Senator Moreno’s Tuition Assistance Bills Pass Education Committee

April 11, 2019

Denver, CO – The Senate Education Committee voted today to pass two bills sponsored by Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City) to help Colorado youth afford higher education.

“My family couldn’t afford the high cost of tuition at a private university, but I was lucky enough to have most of my costs covered by generous scholarship programs,” said Senator Moreno. “That’s why I’m committed to making it easier for all Coloradans to afford higher education, regardless of their circumstances. These bills will help expand tuition assistance and scholarship programs to undocumented students and formerly incarcerated youth, giving more Coloradans access to a college degree and a shot at a bright future.”

HB19-1196, Financial Aid for Students with In-state Tuition, passed by a vote of 3-to-2. Currently, students without lawful immigration status can be eligible for in-state tuition at Colorado institutions of higher education if they meet certain requirements. This bill makes these students eligible for certain financial assistance programs offered by the Department of Higher Education. It is now headed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration before the Senate.

SB19-231, Colorado Second Chance Scholarship, passed by a vote of 3-to-2. This bill would create a scholarship program in the Department of Higher Education for formerly incarcerated youth. This legislation would create an advisory board to establish scholarship criteria and select recipients, as well as appoint a program coordinator to counsel and support scholarship recipients. It is now headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

For more information about SB19-231, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-231. For more information about HB19-1196, please visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1196.

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