Despite declining state revenues, the General Assemby has voted to change award-reductions for the HOPE college scholarship.
When the bill passed the House last month, lawmakers cautioned that demand for the scholarship could bring down the lottery-funded reserves starting in 2011.
Under current law, if those reserves drop by just one dollar, the HOPE scholarship would pay less for books.
State Senator Seth Harp says he wants to make sure the lottery really is in trouble before slashing benefits.
When the bill passed the House last month, lawmakers cautioned that demand for the scholarship could bring down the lottery-funded reserves starting in 2011.
Under current law, if those reserves drop by just one dollar, the HOPE scholarship would pay less for books.
State Senator Seth Harp says he wants to make sure the lottery really is in trouble before slashing benefits.
"What we wanna do is make sure the students will not lose benefits until we start seeing some real movement on where the lottery goes."
The Senate passed the bill 47-2 and now goes to the governor's desk for his signature.
Last year Governor Sonny Perdue vetoed a similar measure. But he has not indicated whether he would veto this plan.
