MS SB2846

Appropriates $37,855,077 from the State General Fund to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for financial aid scholarship, loan, and grant programs for fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016)

Authorizes an additional $9,291,008 from federal funds, grants, donations, fees, and other special sources for student financial aid programs, including the GEAR UP Mississippi Scholarship Program

Reappropriates $900,000 in State General Funds originally authorized in Senate Bill 2859 (2014 Regular Session) for continued expenditure

Allocates up to $1,500,000 for the Teacher Education Scholars Program and up to $70,000 for the Speech-Language Pathologists Loan Forgiveness Program

Limits out-of-state graduate program funding to 11 new optometry students (plus returning students) and 10 new chiropractic students (25 total maximum), while prohibiting funds for new out-of-state medicine or dentistry students