General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7234
January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4727
*04727_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 7234
January Session, 2017
LCO No. 4727
*04727_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT CONCERNING FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS IN CRISIS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2017) (a) For purposes of this section, "student in crisis" means a student attending an institution of higher education (1) who does not have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food; (2) who is at risk of becoming or is homeless; or (3) who is claiming an exemption from providing parental information under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid due to special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the incarceration of a parent or guardian of such student, such student has left home due to an abusive family environment, the inability to locate or contact a parent or guardian of such student, or other circumstances to the extent permitted by federal law.
(b) Each public institution of higher education shall: (1) Identify students in crisis; (2) designate a new or existing employee to serve as the students in crisis coordinator for the institution and require such employee to provide information of any available services or resources to any student in crisis referred to such employee by the institution; (3) establish policies that provide emergency temporary housing for students in crisis; (4) allow students in crisis to remain in on-campus housing throughout the year at minimal cost to the student in crisis; (5) allow a student in crisis to establish an on-campus mailing address; (6) give priority to students in crisis for summer employment at the institution that provides housing; and (7) require a financial aid administrator to assist students in crisis in applying for financial aid awards, grants, scholarships and other financial resources.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2017, each public institution of higher education shall post, and update as necessary, the services and resources offered to students in crisis on the institution's Internet web site.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2017 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
July 1, 2017
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To assist students in crisis at public institutions of higher education gain access to institutional services and financial resources.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]