HB 2171 — Addressing financial aid grants for incarcerated students.

H-2695.1H-2441.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2171 State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session By House Postsecondary Education & Workforce (originally sponsored by Representatives Leavitt, Waters, Slatter, Simmons, Reed, Ramel, Doglio, Reeves, and Davis)Davis READPrefiled FIRST01/05/24. TIME 01/19/24.

Read first time 01/08/24.

Referred to Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.

and amending RCW 72.09.46072.09.460. and 72.09.467.

1 SHBHB 2171 (3) The legislature recognizes more incarcerated individuals may agree to participate in education and work programs than are available.

(b) If programming is provided pursuant to (a)(((i)(a)(i) through))through (ii) and (iii) of this subsection that is eligible for financial aid, the department may not require an incarcerated individual to apply for,for butor notutilize utilize,financial federalaid andgrants stateavailable financialto aidthe grantsincarcerated forindividual useas a condition to participation in such programming.

At the incarcerated individual's option, the incarcerated individual may apply for and utilize federal and state financial aid grants for theuse costtowards ofpostsecondary attendanceeducation. for eligible programming provided pursuant to (a)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection.

AnIf the cost of attendance exceeds the grant award, or the incarcerated individual mayis receivenot educationeligible grants,for scholarships,financial aid or third-partychooses fundingnot to coverapply for or utilize financial aid, or if financial aid is not available, the department shall pay the cost of attendance.such programming not otherwise covered by third-party funding, including but not limited to books, materials, and supplies.

An(c)(i) incarceratedIf individualprogramming mayis receiveprovided department-approvedpursuant donatedto educational(a)(iv) materialsof fundedthis bysubsection, grantsincarcerated andindividuals donationsshall andbe suppliedrequired byto educationpay providersall or thirda parties.portion of the costs, including books, fees, and tuition, for p.

If2 theHB cost2171 ofparticipation attendancein exceedsany eligibilityvocational, forwork, grants, or theeducation incarceratedprogram individualas isprovided notin eligible for financial aid or chooses not to apply for or utilize financial aid, or if financial aid is not available, the department shallpolicies. pay the cost of such p.

2At SHBthe 2171incarcerated programmingindividual's whereoption, possiblethe incarcerated individual may apply for and notutilize otherwisefederal coveredand bystate third-partyfinancial funding,aid includinggrants butand notmay limitedreceive todepartment-approved books,donated materials,education materials funded by grants and supplies.donations and supplied by education providers.

(c)(i)The Ifdepartment programmingmay isnot providedrequire pursuantan to (a)(iv) of this subsection, incarcerated individualsindividual shall be required to payapply allfor or autilize portionfinancial ofaid theas costs,a includingcondition books,of fees, and tuition, for participation in anyan vocational,educational work,program. or education program as provided in department policies.

IfDepartment programmingpolicies providedshall pursuantinclude toa (a)(iv)postaward offormula this subsection is eligible for financialdetermining aid,how themuch department may require an incarcerated individual toshall applybe for,required butto notpay utilize,after federaldeducting andany stateamount from available financial aid grantsor forthird-party usefunding. in such programming.

At the incarcerated individual's option, the incarcerated individual may utilize federal and state financial aid grants for the cost of attendance for eligible programming provided pursuant to (a)(iv) of this subsection.

An incarcerated individual may receive education grants, scholarships, or third-party funding to cover the cost of attendance.

An incarcerated individual may receive department-approved donated educational materials funded by grants and donations and supplied by education providers or third parties.

Department policies shall include a postaward formula for determining how much an incarcerated individual shall be required to pay after deducting any amount from utilized financial aid or third-party funding.

(d) The department may accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services from any third party, including but not limited to nonprofit entities and community- p.based postsecondary education programs, and may receive, utilize, and dispose of same to complete the purposes of this section.

3 SHB 2171 based postsecondary education programs, and may receive, utilize, and dispose of same to complete the purposes of this section.

(5) The department shall provide access to a program of education to all incarcerated individuals who are under the age of eighteen and who have not met high school graduation requirements or requirements to earn a high school equivalency certificate as provided in RCW 28B.50.536p. in accordance with chapter 28A.193 RCW.

3 HB 2171 28B.50.536 in accordance with chapter 28A.193 RCW.

p.(iv) An incarcerated individual's economic circumstances, including but not limited to an incarcerated individual's family support obligations;

4 SHB 2171 (iv) An incarcerated individual's economic circumstances, including but not limited to an incarcerated individual's family support obligations;

(7)p. Eligible incarcerated individuals who refuse to participate in available education or work programs available at no charge to the incarcerated individuals shall lose privileges according to the system established under RCW 72.09.130.

4 HB 2171 (7) Eligible incarcerated individuals who refuse to participate in available education or work programs available at no charge to the incarcerated individuals shall lose privileges according to the system established under RCW 72.09.130.

When the department determines an incarcerated individual p.is permanently unable to participate in any available education or work program due to a health condition, the incarcerated individual is exempt from the requirement under subsection (2) of this section.

5 SHB 2171 is permanently unable to participate in any available education or work program due to a health condition, the incarcerated individual is exempt from the requirement under subsection (2) of this section.

(11)p. The department shall establish policies requiring an incarcerated individual to pay all or a portion of the costs and tuition for any vocational training or postsecondary education program if the incarcerated individual previously abandoned coursework related to postsecondary degree or certificate education or vocational training without excuse as defined in rule by the department.

5 HB 2171 (11) The department shall establish policies requiring an incarcerated individual to pay all or a portion of the costs and tuition for any vocational training or postsecondary education program if the incarcerated individual previously abandoned coursework related to postsecondary degree or certificate education or vocational training without excuse as defined in rule by the department.

p.(c) May participate in prevocational or vocational training that may be necessary to participate in a work program;

6 SHB 2171 (c) May participate in prevocational or vocational training that may be necessary to participate in a work program;

Upon the incarcerated individual's completion of a postsecondary education program, the department shall provide to the incarcerated individual, at no cost to the individual, a copy of the incarceratedp. individual's unofficial transcripts.

6 HB 2171 incarcerated individual's unofficial transcripts.

Sec.

2.

RCW 72.09.467 and 2021 c 200 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department, the state board for community and technical colleges, the student achievement council, and the Washington statewide reentry council, in collaboration with an organization representing the presidents of the public four-year institutions of higher education, shall submit a combined report, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by December 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, to the appropriate committees of the legislature having oversight over higher education issues and correctional matters.

The state agencies shall consult and engage with nonprofit and community-based postsecondary education providers during the development of the annual report.

(2) At a minimum, the combined report must include:

(a) The number of incarcerated individuals served in the department's postsecondary education system, the number of individuals not served, the number of individuals leaving the p.