Government Relations
UM Legislative Update Newsletter
March 9, 2007
Senate prepares for floor debate on omnibus higher education legislation
Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) has released the latest substitute version of SB389, the omnibus higher education bill, and announced that the Senate will begin debate on the legislation next week.
SB389 includes several provisions:
- Authorization for the MOHELA board to transfer assets to the state for capital improvements at colleges and universities as well as for financial aid.
- Tuition restraint language that would require certain institutions to request a waiver from the Coordinating Board for Higher Education before increasing tuition above the National Consumer Price Index.
- A new Access Missouri scholarship plan that streamlines and simplifies need-based aid for the state in conjunction with a significant increase in funding.
- Additional powers for the Joint Committee on Education.
- Additional powers for the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, including the ability to levy fines against institutions and serve as the arbitrator on jurisdictional boundary disputes among institutions.
- New requirements for out-of-state institutions offering courses in Missouri.
- New performance measures and reporting requirements for institutions.
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