Makes provisions with respect to student awards, loans and tuition assistance programs

• Democratic2

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Toby Ann Stavisky says this is needed

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) was established by the Legislature to have central responsibility for the proper administration and oversight of financial aid. While HESC is empowered to determine the initial eligibility of a student for financial assistance, it does not always make timely eligibility determinations. This creates unnecessary delays and uncertainty for both students and the institutions they are scheduled to attend. Furthermore, HESC has in the past retroactively disallowed financial aid it has already certified, thereby obliging students or, more likely, institutions, to repay financial awards. This practice results in hardships for the students and/or the institutions. This bill directs HESC to make an initial determination of financial eligibility within sixty days of the receipt of the financial aid appli- cation from the student. if HESC fails to make its determination within the allotted time, the student shall be deemed eligible to receive aid for the semester for which the application was made; provided, however, that HESC is allowed a 30 day extension to make its determination if it notifies the institution in writing that it needs additional time to examine the case of a particular student. Such notification must be made before the expiration of the original 60 day time period.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.