Subcommittee gives favorable report to CHE statute cleanup, including small loan forgiveness

A Senate Education subcommittee voted to report a Commission on Higher Education (CHE) cleanup bill favorably to the full committee after brief presentations and questions.

Donna Barton explained the bill as primarily a statutory cleanup that repeals obsolete provisions and adjusts language to match current practice. Dr. Jeffrey Perez told the committee the amendment reallocates how a longstanding percentage is applied — moving the percentage onto the $12 million education endowment line so that about $8.99 million would instead be available for need‑based grants at public institutions. "The bottom line up front is the changes in this amendment will make about 9,000,000 additional dollars available to the need based grants program for public institutions," Dr. Perez said.

Perez also described the governor scholarship loan program as defunct; he said 19 borrowers remain, 16 are in default and two are on payment plans totaling "a little bit less than $28,000," and recommended forgiving those two loans because administrative costs outweigh continued collection efforts.

The chair called for a motion for a favorable report to the full committee. A motion was made and seconded, there was no further discussion, and the subcommittee approved the favorable report by voice vote. The chair noted a proxy vote from Turner would be added to the tally.

The committee will send the cleanup bill, with the amendment described in committee, to the full committee for further consideration.