CT HB07161

Establishes the Finish Line Grant program administered by the Office of Higher Education beginning fall semester 2020 to provide annual awards to qualifying undergraduate students at public Connecticut higher education institutions.

Defines qualifying students as full-time undergraduates with at least 2.5 GPA, in-state classification, completion of half their degree's credit hours, expected family contribution of $7,500 or less, and acceptance of all available financial aid.

Awards equal the unpaid portion of tuition and required fees after subtracting financial aid, or $500 minimum, whichever is greater; funds must supplement rather than replace existing state or institutional aid.

Requires each public institution to conduct financial and academic audits each semester and report award totals by September 1 and February 1 annually; if total awards exceed annual appropriation, the Office of Higher Education prioritizes allocations using developed criteria.

Mandates that all grant recipients participate in a volunteer-based mentorship and counseling program, and requires the Office of Higher Education to report annually to relevant legislative committees beginning January 1, 2021.