GA SB496

Establishes the HOPE College Opportunity Grant, a needs-based financial aid program for students pursuing associate or baccalaureate degrees at eligible public postsecondary institutions in Georgia

Requires grant recipients to be federal Pell Grant recipients, be classified as full-time undergraduate students, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and meet Georgia residency requirements (12 months for in-state high school graduates, 24 months for others)

Limits eligibility to 190 attempted quarter hours or 127 semester hours (or 225 quarter hours/150 semester hours for longer degree programs), ending when a student earns a baccalaureate degree

Directs the Georgia Student Finance Commission to determine award amounts, which may use a sliding scale based on income, with a legislative intent to target the neediest students; grants may be reduced pro rata if funding is insufficient

Excludes from the eligible accrediting agency list any agency that includes minimum salary requirements for school system administrators as part of its accreditation standards