SF 2735

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/04/2022 09:30am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring FAFSA Next for high school graduation; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.02, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Previous FAFSA Next requirement. new text end

new text begin Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, a student
must: (1) complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( Previous FAFSA Next ) form
in order to graduate from a Minnesota public high school, or if the student is not eligible to
complete a Previous FAFSA Next form, an application for state financial aid; or (2) on 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 Previous FAFSA Next form is and has chosen not to file
an application. If a student is not able to fulfill the requirements of (1) or (2) due to
extenuating circumstances, as determined by the school, the high school principal may grant
a hardship waiver to the student.
new text end

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

new text begin The Department of Education and Office of Higher Education must convene a working
group of qualified stakeholders to make recommendations on how to provide support to
schools and students to complete the Previous FAFSA graduation requirement under Minnesota
Statutes, section 120B.02, subdivision 4. By February 1, 2022, the Department of Education
must submit the report of the working group to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over K-12 education policy and higher
education.
new text end