AN ACT CONCERNING POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN.

This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide postsecondary education assistance for certain youth and establishes eligibility requirements for the assistance. DCF must provide financial assistance for each youth who:

1. is in DCF guardianship,

2. was in DCF guardianship until his or her 18^th birthday and is still receiving voluntary services from DCF,

3. is adopted through the DCF foster care program, or

4. participates in the subsidized guardianship program.

The bill requires that the students be accepted and enrolled part- or full-time at a public higher education institution in the state. And it limits the financial assistance to the cost of tuition, fees, books, and, if applicable, room and board.

By policy, DCF already provides financial assistance for post-secondary educational and vocational opportunities for youths (1) in DCF guardianship, (2) over age 18 but still receiving voluntary services from DCF, or (3) adopted through its foster care program after December 31, 2004.

1. begin postsecondary education in the first semester immediately following his or her high school graduation;

2. apply for every appropriate grant and scholarship to offset postsecondary education expenses, pursuant to DCF policy;

3. provide DCF with documentation of his or her enrollment in a public higher education institution in the state and financial aid application; and

4. remain in good academic standing, as the department defines.

The bill requires that youth continue to receive assistance if they are (1) eligible for tuition assistance under current DCF policy and (2) approved to receive such assistance for the 2009-10 academic year. This applies for the 2009-10 academic year and every consecutive school year thereafter, pursuant to DCF policies in effect as of January 1, 2009.

The DCF policy manual currently requires it to provide financial assistance for youth (1) committed to DCF on their 18^th birthday or (2) adopted through the DCF foster care program after December 31, 2004. It allows such assistance to continue until the person's 23^rd birthday under certain conditions. The policy manual limits the amount paid for students adopted through the DCF foster care program and it sets other requirements for all students receiving assistance. These include requirements for students to apply and compete for appropriate grants and scholarships to offset the cost and to contribute $ 500 to their annual educational costs unless grants and scholarships obtained cover the full cost. The policy, unlike the bill, does not require students to be enrolled at a particular college or university as a condition of receiving assistance (DCF Policy Manual §§ 42-20-20, 42-20-21, and 48-20-2).

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2009)