Changes in Access Missouri funding unlikely, officials say
Ashley Christopher
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: News
With a little more than a week left in the current legislative session, several state lawmakers have said two bills proposing changes to Access Missouri funding likely won't pass for now.
The bills, filed in February by both the House and the Senate, support Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal to decrease the maximum grant for students at private universities and colleges and increase the award for their counterparts attending public institutions.
As the grant stands, private university students are eligible to receive up to $4,600 a year. Public university students can receive up to $2,150. Nixon proposes setting the limit for both at $2,850.
If passed, more than 14,000 students in Missouri would see reductions in their Access Missouri aid. About 1,400 Lindenwood students would be affected.
Lindenwood President Dr. James D. Evans concurred with the lawmakers, saying the bills "do not have enough support to be passed on their own merits in either chamber of the Missouri Legislature."
The bills would have to pass by next week because the legislative session ends on May 15.
House Bill 792 has been read twice, but has not been referred to committee, said Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington.
"[The Access Missouri bill] will not pass this session or be added as an amendment to another bill," Dieckhaus said.
Since the House bill was read on Feb. 17 and 18, no additional action has been taken, said Rep. Anne Zerr, R-St. Charles, who also is an adjunct Lindenwood professor.
Representatives won't know until this fall, when bills often are pre-filed for the next session, if it will be re-introduced, she said. The next legislative session begins Jan. 6.
Senate Bill 390 was heard by the Senate Education Committee on April 8 but didn't make it to the floor for a vote, said Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles.
"Considering the current session ends soon, I believe the bill is dead for this session," Dempsey said.
The bills, filed in February by both the House and the Senate, support Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal to decrease the maximum grant for students at private universities and colleges and increase the award for their counterparts attending public institutions.
As the grant stands, private university students are eligible to receive up to $4,600 a year. Public university students can receive up to $2,150. Nixon proposes setting the limit for both at $2,850.
If passed, more than 14,000 students in Missouri would see reductions in their Access Missouri aid. About 1,400 Lindenwood students would be affected.
Lindenwood President Dr. James D. Evans concurred with the lawmakers, saying the bills "do not have enough support to be passed on their own merits in either chamber of the Missouri Legislature."
The bills would have to pass by next week because the legislative session ends on May 15.
House Bill 792 has been read twice, but has not been referred to committee, said Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington.
"[The Access Missouri bill] will not pass this session or be added as an amendment to another bill," Dieckhaus said.
Since the House bill was read on Feb. 17 and 18, no additional action has been taken, said Rep. Anne Zerr, R-St. Charles, who also is an adjunct Lindenwood professor.
Representatives won't know until this fall, when bills often are pre-filed for the next session, if it will be re-introduced, she said. The next legislative session begins Jan. 6.
Senate Bill 390 was heard by the Senate Education Committee on April 8 but didn't make it to the floor for a vote, said Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles.
"Considering the current session ends soon, I believe the bill is dead for this session," Dempsey said.
Be the first to comment on this story