This afternoon Senate Ways & Means Committee took action on legislation that would establish an endowment for students studying in high-demand fields.

HB 2088 creates the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the Opportunity Expansion Program to mitigate the impact of tuition increases, increase the number of baccalaureate degrees in high employer demand and other programs, and invest in programs and students to meet market demand fields of study while filling middleincome jobs with a sufficient supply of skilled workers.

The Committee amended the bill as follows:

• Required all members of the Opportunity Scholarship Board be appointed by the Governor.
• Required that for two of the appointments the Governor consider selection from a list of names provided by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

House Bill 2088 now goes to the floor for further consideration.