HB 2257: Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act; providing for review of certain fees; authorizing establishment of certain cap; modifying retention eligibility; emergency. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to move from the House to the Senate floor, incorporating specific committee changes that clarify definitions, adjust credit hour limits for graduate programs, and add new requirements for Guard members to retain eligibility. These changes aim to standardize the program's rules and ensure clearer criteria for funding assistance.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act, but the Senate amendments refine how the program operates by adding specific definitions and adjusting credit hour caps.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'graduate program' and 'program' to clarify what educational tracks are covered under the act.

FISCAL

Adjusted the maximum credit hours for graduate programs from 40 to 40, maintaining the same limit but clarifying the scope to include master's degrees specifically.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that eligible Guard members must possess a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) after their first semester to retain eligibility.

Added a requirement that eligible Guard members must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale to retain eligibility.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the eligibility criteria to require Guard members to agree in writing to serve actively for at least 24 months after completing the last semester of assistance.

ENFORCEMENT

Added specific provisions for repaying assistance if a Guard member fails to comply with the requirements for maintaining eligibility, including a calculation method for the repayment amount.

Enrolled (final version) → Floor (House) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from its final enrolled version to the House floor version, resulting in significant formatting cleanup and the removal of the 'emergency' declaration. The substantive policy text regarding tuition assistance, eligibility, and credit hour limits remains largely consistent, though the floor version simplifies the fee review language and slightly adjusts the conditions under which a commander can deny continued assistance.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability to Oklahoma National Guard members remains unchanged; the primary changes are technical formatting and the removal of the emergency provision.

TIMELINE

Removed the declaration of an emergency, which was present in the enrolled version but absent in the floor version.

TECHNICAL

Updated the legislative citation in the title and Section 1 from the 2022/2024 statutes to the 2021 statute to reflect the correct legal code.

Replaced the detailed repayment calculation formula with a general statement that repayments will be calculated, removing specific mathematical instructions.

Changed the application cap language from limiting the number of 'eligible Guard members' to limiting the number of 'students per program'.

REQUIREMENT

Simplified the language regarding fee approvals by removing specific examples of fee types (e.g., 'academic service fees') and the phrase 'approved mandatory fees'.

ENFORCEMENT

Narrowed the conditions for denying continued assistance; the floor version allows denial only for failing to meet academic standing, retention requirements, or GPA, whereas the enrolled version also included failure to possess a Military Occupational Specialty.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 5 edits · May 29, 2025

MODERATE

The bill transitioned from an 'Engrossed' draft to the final 'Enrolled' version, incorporating several substantive policy additions and clarifications. Key changes include the addition of an emergency clause to allow immediate implementation, a new requirement for applicants to possess a specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) after their first semester, and expanded grounds for commanders to deny continued assistance if members fail to meet multiple eligibility criteria. The repayment calculation for non-compliance was also refined to explicitly define the monthly repayment amount and the destination of funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include an emergency provision, allowing the legislation to take effect immediately upon signing rather than waiting for the next legislative session.

TIMELINE

Added a declaration of emergency to the bill title, enabling immediate enforcement without waiting for the start of the next fiscal year.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new eligibility requirement stating that applicants must possess a specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) after their first semester.

Clarified the repayment calculation for members who fail to meet service obligations, explicitly defining the monthly repayment amount and requiring funds to be deposited into the revolving fund.

Added a provision allowing eligible members to request a waiver from repayment obligations if they fail to meet service requirements due to hardship circumstances.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the conditions under which a commander can deny continued assistance to include failure to meet the new MOS/AFSC requirement and other previously unlisted criteria.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 21, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify the number of eligible Guard members allowed per semester, adjust the effective date from November to July, and add a new emergency clause. These changes ensure the program starts earlier in the year and provide clearer limits on participation.

Scope change

The bill's effective date was moved from November to July to allow the program to begin earlier in the academic year.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from November to July to align with the start of the academic year.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added mandating that eligible Guard members must possess a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) after their first semester.

New provisions were added requiring eligible Guard members to agree in writing to serve actively in good standing for at least 24 months after completing their last semester of assistance.

ENFORCEMENT

New rules were added allowing the Commander to deny continued assistance if a member fails to meet academic or service requirements, and requiring repayment of funds if a member fails to maintain their MOS/AFSC.

FISCAL

Authority was granted to the Military Department to establish a cap on the number of students approved per program per semester.

TECHNICAL

A new Section 3 was inserted to declare an emergency, allowing the act to take effect immediately upon passage.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 5 edits · May 21, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that financial assistance is limited to eligible Guard members allowed to participate per semester, updated the statute citation to reflect current Oklahoma law, and changed the effective date from November to July. An emergency clause was added to allow immediate implementation, and the text was formatted to reflect Senate amendments.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified by specifying that assistance is limited to eligible Guard members allowed to participate per semester per undergraduate or graduate program.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that assistance is restricted to eligible Guard members allowed to participate per semester per undergraduate or graduate program.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from November to July.

REQUIREMENT

Added an emergency clause stating the act takes effect immediately upon passage to ensure preservation of public peace, health, or safety.

TECHNICAL

Updated the statutory citation from O.S. 2021 to O.S.L. 2022 and O.S. Supp. 2024 to reflect current law.

Added a reference to specialty codes 4 and 5 alongside specialty code 3 for eligibility requirements.

Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Act; providing for review of certain fees; authorizing establishment of certain cap; modifying retention eligibility; emergency.

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