CT HB05832

Public institutions of higher education may establish emergency expense grant programs to provide grants to students experiencing unexpected financial hardship, including childcare, medical care, or transportation expenses.

Students may apply for grants directly or be nominated by institution employees; applications must include explanation of hardship, documentation of emergency expenses, and any other required information.

Institutions may fund programs through private donations, institutional funds, or state matching grants administered by the Office of Higher Education.

State matching grants are capped at $500,000 annually per fiscal year and equal the total private donations received by each institution during the prior fiscal year; grants are reduced pro rata if total applications exceed available funds.

Institutions receiving state matching grants must maintain separate nonlapsing accounts and submit annual reports by July 1, 2021 and thereafter, including data on applications received, grant amounts, purposes, and graduation rates of recipients.