S.918 / H.1431 (Sen. Jo Comerford; Rep. Sean Garballey)
SUMMARY: Aligns existing law with legislative intent to provide full tuition and fee waivers at public higher education institutes for youth adopted from DCF and youth in DCF custody for all courses.
WHY IT’S NEEDED: Two issues currently impede the existing law’s intent: (1) a loophole in the state’s financial aid system has prevented this tuition waiver from covering courses taught at night or by faculty who are not full time; (2) it could be interpreted as not applying to youth in DCF custody.
BILLS SOLUTIONS
- (1) students can use financial aid tuition and fee waivers for any course offered by a state higher education institution.
- (2) clarifies that youth in DCF custody are also eligible for full tuition and fee waivers.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Ways and Means via favorable report from the Joint Committee on Higher Education on 9/8/2025
SPONSORS
House: Garballey, Gallagher, DuBois
Senate: Comerford, Lewis