HB 407

This bill requires the Tennessee higher education commission (THEC) to implement a program to award grants to eligible students who voluntarily provide their enrolling institution with pro of of voluntarily receiving testing for STDs. "Eligible student"" means a student who is enrolled full-time in undergraduate studies at a public institution of higher education in this state . This bill provides that the grant amount is $250, subject to fu nding. Additionally, all grant funds must be expended for tuition, mandatory fees, textbooks, and course materials associated with the grant recipient's undergraduate studies at their enrolling institution . In order to implement this program, this bill requires THEC to do all of the following:  Develop a grant application process that includes a form of proof of testing for STDs, which complies with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and other federal and state confidentiality laws, that an eligible student must provide to their enrolling institution as part of a grant application.  Limit the number of grants that an eligible student may receive under this bill to one per academic year for up to four academic years.  Notify each student who is enrolled in a public institution of higher education in this state of the grant program and the requirements to apply for and receive a grant.  Ensure that public institutions of higher education in this state accept grant applications from their students, verify an applicant's enrollment status as a full-time undergraduate student, and report to THEC the number of eligible students to whom grants are awarded.  Remit grant funds to public institutions of higher education for distribution to each eligible student who is awarded a grant.  Ensure that grant funds are expended in the manner required by this bill. This bill provides that the grant program is funded through the student STD testing grant fund, which is established as a separate account in the general fund. Subject to the availability of revenue at the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner of finance and administration is authorized to carry forward any amounts remaining in the student STD testing grant fund. The s tudent STD testing grant fund is subject to appropriations by the general assembly and gifts, grants, and other donations received by THEC for the purpose of supporting the grant program."