HB 1934

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
  HOUSE BILL NO. 1934
  103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH (74).
 4926H.01I  JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
  AN ACT
 To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to standard forms
  for higher education admission and financial aid letters.
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
  Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 173.057, to read as follows:
  173.057. 1. As used in this section, the term "public colleges and universities"
2 means any public community college, public college, or public university located in this
3 state.
42. There is hereby established the "College Admission and Financial Aid Letter
5 Consistency Task Force" to develop standardized forms for public colleges and
6 universities to use for admission letters and student financial aid award letters.
73. All task force members shall be appointed before October 1, 2026. The task
8 force shall consist of fifteen members appointed as follows:
9(1) Three parents or legal guardians of students who attend a public university
10 or two-year college in this state, appointed by the joint committee on education;
11(2) Three students who attend a public university or two-year college in this
12 state, appointed by the joint committee on education;
13(3) An administrator from a public institution of higher education who is
14 involved in admissions, appointed by the commissioner of higher education;
15(4) An administrator from a public institution of higher education who is
16 involved in financial aid, appointed by the commissioner of higher education;
 EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
 intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
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17(5) A representative of a public community college who is involved in
18 admissions, appointed by a statewide organization of community colleges;
19(6) A representative of a public community college who is involved in finance,
20 appointed by a statewide organization of community colleges;
21(7) A career and technical education professional who has experience serving as
22 an advisor to a statewide career and technical education organization, appointed by a
23 statewide career and technical education organization;
24(8) A secondary school counselor, appointed by a statewide association of school
25 counselors;
26(9) A secondary school career and college counselor, appointed by a statewide
27 association of school counselors;
28(10) An apprenticeship professional, appointed by the department of higher
29 education and workforce development; and
30(11) A representative of the State Technical College of Missouri, appointed by
31 the college's board of regents.
324. The members of the task force shall elect a chair from among the membership
33 of the task force. The task force shall meet as needed to perform its duties and complete
34 its findings and recommendations as described in this section. The department of
35 higher education and workforce development shall provide any legal, research, clerical,
36 and technical services the task force requires in the performance of its duties. Members
37 of the task force shall serve without compensation but may, subject to appropriation, be
38 reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official
39 duties as members of the task force. No school district policy or administrative action
40 shall require any education employee member to use personal leave or incur a reduction
41 in pay for participating on the task force.
425. The task force shall develop a standard admission letter and a standard
43 financial aid award letter to be used by all public colleges and universities. The
44 standard financial aid award letter shall clearly list at least the following information:
45(1) The estimated cost of attendance including, but not limited to, the cost of
46 tuition and fees, room and board, books, and transportation for the current academic
47 year as well as estimates for each academic year that the student would need to attend to
48 earn a degree at such institution, with a disclaimer that the cost of attendance for years
49 other than the current academic year are estimates and may be subject to change;
50(2) All federal, state, and institutional financial aid offered, with an explanation
51 as to which components will require repayment;
52(3) Any expected student or family contribution;
53(4) Campus-specific graduation, median borrowing, and loan default rates;
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54(5) A glossary of terms and definitions used in the standard letter; and
55(6) Any other necessary information as determined by the task force.
566. Before January 1, 2027, the task force shall submit a report to the speaker of
57 the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the joint
58 committee on education, and the coordinating board for higher education. The report
59 shall contain the task force's findings, samples of a recommended standard admission
60 letter and a standard financial aid award letter, and recommendations for legislation
61 pertaining to requirements for a standard admission letter and a standard financial aid
62 award letter to be used by all public colleges and universities.
637. Upon submission of the task force's report, the task force shall dissolve.
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