Utah Educational Savings Plan Trust account that designated the
143 student as the beneficiary.
144 (3) (a) The award shall be an amount equal to a dollar for dollar match up to $100 for
145 each of the years described in Subsection (2)(a).
146 (b) The maximum award is $100 for a year, up to a cumulative total of $400.
147 Section 4. Section 53B-8-111 is enacted to read:
148 53B-8-111. Supplemental scholarship award -- First generation college student.
149 (1) A student who qualifies for the Base Regents' Scholarship in accordance with the
150 provisions of Section 53B-8-109 shall be awarded an additional $1,000 if the student submits a
151 notarized affidavit attesting that neither of the student's parents nor the student's legal guardian

152 completed an associate's or bachelor's degree in college.
153 (2) An award under this section may not be used to diminish or reduce any state
154 need-based financial aid for which the student may qualify based on personal or family income.
155 Section 5. Section 53B-8-112 is enacted to read:
156 53B-8-112. Supplemental scholarship award -- Exemplary academic achievement
157 -- Regents' diploma.
158 (1) A student who qualifies for the Base Regents' Scholarship in accordance with the
159 provisions of Section 53B-8-109 shall be awarded an additional Exemplary Academic
160 Achievement Scholarship if the student, by September 1 of the year the student's class
161 graduates from high school:
162 (a) completes high school with a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.5 or
163 higher, as determined by the board's policies;
164 (b) completes the 22 unit core course of study described in Subsection 53B-8-109 (1)(f)
165 with no core course grade lower than a "B"; and
166 (c) scores a composite ACT score of 26 or higher, as determined by the board's
167 policies, which may also include required college readiness benchmark scores in English,
168 mathematics, reading, and science.
169 (2) The Exemplary Academic Achievement Scholarship shall provide the student the
170 equivalent of 75% of the tuition costs at the selected institution for up to two years of full-time
171 equivalent enrollment, or until the requirements of an associate's or bachelor's degree have
172 been met, whichever is shorter.
173 (3) The board may grant a leave of absence to an Exemplary Academic Achievement
174 Scholarship holder, but the scholarship shall be used in its entirety within five years after
175 completion of high school.
176 (4) An Exemplary Academic Achievement Scholarship may be canceled at any time by
177 the institution of attendance if the student fails to:
178 (a) register as a full-time student;
179 (b) maintain a "B" average for two consecutive semesters; or
180 (c) make reasonable progress towards the completion of either an associate's or
181 bachelor's degree.
182 (5) (a) A student who qualifies for the Exemplary Academic Achievement Scholarship

183 under this section shall also receive a Regents' Diploma Endorsement to be issued by the board.
184 (b) If qualified for in time, a Regents' Diploma Endorsement shall be awarded to the
185 student at high school commencement exercises.
186 Section 6. One-time appropriation.
187 (1) There is appropriated $50,000,000 from the Education Fund for fiscal year 2008-09
188 only, to the State Board of Regents to fund the Base Regents' Scholarships and supplemental
189 awards established in Sections 53B-8-109 , 53B-8-110 , 53B-8-111 , and 53B-8-112 .
190 (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the appropriation under Subsection (1) is
191 nonlapsing.
192 Section 7. Ongoing appropriation.
193 (1) As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is
194 appropriated from the Education Fund for fiscal year 2008-09, $7,500,000 to the State Board of
195 Regents.
196 (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that:
197 (a) $500,000 of the appropriation under Subsection (1) shall be used to administer the
198 Regents' Scholarship Program; and
199 (b) $7,000,000 of the appropriation under Subsection (1) shall be used to fund the Base
200 Regents' Scholarships and supplemental awards established in Sections 53B-8-109 , 53B-8-110 ,
201 53B-8-111 , and 53B-8-112 .
202 Section 8. Effective date.
203 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-29-08 11:59 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel