Committee approves workforce-development bill with contested FAFSA graduation requirement

The committee advanced bill 31‑97, a multi-section workforce-development measure that codifies a statewide attainment goal (at least 60% of working‑age residents with a postsecondary credential), funds senior‑year remediation courses, creates tiered credentials, and includes a controversial FAFSA completion component.

Pierce (committee staff) explained a k–12 subcommittee amendment that prioritizes remedial-course enrollment for students with multiple low grades and waived the FAFSA requirement if the federal form is not published before January 1. Pierce described the tiering system: "Tier 3 ... students could leave high school with that credential and if they would like be employed in a job." The chair said staff estimates that "$60,000,000 — $63,000,000 left on the table in scholarship money that students could have qualified for annually," a figure members used to argue both for and against the FAFSA mandate.

Committee members debated privacy, the opt‑out process, the administrative burden of FAFSA verification, and whether making FAFSA a graduation condition would unintentionally encourage student loans. The committee added language requiring FAFSA information to be presented at a student’s Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) and added an IGP-based waiver by unanimous consent. Representative Frank moved to strike the FAFSA section outright but that motion was tabled (12–6); after additional amendments the committee reported bill 31‑97 favorably as amended by roll call (15–3).