(a) To be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman, a student who graduates from an eligible high school after December 1, 2003, upon meeting all curriculum requirements of the high school for graduation and who is seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution, shall:

(1) Meet all requirements for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship;

(2) Achieve a final overall weighted high school grade point average of at least 3.75;

(3) Attain a composite ACT score of at least 29 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date;

(4) Apply for a general assembly merit scholarship; and

(5) Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after graduating from high school.

(b) To be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman, a student who completes high school in a Tennessee home school program after December 1, 2003, or who graduates from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school after December 1, 2003, shall:

(1) Meet all requirements for a Tennessee Hope scholarship that are applicable to the student;

(2) Attain a composite ACT score of at least 29 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date;

(3) During the course of a home school program or while attending an ineligible high school:

(A) Enroll in at least four (4) dual enrollment courses totaling at least twelve (12) semester hours credit at an eligible postsecondary institution and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0;

(B) Participate in a governor's school program, and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0;

(C) Take two (2) Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, and make a score of at least three (3); or

(D) Take one (1) College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test, and make a score of at least fifty-five (55);

(4) [Deleted by 2016 amendment.]

(5) Apply for a general assembly merit scholarship; and

(6) Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school in a Tennessee home school program, or graduating from high school.

(c) A student, who receives a general assembly merit scholarship as an entering freshman shall continue to be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship, if the student meets all requirements of § 49-4-911 for continuation of a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.

(d) If a student receiving a general assembly merit scholarship ceases to be academically eligible for the general assembly merit scholarship, by failing to maintain the required cumulative grade point average at the end of any semester in which academic eligibility is reviewed under § 49-4-911, then the student may regain the Tennessee HOPE scholarship award under § 49-4-911(b), but may not regain the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award. If a student receiving a general assembly merit scholarship ceases to be eligible for a general assembly merit scholarship at any time, for any reason other than failure to maintain the required cumulative grade point average, then the student shall not be able to regain either the Tennessee HOPE scholarship or the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award.

(e) A student who meets the requirements for a general assembly merit scholarship shall receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship award under § 49-4-914 and a general assembly merit scholar supplemental award. The general assembly merit scholar supplemental award for full-time students shall be determined in accordance with § 4-51-111 and shall be set in the general appropriations act. Both the Tennessee HOPE scholarship award and the general assembly merit scholar supplemental award are subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery.