HF 1195

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/22/2024 04:08pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring high school students to complete the FAFSA or
state financial aid application; requiring the commissioners of the Office of Higher
Education and the Department of Education to establish a FAFSA working group;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.02, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin FAFSA requirement. new text end

new text begin (a) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, to graduate
from high school, a high school student must complete one of the following requirements
prior to graduation:
new text end

new text begin (1) complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form,
or if the student is not eligible to complete a FAFSA form, an application for state financial
aid; or
new text end

new text begin (2) using a form created by the Department of Education, file a signed waiver with the
student's high school indicating that the parent or guardian of the student, or the student if
the student is at least 18 years old or legally emancipated, understands what the FAFSA
form or state financial aid application is and has chosen not to file an application.
new text end

new text begin (b) A high school principal or other person having administrative control of a high
school, or a high school counselor, may waive the requirements under paragraph (a) if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the student is unable to fulfill either of the requirements due to extenuating
circumstances, including circumstances related to the immigration status of the student or
the student's family;
new text end

new text begin (2) the student has met all other graduation requirements; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the principal or high school counselor attests that the high school has made a good
faith effort to assist the student or family in meeting either of the requirements.
new text end

new text begin (c) A high school counselor must encourage and assist high school seniors to complete
and submit the FAFSA or state financial aid application.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2024.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin FAFSA WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education and Office of Higher Education must convene a working
group of qualified stakeholders to develop resources under this section that help high schools
and students meet the FAFSA or state financial aid graduation requirement under Minnesota
Statutes, section 120B.02, subdivision 4. Stakeholders must include but are not limited to
agencies or organizations working with the following populations of students:
new text end

new text begin (1) students from families with low income;
new text end

new text begin (2) minority students;
new text end

new text begin (3) students who are nonnative English speakers;
new text end

new text begin (4) unaccompanied youth;
new text end

new text begin (5) students experiencing homelessness; and
new text end

new text begin (6) students who have been or are currently in foster care.
new text end

new text begin (b) The working group must develop resources related to financial aid, completing
financial aid applications, meeting the FAFSA or state financial aid graduation requirement
under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.02, subdivision 4, and assigning counselors in
supporting students and their families through informational sessions and printed information.
The resources must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a counselor toolkit with planning, training, outreach, and marketing materials that
may be adopted and used to help students complete the FAFSA or state financial aid
graduation requirement, including contact information for agencies and organizations that
assist populations of students who may have difficulty completing the FAFSA or state
financial aid application, and resources for students and families in multiple languages;
new text end

new text begin (2) a statewide outreach plan to educate students and families about the new graduation
requirement;
new text end

new text begin (3) training for counselors and other school personnel who assist students with meeting
the FAFSA or state financial aid graduation requirement; and
new text end

new text begin (4) strategies to ensure that students and families from the following groups receive
information about the requirement in Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.02, subdivision 4:
new text end

new text begin (i) families with low income;
new text end

new text begin (ii) minority students and families;
new text end

new text begin (iii) nonnative English speakers;
new text end

new text begin (iv) unaccompanied youth;
new text end

new text begin (v) families experiencing homelessness; and
new text end

new text begin (vi) students who have been or are currently in foster care.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Office of Higher Education and Department of Education must collaborate to
make the resources developed by the working group accessible to school counselors
throughout Minnesota. The Department of Education must submit a report of the working
group to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education and higher education by February
1, 2024, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195. The report must:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify the annual goal for the percentage of high school seniors completing the
FAFSA under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.096;
new text end

new text begin (2) describe the working group's progress on developing the resources required under
this section;
new text end

new text begin (3) recommend any funding necessary to provide additional resources and supports to
school districts and charter schools, counselors, and students and their families to meet the
requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.02, subdivision 4; and
new text end

new text begin (4) include any other resources or information the working group deems appropriate.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; FAFSA OUTREACH EFFORTS.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2024 from the general fund to the commissioner
of the Office of Higher Education for FAFSA outreach efforts. This is a onetime
appropriation. Of this amount:
new text end

new text begin (1) $300,000 is for the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, in collaboration
with the FAFSA working group in section 2, to conduct an outreach effort to secondary
schools to increase awareness of the universal FAFSA or state financial aid application
requirements under section 1, and to assist in completing the FAFSA or state financial aid
application; and
new text end

new text begin (2) $200,000 is for grants to 501(c)(3) organizations to assist in outreach to students and
families in completing the FAFSA or state financial aid application. The commissioner of
the Office of Higher Education is required to create an application process and selection
criteria for awarding the grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. Any funds remaining after the
grant allocations may be used by the Office of Higher Education for FAFSA outreach efforts.
new text end