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Committee agrees to enactment-date change for expansion of Kansas Promise Scholarship program
Summary
The Committee on Education discussed Senate Bill 44, which would expand eligible postsecondary institutions under the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act and raise the appropriation cap from $10 million to $15 million; members agreed to a change in the bill's enactment date but debated whether for-profit institutions should remain eligible.
Madam Chair, Committee on Education, opened discussion of Senate Bill 44, saying the committee would begin consideration of the measure and requested an overview from staff.
"Senate Bill 44 would amend the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act to expand the post secondary educational institutions that are eligible to participate in that program. It would also increase the appropriation maximum from 10,000,000 to $15,000,000," said Tamara, committee reviser, describing the Senate version and the difference with the House effective date language.
The nut graph: SB 44 would broaden which institutions may receive Promise Scholarship funds and increase the program's appropriation cap; the Senate and House differed only on the bill's effective date, and the chambers reached agreement on that change while members raised concerns about eligibility for for-profit institutions.
Committee members pressed staff on two elements: the higher appropriation cap and whether the bill would permit for-profit institutions to participate. Representative Socksfield said the House preferred removing for-profit institutions, stating, "we just liked whatever position it is to take the for profit companies out of the equation." The reviser and other members indicated the Senate would maintain the floor-passed position on eligibility.
Tamara summarized the difference in enactment language: the Senate's effective date was publication in the statute book, while the House's was publication in the Kansas Register. Committee members agreed to the Senate accepting the House amendment on changing the enactment date, and the chambers reported agreement on that point.
On eligibility, the committee discussed Title IV of the Higher Education Act as the criterion referenced in the bill. Committee staff explained that the bill's language requires that an institution be eligible to receive Title IV funding in order to participate; if an institution meets federal Title IV eligibility criteria, it would be eligible under the Promise Scholarship program as written. That clarification was offered in response to a House concern that removing Title IV language at the federal level could alter who qualifies.
No formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript for SB 44 during the session excerpt; committee members reported agreement on the enactment-date amendment and that the Senate would maintain its position on institutional eligibility.
Looking ahead, staff and conferees indicated they would continue to confer on remaining language, but the transcript records agreement on the enactment-date change and the continuation of the Senate position on eligibility and the increased appropriation cap.
Less-critical details: the transcript does not record a formal recorded vote or names of movers/seconders for the enactment-date amendment. The specific administrative steps for implementing the expanded eligibility (for example, accountability or reporting changes tied to participation) were not discussed in the excerpt.
