HB1366: HB1366 Georgia Teacher Retention Scholarship Act; enact

26 LC 61 0399 House Bill 1366 By: Representatives Carter of the 93rd, Smith of the 41st, Park of the 107th, Evans of the 57th, Glaize of the 67th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, s o as to create the Georgia2 Teacher Retention Scholarship to provide scholarships to children of public school teachers3 who have been teaching for at least ten years to cover the cost of tuition at eligible4 postsecondary institutions; to provide for eligibility; to prov ide for scholarship award5 amounts; to provide for continued eligibility; to provide for a pplications; to provide for6 definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide f or an effective date and7 applicability; to provide for a funding contingency; to provide for related matters; to provide8 a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Teache r Retention Scholarship12 Act."13 H. B. 1366 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0399 SECTION 2.14 Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,15 relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, is amended by adding a new subpart to16 read as follows:17 "Subpart 7D18 20-3-467.19 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:20 (1) 'Authority' means the Georgia Student Finance Authority.21 (2) 'Certificate' or 'diploma' s hall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section22 20-3-519.23 (3) 'Eligible postsecondary institution' means an institution of the University System of24 Georgia and a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.25 (4) 'Eligible student' means a person who qualifies for a scho larship under this Code26 section.27 (5) 'First professional degree' means a degree earned through a first professional degree28 program.29 (6) 'First professional degree program' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code30 Section 20-3-519. 31 (7) 'Georgia Teacher Retention Scholarship' or 'scholarship' m eans the scholarship32 provided for in this Code section.33 (8) 'Matriculated status' shall have the same meaning as set f orth in Code Section34 20-3-519.35 (9) 'Public school teacher' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section36 20-2-880.37 (10) 'Quarter hours' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.38 H. B. 1366 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0399 (11) 'Semester hours' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.39 (12) 'Title IV' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.40 (13) 'Tuition' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.41 (b) The authority shall be authorized to award a Georgia Teacher Retention Scholarship42 to each eligible student in an amount not to exceed such student's tuition. The payment of43 scholarships to eligible students under this Code section and t he amount of such44 scholarships shall be contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly45 for the purposes of this Code section in annual appropriations Acts of the General46 Assembly.47 (c) To be eligible for a scholarship under this Code section, a person shall:48 (1) Meet the requirements provided for in paragraph (1) of sub section (a) of Code49 Section 20-3-519.1 and shall not meet any of the ineligibility criteria provided for in50 subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.1;51 (2) Be the child, either natural or adopted, of a public school teacher who has taught in52 a public school in this state for not less than ten years;53 (3) Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an54 undergraduate student in a matriculated status in a program of study leading to a55 certificate or diploma or baccalaureate or first professional d egree at an eligible56 postsecondary institution and maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance57 with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs by the institution at58 which the student is enrolled;59 (4) Not yet have earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree; and60 (5) Not have attempted 190 or more quarter hours or 127 or more semester hours at any61 postsecondary institution.62 (d) Any eligible student may apply to the authority for a scho larship. Such application63 shall be submitted in writing on forms prescribed by the authority for such purpose. The64 applicant shall furnish such information as may be required by the authority for65 H. B. 1366 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0399 determination of eligibility for the scholarship. The authorit y shall approve scholarship66 renewals only upon receipt of the recipient's application therefor and upon a finding that67 the recipient has successfully completed the work of the preced ing school period and68 presents evidence that he or she remains otherwise qualified to receive such scholarship69 under this Code section.70 (e) The authority is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary71 or convenient for administration of this Code section and to es tablish procedures for72 determination of eligibility of applicants."73 SECTION 3.74 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall appl y to all academic years75 beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year.76 SECTION 4.77 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.78 H. B. 1366 - 4 -