Missouri House Considers and Passes HB 3
The Missouri House of Representatives convened Tuesday, April 5, to consider the budget bills passed by the House Budget Committee; this includes HCS for HB 3003 which provides funding for the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, workforce and student financial aid programs, public colleges, and universities. Also considered on the House floor was HCS for HB 3020, which includes higher education and workforce funding through the federal American Rescue Plan.
Several floor amendments to HCS to HBs 3003 and 3020 were considered and passed on the House floor. The most notable changes included to both bills are as follows:
HB 3003:
- $4.5 million added to the Access Missouri program to fully fund the program (this is in addition to the $4.5 million added during the House Budget Committee process)
- $120,000 in one-time funding to increase the State Historical Society of Missouri’s appropriation (brings the total to $3,604,228)
- $11 million to higher education institutions participating in the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) for the employer contributions that correspond to the difference between the actual contribution rate and 23.51% for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022
- $3.5 million increase to the Bright Flight Scholarship to fund the top 4th or 5th percentiles of all Missouri students taking ACT or SAT (previously, the program has only supported the top 3 percent of Missouri students taking those tests)
- $500,000 to Harris Stowe State University to fund their training and education on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills program
HB 3020:
- Northwest Missouri State University’s Brown Hall project replaced with the Martindale Hall and related health and allied sciences project. The funds allocated to the institution were reduced to reflect the new project cost.
On Thursday, April 7, the House passed both budgets. The bills now await the Senate’s consideration.
Senate Education holds public hearing on bills regarding higher education and workforce development
On Tuesday, April 5, the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin (R- Shelbina), held public testimony on three bills focused on higher education and workforce development.
SB 1142, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), requires public K-12 schools and higher education institutions that issue pupil identification cards to have printed specific emergency phone numbers on the card, including those for the National Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line. “Suicide in this state for young people 10-17 is the third leading cause of death,” said Sen. Hough during his opening remarks. “We want kids to know that there are people out there for help.” Several groups were in attendance to speak in favor of the legislation, sharing that the bill was “a common-sense thing” and ensures “students have quick, accessible resources” if they or acquaintances struggle with thoughts of suicide.
SB 770, sponsored by Sen. Karla May (D-St. Louis), would require the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to collect and provide loan to debt, employment, and salary information on careers and other student data. The bill will ensure students are provided with “clear employment information in their career path,” stated Sen. May. Most of the information required by the bill is provided by the department or is under development with the passage of the Student Right to Know Act (HB 297, 2021). However, regarding loan information reporting, the department is constrained in what it can report on student debt and default rates to what is released by the U.S. Department of Education in conjunction with its College Scorecard.
SB 1055, sponsored by Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City), would amend the dual credit scholarship statute to include dual enrollment and other changes. The legislation is the Senate companion bill to Rep. Brenda Shield’s HB 2731. More information on the changes to the dual credit statute proposed by both bills can be found in the April 1 legislative report. “We want to ensure that any high schooler who is interested in taking dual credit or dual enrollment [course] has the ability and that it is not cost prohibitive,” shared Sen. Arthur during committee. Organizations supporting the legislation included the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Council on Public Higher Education, Missouri Community College Association, AlignED, and the Missouri National Education Association.
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