_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY FOR TWELFTH-GRADE STUDENTS WHO LOST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POSTSECONDARY FINANCIAL AID AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; AUTHORIZING SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO ADMIT OR RETAIN A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENTS FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE and A TERMINATION DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Seniors affected by covid-19 pandemic -- additional year of eligibility. (1) Pursuant to 20-5-101(3), the trustees of the district may admit or retain a pupil who was in 12th grade during the 2020-2021 school year and who was adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The trustees are limited to offering this additional year of academic and athletic eligibility to the following number of students:

(a) for a first-class district under 20-6-301, five students;

(b) for a second-class district under 20-6-301, four students; and

(c) for a third-class district under 20-6-301, three students.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "adversely affected" means a pupil who was in 12th grade during the 2020-2021 school year who lost eligibility for, had an offer rescinded for, or likely was denied the opportunity for a scholarship or other financial aid to a postsecondary institution as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. This includes athletic, academic, or other scholarship or financial aid awards.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2022.