HB1739 HFLR Page 1
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
HOUSE BILL 1739 By: Dills and Lawson of the
House
and
Stanley of the Senate
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to children; creating the Conn ecting
Futures Act; directing Department of Human Services
to create pilot program; allowing Department to act
as authorized entity in providing consent for certain
minors to obtain services and documents; allowing
Department to make referrals; directing D epartment to
promulgate rules; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section
2605, as last amended by Section 4, Chapter 289,
O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 2605), which
relates to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program; allowing certain students to apply for
Oklahoma Higher Access Learning Program without
parental income; providing for codification;
providing for noncodification; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
HB1739 HFLR Page 2
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Connecting
Futures Act".
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1 -2-112 of Title 10A, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Department of Human Services may, subject to available
funding, create a pilot program to address needs of any minors who
are separated from their parents or legal guardians, are not
supported by their parents or legal guardians and are not in the
custody of the Department of Human Services or in the custody of any
Indian tribe. The pilot program shall allow the Department to
provide assistance in securing necessary services to allow eligible
minors to become self -reliant and productive citizens. Nothing in
this section shall be construed to deprive the parent or legal
guardian of any parental or legal authority regarding the care and
custody of the child. If implemented by the Department, the pilot
program shall:
1. Provide for the Department to act as an authorized entity in
providing consent for eligible minors in obtaining necessary
services, including routine and ordinary medical and behavioral
health services;
2. Provide for the Department to act as an authorized entity in
providing consent for eligible minors to obtain the following
HB1739 HFLR Page 3
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
documents pertaining to the eligible minor, including, but not
limited to:
a. an official copy of a United States birth certificate,
b. a Social Security card issued by the Social Security
Administration,
c. health insurance information, and
d. a state-issued identification card;
3. Allow the Department to provide case management, advocacy
and referrals to organizations, including , but not limited to, safe
housing, counseling services, education and employment services; and
4. Allow the Department to act as an authorized entity in
providing consent for eligible minors to enlist in the National
Guard.
B. In the event that the minor is a member of, or eligible for
membership in, a federally recognized Indian tribe, the Department
shall send notice to the minor's tribe that the minor is being
served pursuant to this section.
C. The Department may:
1. Contract for services necessary to carry out the duties of
the Department pursuant to the provisions of this section; and
2. Accept the services of volunteer workers or consultants ;
provided no compensation be provided for such services.
D. The Department shall promulgate rules to implement the
provisions of this section.
HB1739 HFLR Page 4
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2011, Section 2605, as
last amended by Section 4, Chapter 289, O.S.L. 2017 (70 O.S. Supp.
2020, Section 2605), is amended to read a s follows:
Section 2605. A. Each school year, every fifth - through ninth-
grade student in the public and private schools of this state and
students who are educated by other means and are in the equivalent
of the fifth through ninth grade shall be appris ed, together with
the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the student, of the
opportunity for access to higher learning under the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education and the State Board of Educatio n shall develop, promote,
and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in making
students and parents aware of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program.
B. On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, every public school district shall designate at least one
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be
a counselor or teacher, at each public school site in this state in
which eighth-, ninth- or tenth-grade classes are taught. When
requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education shall
assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact
persons. Private schools shall also designate at least one school
official as a contact person. For students who are educated by
HB1739 HFLR Page 5
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the
State Regents shall be designated the contact person.
C. 1. Students who qualify on the basis of financial need
according to subsection D or E of this section or who meet the
eligibility qualific ation set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1
of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title prior to entering the
tenth grade or prior to reaching the age of fifteen (15) and the
standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the
eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade years, for students enrolled in a
public or private school, or between the ages of thirteen (13) and
fifteen (15), for students who are educated by other means, to enter
into participation in the program by agreeing to, throughout the
remainder of their school years or educational program:
a. attend school or an educational program regularly and
do homework regularly,
b. refrain from substance abuse,
c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts,
d. have school work and school records reviewed by
mentors designated pursuant to the program,
e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education or the State Board of
Education, and
f. participate in program activities.
HB1739 HFLR Page 6
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2. Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in
subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 2603 of
this title after completing the tenth grade or after reaching the
age of sixteen (16) shall be given the opportunity prior to reaching
the age of twenty-one (21) to enter into participation in the
program and shall execute an agreement with provisions as determined
by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
3. The contact person s hall maintain the agreements, which
shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education and managed according to regulations
promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and
the contact person shall mon itor compliance of the student with the
terms of the agreement. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify
compliance with the agreements. Students failing to comply with the
terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided
in Section 2604 of this title.
D. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection E of this
section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B
of Section 2603 of this title, a student sha ll not be found to be in
financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program if:
1. At the time the student applies for participation in the
program during the eighth, ninth or tenth grade for students
HB1739 HFLR Page 7
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
enrolled in a public or privat e school, or between the ages of
thirteen (13) and fifteen (15), for students who are educated by
other means, the income from taxable and nontaxable sources of the
student's parent(s) exceeds Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per
year;
2. Beginning with eighth-, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
means who apply for participation in the program in the 2017 -2018
school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
parent(s) exceeds Fifty -five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00) per year;
3. Beginning with eighth -, ninth- or tenth-grade students who
are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
means who apply for participation in the program in the 2021 -2022
school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
parent(s) exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year;
4. At the time the student begins postsecondary education and
prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
benefit award, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per
year; and
5. Beginning with the 2018 -2019 academic year, prior to
receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
HB1739 HFLR Page 8
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
for any year during which the student is enrolled in an institution
which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of High er Education,
a postsecondary vocational -technical program offered by a technology
center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
student financial aid or a private institution of higher learning
located within this state and accredit ed pursuant to Section 4103 of
this title, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) per
year.
The determination of financial qualification as set forth in
paragraphs 4 and 5 of this sub section shall be based on the income
of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if a student:
a. is determined to be independent of the student's
parents for federal financial aid purposes,
b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of
Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the
program, or
c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally
recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal
Indian Child Welfare Act, at the time the student
enrolled in the program.
The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who
has received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit
award after the 2017 -2018 school year; and
HB1739 HFLR Page 9
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
6. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review
the determination of financial qualific ation as set forth in
paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection if the income from taxable
and nontaxable sources of the student's parent(s) includes income
received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
the federal Social Security Admin istration due to the death or
disability of the student's parent(s). If the income from taxable
and nontaxable sources of the student's parent(s), excluding income
received from nontaxable military benefits or income received from
the federal Social Secur ity Administration due to the death or
disability of the student's parent(s), does not exceed the
limitations set forth by paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection,
the student shall be determined to have met the financial
qualification set forth in paragr aphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subsection.
E. 1. A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12)
years of age while in the permanent custody of the Department of
Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a licensed private
nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, shall not
be found to be in financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program if at the time the student begins
postsecondary educati on and prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted gross
income of the student's parent(s) exceeds One Hundred Fifty Thousand
HB1739 HFLR Page 10
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Dollars ($150,000.00) per year. The provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply to any student who has received an Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the 2012 -2013 school
year.
2. A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and
seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the
Department of Human Services, in the court -ordered custody of a
licensed private nonprofit child -placing agency, or federally
recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child
Welfare Act, shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes
of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the
student begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal
adjusted gross income of the student's parent(s) exceeds Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year. The provisions of this
paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
2012-2013 school year.
3. Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of
Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial
qualification as set forth in this subsection shall be based on the
income of the student, not the income of the parent(s), if the
student is determined to be i ndependent of the student's parent(s)
for federal financial aid purposes or is receiving services from the
HB1739 HFLR Page 11
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 2 of this act . A
determination of financial qualification shall not be required for
the student who meets the criteria set forth in this subsection at
the time the student applies for participation in the program. The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who has
received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
prior to the 2008-2009 school year.
F. The financial qualification of a student as set forth in
subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the
contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education. The form shall be retained in the permanent
record of the student and a copy forwarded to the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education.
G. Agreements shall be witnessed by the parent, custodial
parent, or guardian of the student, who shall further agree to:
1. Assist the student in achieving compliance with the
agreements;
2. Confer, when requested to do so, with the school contact
person, other school personnel, and program mentors;
3. Provide information requested by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education or the State Board of Education; and
4. Assist the student in completing forms and reports required
for program participation, making applications to institutions and
HB1739 HFLR Page 12
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
schools of higher learning, and filing applications for student
grants and scholarships.
H. Students who are enrolled in a school district located in
this state that serves students who reside in both this state and an
adjacent state pursuant to a contract as authorized i n Section 5-
117.1 of this title, are in the eleventh and twelfth grades during
the 2006-2007 school year, and who were denied participation in the
program shall be allowed to enter or reenter into participation in
the program by entering into agreements as set forth in subsections
C and D of this section by June 1, 2008.
I. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
promulgate rules for the determination of student compliance with
agreements made pursuant to this section.
J. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
designate personnel to coordinate tracking of program records for
the years when students participating in the program are still in
the schools or are being educated by other means, provide staff
development for contact p ersons in the schools, and provide liaison
with the State Board of Education and local organizations and
individuals participating in the program.
K. The school district where an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program student is enrolled when the student begins participation in
the program and any subsequent school district where the student
enrolls shall forward information regarding participation by the
HB1739 HFLR Page 13
BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
student in the program to a school to which the student transfers
upon the request of the school for the records of the student.
L. Students participating in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
Access Program shall provide their Social Security number or their
student identification number used by their school to the Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education. The Regents shall keep the
numbers confidential and use them only for administrative purposes.
SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY
SERVICES, dated 02/09/2021 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.