Low income students with average grades could be eligible for a needs based grant under a measure that could be voted on in the senate this week.

Senate bill 496, sponsored by Senator Jack Hill, would revamp the HOPE scholarship, introducing a needs based initiative that would be offered in addition to the academic merit scholarship. Currently students are required to maintain a B average to earn and keep the HOPE scholarship.

"There are a lot of kids who are either attempting to go to college or may not be able to stay in college, particularly with tuition rising and some of the other fees and sorts of things. It's intended to be a stay in college grant," said Hill.

Hill says the grant would be awarded only when there are sufficient revenues from the lottery to also fund standard HOPE scholarships.

The needs based grants would be between $600 and $700.

Tags: lawmakers, Georgia HOPE scholarships, Senator Jack Hill