Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle, D-MemphisNASHVILLE — The Senate approved legislation Monday that could slash lottery scholarships in half for several thousand college students in 2015 if proceeds from the games don’t exceed this year’s record-breaking net profits.
The Republican-sponsored bill passed on a mostly partisan 20-10 vote with Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, and other Democrats questioning why the legislation even is needed.
The House version remains in committee and would have to pass both chambers in identical form before going to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to consider.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Delores Gresham, R-Somerville, changes requirements to obtain a $4,000 lottery-funded Hope scholarship, contingent on net lottery proceeds for education in each of the next three state budget cycles.
Under current law, students can qualify for a full Hope scholarship if they have a 3.0 grade-point average or score a 21 or above on their ACT.