HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION; REQUIRE FAFSA S.B. 463 (S-2):

SUMMARY OF BILL

REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 463 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Darrin Camilleri

Committee: Education

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would add Section 1278e to the Revised School Code to require a student to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of Education (MDE), or receive a parental or hardship waiver, to graduate high school. The bill also would require data concerning FAFSA completion rates and granted waivers to be compiled.

 

Proposed MCL 380.1278e

 

BRIEF RATIONALE

 

For many Michigan students, college presents a serious financial burden. The FAFSA provides students with financial resources that may decrease this burden; however, many students fail to take advantage of it. By June 2023, only about half (50.5%) of Michigan 12th graders had completed the FAFSA, ranking the State 31 out of 50 states and Washington, District of Columbia.[1] According to testimony before the Senate Committee on Education, completing the FAFSA may make attending college possible for many Michigan students. Accordingly, it has been suggested that students be required to complete the FAFSA before they graduate high school.

 

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)

 

The bill is similar to House Bill 4614 of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session.

 

Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have a negative fiscal impact on State and local government. Districts would see increased costs from ensuring all students receive assistance and information regarding FAFSA completion, providing equal language access to students and parents or legal guardians with limited English proficiency, as well as additional reporting requirements regarding student FAFSA completion. The Department of Treasury, the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), and the MDE would see additional costs from reporting and material development requirements that would be completed within existing appropriations.

 

Date Completed: 10-27-23 Fiscal Analyst: Ryan Bergan

Cory Savino, PhD

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

 


[1] "Current FAFSA Completion Rates by State", www.national.fafsatracker.com. Retrieved on 10-25-23.