§ 20-3-519.13 - HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee created; reporting and planning requirements
O.C.G.A. 20-3-519.13 (2010)
20-3-519.13. HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee created; reporting and planning requirements
(a) There is created as a joint committee of the General Assembly the HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee, to be composed of three members of the House Committee on Higher Education and three members of the House Committee on Education, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and three members of the Senate Higher Education Committee and three members of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, to be appointed by the Committee on Assignments. The chairpersons of the House Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Higher Education Committee shall serve as cochairpersons for the oversight committee. The oversight committee shall study, inquire into, and review the operations of the Georgia Student Finance Commission with respect to the administration of HOPE scholarships and grants under this part, as well as review and evaluate the conditions, needs, and issues of the HOPE scholarship and grant program as provided for under this part, Georgia's Pre-K program, and any other programs that receive funds from the Lottery for Education Account, as provided for in Article 1 of Chapter 27 of Title 50. Such study and review shall be conducted during the first year of each biennium of the General Assembly so as to determine whether any legislative action may be necessary. The oversight committee may conduct any independent audit or investigation of the commission or any other appropriate agency it deems necessary.
(b) The Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Department of Early Care and Learning shall provide the oversight committee with a complete report of the HOPE scholarship and grant program and the Georgia Pre-K Program no later than December 1 of each year. The committee may request and receive reports from any appropriate agency in order to conduct activities pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section.
(c) The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall submit to the HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee, no later than December 31, 2004, a proposed plan of implementation regarding the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-157 and the implications that will result from such changes to the reporting system. Such plan shall contain any information designated by the oversight committee, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) All criteria relating to academic qualifications proposed by the commission which will be used to make a determination of whether a student qualifies for a HOPE scholarship or grant under subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-157;
(2) Procedures to provide notice and guidance to local school systems and private schools as to the effect of the change in the grading system established by subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-157; and
(3) Methods to encourage local school systems and private schools to review and address their grading scales in light of the change in the grading system established by subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-157.
The HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee shall review the proposed plan of implementation.