SB 147 (2021)

This is an omnibus bill related to education.

First, this bill requires high school students to file a  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the United States Department of Education as a graduation requirement (or file a waiver). The House amended the bill to instead only require districts or schools to notify the Department of Education (DOE) of the number and percentage of graduating high school students provided in-person school assistance in completing the complicated FAFSA form.  A conference committee of representatives and senators forged a compromise: students are required to fill out a FAFSA form to graduate, unless they are unable to complete the FAFSA and have met all other graduation requirements.

Second, this bill revises the law governing the central registry in the Department of Education to maintain records of founded reports of abuse and neglect.  For example, this bill allows the credentialing bureau to access the names of all individuals on the registry for abuse.

Third, this bill allows schools to use a contract carrier of passengers to transport pupils to or from school activities, but not transportation between home and school. The House amended the bill to allow contract carriers only for trips over 150 miles round trip.

Lastly, this allows the state to designate $250,000 in any community of 1,000 or fewer residents to mitigate the impact of special education costs. The House amended this part of the bill to also enable the creation of special education risk pools.