SB 258 - This act creates the Missouri Transition Program. The program shall be administered by a board consisting of one representative of each of the state's publicly-funded four-year institutions of higher education. The goal of the program is to increase the enrollment and retention to graduation of motivated and talented, underprivileged students. The act defines "underprivileged student" as any student whose personal or family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and who is a resident of the state. Scholarships, pre-college orientations and graduate student advisors will be provided for each participant in the program. The goal of the program will be to admit at least seventy-five students each year.

The act creates within the State Treasury the Missouri Transition Program Fund for deposit of funds for the transition program. A charge equal to 5% of the wholesale price of each compact disc sold within the state will be collected by the Director of Revenue and credited to the fund. Penalties for failing to pay the required charge on compact discs are outlined.

This act is similar to HB 1545 from 1998.
OTTO FAJEN