New state laws aid tech students, veterans – Times-Georgian: News

Students at West Georgia Technical College and other state technical colleges can now qualify for HOPE grants with a grade point average of 2.0, instead of 3.0, as it has been since 2011. The law, which became effective Monday, had broad support of the state Legislature, passing the House by a 176-1 vote and the state Senate by a 52-0 tally.

That’s one of 116 new laws on the books that took effect July 1, including ones that lower fuel costs for school buses, and allow grocery stores next to college campuses to sell alcohol. Many laws took effect immediately after the governor signed them in the spring and others will become law next January.

Qualifications for the HOPE grant was originally set at 2.0, but was changed to 3.0 two years ago to address a decline in state lottery revenues that fund the HOPE program.

“Many technical college students are non-traditional students, who are working and attending school while raising a family,” District 69 Rep. Randy Nix, R-LaGrange, said when the billed was passed this spring. “This move is well within the lottery’s ability to pay.”

Another new law that will benefit education is one which will eliminate the 7.5 cents state excise tax on diesel fuel, when used by public school buses during the period from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015.

Jackie Coffee, Carroll County School System’s director of transportation, said the elimination of the tax will save county schools about $31,500 per year, based on an average use of about 420,000 gallons per year.

via New state laws aid tech students, veterans – Times-Georgian: News.