Signed by Governor Brian Kemp

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the financial aid program to include students with a financial aid gap.

Highlights:

• Amends the meaning of ‘eligible student’ to include (Sec. 1):

• A person who has a financial aid gap;

• A person who is eligible for a scholarship or grant;

• A person who has completed the free application for federal student aid; and

• A person who has completed 80 percent of the credit requirements towards the credentials of said person's program of study. 

• Establishes the maximum amount awarded per eligible student shall be $2,500 in total (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that the commission may suspend a qualified institution from receiving payments if the said institution fails to refund any money required by this code (Sec. 4). 

• Requires any person applying for a grant or assisting a person applying for a grant who knowingly makes or furnishes any false statement or misrepresentation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec. 5). 

• Establishes the commission shall (Sec. 6):

• Collect and monitor enrollment and student records based on the needs of the financial aid programming;

• Annually measure and evaluate the program; and

• Collect the necessary data as they see fit from all qualified institutions, the Department of Education, and the Office of Planning and Budget.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a substitute bill that amends the financial aid program to include students with a financial aid gap.

Highlights:

• Amends the meaning of ‘eligible student’ to include (Sec. 1):

• A person who has a financial aid gap;

• A person who is eligible for a scholarship or grant;

• A person who has completed the free application for federal student aid; and

• A person who has completed 80 percent of the credit requirements towards the credentials of said person's program of study. 

• Establishes the maximum amount awarded per eligible student shall be $2,500 in total (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that the commission may suspend a qualified institution from receiving payments if the said institution fails to refund any money required by this code (Sec. 4). 

• Requires any person applying for a grant or assisting a person applying for a grant who knowingly makes or furnishes any false statement or misrepresentation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec. 5). 

• Establishes the commission shall (Sec. 6):

• Collect and monitor enrollment and student records based on the needs of the financial aid programming;

• Annually measure and evaluate the program; and

• Collect the necessary data as they see fit from all qualified institutions, the Department of Education, and the Office of Planning and Budget.

Full Bill Text