First Substitute H.B. 284

Representative John Dougall proposes the following substitute bill:

1 REGENTS' SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: John Dougall
5 Senate Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions relating to the Regents' Scholarship Program.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . provides other requirements that a student may complete to qualify for a Regents'
13 Scholarship; and
14 . makes technical changes.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53B-8-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 270
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53B-8-109 is amended to read:
25 53B-8-109. Regents' Scholarship Program -- Base Regents' scholarship --

26 Qualifications -- Application.
27 (1) A student qualifies for a Base Regents' scholarship if the student:
28 (a) completes the high school graduation requirements of:
29 (i) a public school established by the State Board of Education and the student's school
30 district or charter school; or
31 (ii) a private high school in the state that is accredited by a regional accrediting body
32 approved by the board;
33 (b) completes high school with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average;
34 (c) has at least one reported ACT test score; and
35 (d) (i) completes the following high school or college credit in grades 9-12:
36 (A) four units of credit of English or one unit of credit earned by completing a college
37 English course that is at least at the general education level;
38 (B) four units of credit of mathematics or one unit of credit earned by completing a
39 college mathematics course that is at least at the general education level;
40 (C) three and one-half units of credit of social science or one unit of credit earned by
41 completing a college social science course that is at least at the general education level;
42 (D) three units of credit of lab-based natural science or one unit of credit earned by
43 completing a college natural science course that is at least at the general education level; and
44 (E) two units of credit of sequential world or classical language other than English or
45 one unit of credit earned by completing a college course in world or classical language other
46 than English that is at least at the general education level; and
47 (ii) except as provided in Subsection (4), earns a course grade on a transcript of "C" or
48 above in each individual course listed in Subsection (1)(d)(i).
49 (2) The board shall establish policies to determine specific courses that meet the
50 requirements under Subsection (1)(d)(i).
51 (3) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student:
52 (a) shall submit an application to the board with:
53 (i) a copy of the student's official high school transcript and ACT scores; and
54 (ii) if applicable, a college transcript showing a college course the student has
55 completed to meet the requirements of Subsection (1)(d);
56 (b) shall be a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen who is eligible to receive

57 federal student aid;
58 (c) may not have a criminal record, with the exception of a misdemeanor traffic
59 citation; and
60 (d) if applicable, shall meet the application deadlines as established by the board under
61 Subsection 53B-8-108 (9).
62 (4) For purposes of determining if a student meets the grade requirements of
63 Subsection (1)(d)(ii), the board shall assign additional weights to grades earned in courses
64 described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) that are advanced placement or concurrent enrollment
65 courses.
66 (5) (a) The amount of the Base Regents' scholarship is $1,000.
67 (b) The board may adjust the amount of the Base Regents' scholarship by up to a
68 percentage of the average percentage tuition increase approved by the board for institutions in
69 the system of higher education.