HB 1324

TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION (TSAC) Operation of TSAC Present law provides that the Tennessee student assistance corporation (TSAC) is a nonprofit corporation that is created to administer s tudent assistance programs authorized by law, which corporation must be registered with the secretary of state, and must be subject to the corporate laws of this state . This bill adds that T SAC must operate as a division within the Tennessee higher education commission. Board of Directors Present law provides that TSAC is governed by a board of directors consisting of the governor, the commissioner of education, the state treasurer, the c omptroller of the treasury, the commissioner of finance and administration, the president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, the president of the Tennessee Proprietary Business School Association, the president of the Univ e rsity of Tennessee, the chancellor of the board of regents, the president of the Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, two students enrolled in an institution of higher education in Tennessee, and three private citizens involved i n the field of education but not employed by or professionally affiliated with any institution of higher education in the state. This bill terminates such governing board of directors for TSAC on July, 1, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, the Tennessee highe r education commission must serve as the governing board of directors for TSAC. TSAC must carry out its purposes, and the Tennessee higher education commission is authorized to expend for the necessary administration of such purposes any funds appropriate d, received, or allocated for such purposes. Sunset Review Present law provides that TSAC's board of directors , for sunset review purposes, terminate s June 30, 2026. This bill revises this provision to , instead , provide that TSAC , as governed by the T ennessee higher education commission , so terminate s June 30, 2026 . TENNESSEE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP ACT Present law requires a Tennessee Promise scholarship at a Tennessee public two-year postsecondary institution or Tennessee college of applied technology to be the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the eligible postsecondary institution attended less all other gift aid. This bill removes "Tennessee college of applied technology"" from this provision. WILDER-NAIFEH TECHNICAL SKILLS GRANT In order t o be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant, present law requires a student seeking a quality non-degree credential ("" QNDC ""), diploma, or certificate at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state un iversity and community college system to meet certain requirements and b e admitted to the institution in an eligible program of study leading to a certificate or diploma. A ""QNDC"" means a credential, other than a degree or a diploma, the receipt of which indicates satisfactory completion of a workforce training program that, amongst other requirements, c ulminates in an industry certification, but does not include participation in, or completion of, a program of professional development, continuing educatio n, exam preparation, or similar objectives . This bill revises this definition to include completion of a program that c ulminates in a registered apprenticeship, occupational licensure, or certificate. Present law authorizes an eligible student to receiv e a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant for all course work required by the institution for an eligible program of study leading to a certificate or diploma. This bill revises this provision to include a program of study leading to a QNDC. This bill re names this grant a TennesseeWORKS scholarship . WILDER-NAIFEH RECONNECT GRANT Present law creates the Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant and provides that to be eligible for the Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant, a student seeking a diploma or certificate at a Te nnessee college of applied technology operated by the board of regents of the state university and community college system must meet several qualifications described in present law. This bill removes this grant."