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Bill > SB185
OK SB185
OK SB185Higher education; creating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act; providing for eligibility. Effective date. Emergency.
summary
Introduced
02/03/2025
02/03/2025
In Committee
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act relating to higher education; creating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act; providing short title; defining terms; creating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Program to provide tuition and fee assistance to certain eligible students; providing for amount of assistance, subject to availability of funding; providing limitation on amount of assistance; directing assistance to be provided based on certain factors; prohibiting assistance for courses taken in excess of certain requirements; prohibiting assistance for certain courses; providing for eligibility retention; requiring submission of application prescribed by certain agency; allowing continued assistance to be denied under certain circumstances; providing for promulgation of rules; establishing requirements for assistance repayment; requiring deposit of repayments in certain fund; directing the Transportation Commission to establish certain schedule; allowing repayment waiver under certain circumstances; providing for submission of waiver request; allowing the Department of Transportation to accept certain gifts and grants; directing funds to be transferred to certain fund; providing for promulgation of rules; creating the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Revolving Fund; specifying sources of fund; providing for expenditures; providing purpose of fund; providing for codification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
AI Summary
This bill creates the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act, which establishes a program to provide tuition and fee assistance to eligible students pursuing specific professional degrees in engineering, land surveying, or accounting. Eligible students must be Oklahoma residents, 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and commit to working for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for five years after obtaining their degree. The program will cover resident tuition, mandatory fees, and academic service fees for up to 18 credit hours per semester, with separate provisions for undergraduate and graduate programs. To maintain eligibility, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, make satisfactory academic progress, and adhere to their institution's requirements. If students fail to complete their commitment, they may be required to repay the assistance, though hardship waivers are possible. The bill creates a dedicated revolving fund to support the program, which can accept gifts, grants, and state appropriations. Students must apply before each semester and can be denied continued assistance for non-compliance. The program aims to support Oklahoma's transportation workforce by incentivizing students to pursue and work in critical professional roles within the state's transportation infrastructure. The act will become effective on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause to ensure immediate implementation.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Coauthored by Representative Miller (principal House author) (on 02/10/2025)
Official Document
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