AN ACT relating to community colleges; authorizing community colleges in the Nevada System of Higher Education to award a scholarship to certain students who are enrolled in such colleges; requiring that a plan to improve the achievement of pupils include strategies to provide certain persons with information concerning the availability of such scholarships; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Community colleges in this State are a part of the Nevada System of Higher Education and are administered under the direction of the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada. (NRS 396.020) Section 9 of this bill requires each community college in the System to determine whether it will award Nevada Promise Scholarships. Section 9 also requires each participating community college to allow a student to appeal adverse decisions relating to such scholarships. Section 8 of this bill establishes the Nevada Promise Scholarship Account in the State General Fund to pay for the scholarships. Sections 9 and 10 of this bill require a participating community college to perform certain duties, including holding introductory meetings for scholarship applicants and establishing a mentoring program, or to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization or governmental entity to perform those duties. Section 11 of this bill sets forth the requirements to serve as a volunteer mentor in such a mentoring program. Sections 12 and 13 of this bill set forth the requirements for a student to be eligible to receive or renew a Nevada Promise Scholarship. The requirements to receive or renew a scholarship include a requirement that an applicant complete community service. Section 14 of this bill: (1) provides that an applicant who knowingly submits false information to a participating community college is ineligible to receive a scholarship; and (2) prescribes additional requirements governing deadlines and community service. Section 16 of this bill prescribes: (1) the process for determining the eligibility of scholarship applicants and awarding scholarships; and (2) the amount of a scholarship for a recipient. If there is insufficient money available to award a full scholarship to all eligible students, section 16 sets forth the manner in which money in the Account will be disbursed. Section 16 additionally requires, under such circumstances, the State Treasurer to notify the Legislature and the board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school, who are then required to notify pupils who are on schedule to graduate from a public high school of that fact. Section 17 of this bill requires the Board of Regents to annually review all scholarships awarded for the previous year and report certain information to the Legislature. Section 17 also: (1) requires a participating community college to maintain certain records; and (2) authorizes the Board of Regents and the State Treasurer to audit a participating community college or a nonprofit organization or governmental entity with which a participating community college has entered into an agreement to carry out certain duties relating to the scholarship program. Section 18.3 of this bill makes an appropriation for the purpose of awarding Nevada Promise Scholarships. Existing law requires the plan to improve the achievement of pupils adopted by the State Board of Education to include strategies designed to provide to pupils enrolled in middle school, junior high school and high school and certain other persons information concerning the availability of Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarships. (NRS 385.112) Section 1 of this bill requires that the plan also include strategies to provide such persons with information concerning the availability of Nevada Promise Scholarships.