Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 8.

Under present law, the Senator Ben Atchley Opportunity Grant Act provides grants to financially needy Tennessee students enrolled at independent, nonprofit colleges and universities accredited by the College Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This bill extends eligibility for a grant to Tennessee students enrolled at an independent postsecondary institutions accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state. ON APRIL 25, 2022, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1025, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 changes this bill's effective date from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022; makes this bill applicable to students who apply for the Senator Ben Atchley opportunity grant for the 2022-2023 academic year and each academic year thereafter; and specifies that grants will be made, to the extent feasible within existing budgetary resources of TSAC, for students enrolled in independent postsecondary institutions accredited by a regional accrediting association that have their primary campus domiciled in this state.