ON MARCH 25, 2024, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 833, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to, instead, make the changes described below relative to education law.
BOARD OF REGENTS
Present law requires the appointed members of the board of Regents for the State University and Community College System to be subject to confirmation by the senate, but appointments must be effective until adversely acted upon by the senate. This amendment revises the present law by, instead, providing the appointed members, except for the faculty members appointed by the governor and the student member appointed by the governor, are subject to confirmation by the senate, but appointments are effective until adversely acted upon by the senate.
TENNESSEE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP ACT OF 2014
As used in the Tennessee Promise Scholarship Act of 2014, an "eligible program of study” means, beginning with the fall semester of the 2021-2022 academic year, (i) a curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or diploma at a Tennessee college of applied technology; or (ii) a federal Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution. This amendment adds to the definition by providing that "eligible program of study” also means a curriculum of courses leading to a Quality non-degree credential (QNDC) at a Tennessee college of applied technology.
As used in this amendment, a "quality non-degree credential" or "QNDC" means a credential, other than a degree or a diploma, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of a workforce training program that (i) has a defined curriculum, objectives, and results in the awarding of a credential upon successful completion; (ii) culminates in an industry certification, but does not include participation in, or completion of, a program of professional development, continuing education, exam preparation, or similar objectives; (iii) may be articulated to other quality non-degree credentials, postsecondary degrees, or diploma programs; (iv) qualifies an individual for an in-demand occupation; and (v) is not eligible for federal Title IV funding.
Under the Tennessee Promise Scholarship Act of 2014, present law authorizes a student who does not have a documented learning disability to enroll in fewer than 12 semester hours if required by the academic program in which the student is enrolled. This amendment revises the present law by, instead, authorizing a student who does not have a documented learning disability to enroll in fewer than 12 semester hours, as provided for in rules promulgated by TSAC. This revision takes effect July 1, 2025.
WILDER-NAIFEH TECHNICAL SKILLS GRANT
To be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant, present law requires a student seeking a diploma or certificate at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system to (i) meet the student eligibility requirements and (ii) be admitted to the institution in an eligible program of study leading to a certificate or diploma. This amendment revises the present law by providing that to be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant, a student seeking a QNDC, diploma, or certificate at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system must satisfy (i) and (ii) above.
DUAL ENROLLMENT GRANT FOR HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS
Present law authorizes a student to receive a dual enrollment grant for one or more courses per semester at one or more eligible postsecondary institutions.
To be eligible for a dual enrollment grant for a semester beyond the first semester of the student's receipt of a dual enrollment grant, present law requires the student to continue to meet all eligibility requirements for the grant and achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all postsecondary courses attempted under a dual enrollment grant. This amendment revises the present law by, instead, providing that to be eligible for a dual enrollment grant for a semester beyond the first semester of the student's receipt of a dual enrollment grant, the student must continue to meet all eligibility requirements for the grant and must achieve:
(1) A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all postsecondary courses attempted as a dual enrollment student while enrolled at a two-year or four-year eligible postsecondary institution; or
(2) A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all postsecondary courses attempted as a dual enrollment student while enrolled at a Tennessee college of applied technology.
This amendment provides that failure to maintain the grade point average requirement described in (1) or (2) above permanently disqualifies the student from continuing eligibility for the grant at the type of institution at which the minimum grade point average was not maintained.
The provisions of this amendment regarding dual enrollment grants for high school students take effect July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-7-214