MS SB2868

Appropriates $38,752,077.00 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 2017 (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017).

Authorizes $3,590,268.00 from federal funds, grants, donations, and other special sources for financial aid programs, including funds for GEAR UP Mississippi Scholarship Program matching requirements.

Restricts Out-of-State Educational Program funds from being paid to students in medicine or dentistry who first entered an out-of-state school after July 1, 1982.

Allocates not more than $70,000.00 for the Speech-Language Pathologists Loan Forgiveness Program and not more than $1,500,000.00 for the Teacher Education Scholars Program.

Requires annual reports detailing number of recipients, total award amounts, average awards, repayment status for loan programs, and compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).