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SB 5953

Concerning financial aid grants for incarcerated students.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Noel Frame and 9 co-sponsors

SB 5953 lets incarcerated Washington students apply for federal and state gift aid for eligible programs, with DOC coordinating aid, payments, and a postaward formula.

Effective date 6/6/2024.
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Bill Summary · SB 5953

Summary — SB 5953 (Chapter 272, 2024 Laws)

Title: Concerning financial aid grants for incarcerated students
Status: Enacted; Governor signed 3/26/2024. Effective date: 6/6/2024.
Introduced: 01/03/2024. Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services (original sponsors listed).

Purpose

SB 5953 updates Washington law governing postsecondary education in state correctional facilities to (1) allow incarcerated individuals to apply for and use federal and state gift aid (e.g., Pell Grants, Washington College Grant) for eligible programs, and (2) revise how the Department of Corrections (DOC) coordinates payment responsibilities, financial-advising, and payment formulas for different categories of correctional education programs.

Key provisions

  • Scope and priorities: Confirms DOC priorities for incarcerated education (in order): (1) basic academic skills / high school diploma or equivalency; (2) vocational skills tied to work programs; (3) programs required by an individual reentry plan (including postsecondary degree/certificate); and (4) other vocational/postsecondary programs not tied to reentry plans.
  • Financial-aid-eligible programs for goals 1–3:
    • If a program is not financial-aid-eligible when an individual is enrolled or is paid for by DOC/third party, DOC continues to pay costs (books, materials, supplies).
    • If a program is financial-aid-eligible, DOC may require an individual to apply for available federal and state financial aid grants but may not require that the individual use those grants as a condition of participation.
    • Individuals may choose to use financial aid, self-pay, third-party funding, or any combination. If grants do not fully cover cost of attendance—or if the person is ineligible—DOC must pay remaining costs not covered by third-party funding.
    • All applicable U.S. Department of Education rules for Pell Grant prison education programs apply.
  • Programs under goal 4 (non-reentry postsecondary/vocational):
    • Individuals remain responsible for all or part of costs but may apply for and use federal and state grants.
    • DOC must implement a postaward formula that deducts amounts from available financial aid or other sources to determine an individual’s required payment. The formula must correlate to average monthly income or savings and prorate per-credit fees; it must be reviewed every two years.
    • Offsets or DOC funds applied under the postaward formula may not reduce “gift aid” (i.e., grants/scholarships that do not require repayment).
    • Individuals who self-pay or use third-party funding are not subject to the postaward formula.
  • Supports and limits:
    • All incarcerated individuals must receive financial-aid and academic advising from an accredited higher-education institution prior to enrolling in a financial-aid eligible program.
    • Choosing not to participate in, or stopping participation in, a financial-aid eligible postsecondary program will not lead to loss of privileges.
    • Correspondence courses are ineligible for state and federal financial aid.
    • Third-party payments (e.g., nonprofits) may pay DOC directly for program costs; such payments are exempt from DOC deductions.
    • DOC may accept donations/grants for educational programs; funds collected under specified provisions must be used solely for incarcerated educational/vocational programs.

Who is affected

  • Primary: incarcerated individuals in Washington State Department of Corrections facilities (participants in postsecondary, vocational, and reentry education programs).
  • Secondary: DOC (administration, financial-accounting, program placement), accredited colleges and training providers (financial-aid processing and advising), State financial aid programs, and third-party education funders/nonprofits.

Administrative and fiscal implications

  • DOC must revise payment policies, postaward formula, advising coordination, and procedures for FAFSA/WASFA assistance and for handling third-party payments.
  • The law shifts some payment responsibility toward available gift aid for eligible programs, while preserving DOC obligation to cover uncovered costs for goals 1–3 and to apply postaward offsets for goal 4 without reducing grant aid.
  • No specific dollar appropriations are contained in the bill text.

Legislative and implementation timeline

  • Passed Senate and House (final concurrence 3/4/2024). Delivered to Governor 3/8/2024; signed 3/26/2024. Chapter 272, 2024 Laws. Effective 6/6/2024.
  • The act amends RCW 72.09.460 and related sections governing DOC education policy.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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