Senate Sub-Committee OKs Increase In Eligibility for Scholarship Program

The Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education gave approval Wednesday to legislation that will make more children from middle class homes eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.

Senate Bill 1993 by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan raises the maximum income eligibility for OHLAP from $50,000 to $75,000.

“OHLAP is one of the best examples we have of legislation that encourages personal responsibility. Students make a pact with the state to make good grades, take the right classes and stay out of trouble and they are rewarded with a tuition scholarship,” Morgan said.

The Senate leaders said Wednesday’s vote was the first step in his plan to fast-track the OHLAP eligibility expansion bill in an effort to send it to the House of Representatives before the end of February.

“We should send the signal early in this session that we intend to invest in Oklahoma's future. We need to say to Oklahoma that we are looking beyond the fall campaigns and focusing, instead, on the future,” Morgan said.

“This session needs to be about more than the next election. It must be about the next generation and there’s no better way to invest in the next generation than offering greater educational opportunities to more of our students.”

Senate Bill 1993 now heads to the full Senate Appropriations Committee where it is expected to be heard next Wednesday. Morgan said the bill could make it to the floor of the full Senate in the third week of the session.