74-32,236. Payment of state scholarships; certification; approval; disposition upon discontinued attendance of student. (a) A state scholarship may be paid annually for both the fall and spring semesters, or the equivalent thereof. Payments under any state scholarship shall be allocated equally between the semesters, when the state scholar plans to attend two semesters in an academic year, and otherwise as specified by the board of regents. State scholarships shall be paid at the beginning of each semester, program period or other term upon certification by the eligible institution that the state scholar is enrolled and is a qualified student. Payments of state scholarships shall be made upon vouchers approved by the administrative officer of the board of regents designated by it upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports. Payments of state scholarships may be made by the issuance of a single warrant to each eligible institution at which a state scholar is enrolled for the total amount of state scholarships for all state scholars enrolled at that institution. The director of accounts and reports shall cause such warrant to be delivered to the eligible institution at which such scholar or scholars are enrolled. Upon receipt of such warrant, the eligible institution shall credit immediately the account of each state scholar enrolled at that institution by an amount specified by the board of regents for each such state scholar.

(b) If a scholar discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, program period or other term, after the eligible institution has received payment under this section, the eligible institution shall pay to the state: (1) The entire amount which such scholar would otherwise qualify to have refunded not to exceed the amount of the payment made under such state scholarship at the beginning of such semester, program period or other term; or (2) if the scholar has received payments under any federal program of student assistance in the semester, program period or other term, the state's pro rata share of the entire amount which such scholar would otherwise qualify to have refunded, not to exceed the amount of the payment made under such state scholarship at the beginning of such semester, program period or other term.

(c) All amounts paid to the state by an eligible institution under subsection (b) shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state scholarship discontinued attendance fund, which is hereby created. All expenditures from the state scholarship discontinued attendance fund shall be for state scholarships.

History: L. 1974, ch. 304, § 4; L. 1975, ch. 374, § 11; L. 1979, ch. 229, § 4; L. 1985, ch. 243, § 6; L. 1986, ch. 274, § 4; July 1.