A bill dealing with access to the opportunity scholarship was amended and returned to its original chamber.

 

Senate Education committee members amended and passed House Bill 1040, which revises provisions for alternative instruction students to receive the opportunity scholarship, on a 5-0 vote, followed by the entire Senate passing the bill on a 26-7 vote.

 

ASBSD is monitoring HB 1040, which lowers the ACT qualifying score from 28 to 24 and requires parents of the students receive alternative instruction to provide transcript noting the required coursework has been completed; each criterion being similar to what is required for public and private high school graduates who receive the scholarship.

 

The amended version of HB 1040 removes the retroactive clause that would have provided scholarship dollars to students eligible for them this school year and added an option for two units of CTE coursework to be accepted in place of two units of a world language.

 

“In this case we’re getting everything,” Sen. Jim Bolin said of the bill. “I would urge the House to concur with the Senate amendments.”

 

HB 1040 now moves to the House for review of the amendments and possibly concurring with them, in which case it would then head to Gov. Kristi Noem for signature. If not, a conference committee would be formed to for the House and Senate to negotiate an agreement on a final version of the bill.

 

For updates on the bill and other legislation throughout session, check the ASBSD Blog, Twitter feed, Facebook page and Bill Tracker.