Bill > SB252

This bill aims to waive fees for homeless youth under 25 years old who are seeking to obtain a high school proficiency certificate or a high school equivalency certificate, which are alternative pathways to a traditional high school diploma. For the high school proficiency test, the State Department of Education will no longer charge a fee to homeless individuals under 25 who can verify their status, with a homeless services provider able to assist with this verification. Similarly, for the high school equivalency test, contractors or testing centers will be prohibited from charging their own separate fees to eligible homeless youth under 25, with verification also possible through a homeless services provider. The bill also allows for the use of surplus funds from a specific account to reimburse contractors for any lost fees related to these waivers, and requires contractors to absorb ongoing waiver costs if these surplus funds are depleted, with reporting requirements to the legislature on the impact of these fee waivers.