SB334 Alabama 2016 Session

Under existing law, a high school student may take college courses if it fits into his or her schedule

This bill would establish a program allowing eligible 11th and 12th grade students admitted unconditionally to an eligible Alabama public postsecondary institution to take all courses at the eligible public institution and receive high school credit for the coursework with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements

This bill would authorize the Department of Education to pay an institution of higher learning for courses taken pursuant to the program through appropriation of state funds, the amount being the lesser of either the actual cost of tuition or the amount the student would have earned for the local school system had the student been in equivalent instructional programs in the school system

This bill would provide for a one-time appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to fund the program during its first year of operation

This bill would prohibit an institution of higher learning from charging a student for postsecondary coursework taken pursuant to the program

This bill would authorize the Department of Education to promulgate regulations

This bill would also create criminal penalties for any person who enables an institution of higher learning to wrongfully obtain payments under this program

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to public high school education; to establish a program allowing eligible 11th and 12th grade students admitted unconditionally to an eligible Alabama public postsecondary institution to take all courses at the eligible public institution and receive high school credit for the coursework with the goal of completing graduation and high school diploma requirements; to authorize the Department of Education to pay an institution of higher learning for courses taken pursuant to the program through appropriation of state funds, the amount being the lesser of either the actual cost of tuition or the amount the student would have earned for the local school system had the student been in equivalent instructional programs in the school system; to provide for a one-time appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to fund the program during its first year of operation; to prohibit an institution of higher learning from charging a student for postsecondary coursework taken pursuant to the program; to authorize the Department of Education to promulgate regulations; to create criminal penalties for any person who enables an institution of higher learning to wrongfully obtain payments under this program; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.