,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bihf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #d1 #bjah,mr4    
,casey 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,book]1 & ,mr4  
,ka9e7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to aw>d grants to ,/ates to 
support ef=ts at in/itutions ( high]    
education to increase degree atta9m5t1 &
 = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is  
,act may be cit$ z ! ,correctly         
,recogniz+ ,educational ,a*ievem5ts ,to 
,emp[] ,graduates ,act or ! ,,create    
,graduates ,act4  #b4 ,create graduates 
,title ,,vii ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aacc et seq47 is
 am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] "p ,b ! foll[+3   
,c ,create graduates  #gea4 ,purpose ,! 
purpose ( ?is "p is to aw>d grants to   
,/ates to support ef=ts at in/itutions (
 high] education or )9 sy/ems ( high]   
education to increase po/second>y degree
 atta9m5t by--  7#a7 locat+1 & conf]r+  
degrees to1 /ud5ts :o h accumulat$      

suffici5t applicable po/second>y cr$its 
& ma9ta9$ a suffici5t grade po9t av]age 
to e>n an associate's degree b did n    
receive "o2  7#b7 provid+ outrea* to ^? 
/ud5ts :o are )9 #ab cr$its ( e>n+ an   
associate's degree2 &  7#c7 e/abli%+    
p>tn]%ips betwe5 #b-ye> & #d-ye>        
in/itutions ( high] education 9 ,/ates1 
9 ord] to /r5g!n ! transition pa?ways   
into #d-ye> in/itutions ( high]         
education = transf] /ud5ts4  #geb4      
,grants to increase degree atta9m5t  7a7
 ,def9ition ( in/itution ( high]        
education ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m         
in/itution ( high] education has ! mean+
 giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aja7;a74  7b7    
,program au?oriz$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,f     
am\nts appropriat$ "u subsection 7j71 ! 
,secret>y %all aw>d grants1 on a        
competitive basis1 to ,/ates to enable !
 ,/ates to c>ry out ! activities        
describ$ 9 subsections 7e7 & 7f7 9 ord] 
to support ef=ts at in/itutions ( high] 
education to increase degree atta9m5t4  
7#b7 ,p>tn]%ips all[$ ,a ,/ate may apply

 = a grant "u ?is section 9 p>tn]%ip ) a
 nonpr(it organization4 ,9 any su*      
p>tn]%ip1 ! ,/ate high] education ag5cy 
or o!r ,/ate ag5cy describ$ 9 subsection
 7c77#a7 %all s]ve z ! fiscal ag5t =    
purposes ( ! grant4  7c7 ,submission &  
cont5ts ( application  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! 
,/ate1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,/ate high]         
education ag5cy or o!r ,/ate ag5cy      
det]m9$ appropriate by ! ,gov]nor or    
*ief executive (fic] ( ! ,/ate1 %all    
submit an application to ! ,secret>y at 
su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su*      
in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require4    
7#b7 ,cont5ts ,an application submitt$  
"u p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! foll[+3 
7,a7 ,a description ( ! ,/ate's capacity
 to adm9i/] ! grant "u ?is section &    
report annually to ! ,secret>y on !     
progress ( ! activities & s]vices       
describ$ 9 subsection 7e74  7,b7 ,a     
description ( h[ ! ,/ate w meet !       
purposes ( ! grant program "u ?is "p    
?r\gh outrea* & memor&a ( und]/&+ )     
in/itutions ( high] education1 includ+ !

 ,/ate's plan = us+ grant funds to meet 
! requirem5ts ( subsections 7e7 & 7g7 &1
 if ! ,/ate elects to use grant funds "u
 su* subsection to create /rong         
articulation agreem5ts1 subsection      
7f77#b74  7,c7 ,a description ( h[ !    
,/ate w coord9ate ) appropriate         
/akehold]s1 includ+ in/itutions ( high] 
education1 data-%>+ ag5cies )9 ! ,/ate1 
& o!r ,/ates4  7,d7 ,a description (--  
7i7 ! /ructure t ! ,/ate has 9 place to 
adm9i/] ! activities & s]vices describ$ 
9 subsection 7e71 includ+--  7,i7 !     
capacity ( ! ,/ate's longitud9al data   
sy/em to-- 7aa7 be clean ( record       
duplication & ensure alignm5t ( ,/ate & 
in/itutional cr$it completion records2  
7bb7 include transf] flags & c\rse &    
cr$it data to all[ ! ,/ate to run       
initial degree audits = in/itutions2    
7cc7 include all po/second>y educational
 in/itutions 9 ! ,/ate1 includ+ public1 
private nonpr(it1 & private =-pr(it     
in/itutions2 &  7dd7 h 9 place me*anisms
 to %>e data across in/itutions1 sy/ems1

 & ,/ates2  7,,ii7 ! capacity ( ! ag5cy 
gov]n+ ! ,/ate's longitud9al sy/em to   
respond to data reque/s accurately & 9 a
 timely mann]2 &  7,,iii7 ! ,/ate's plan
 to protect /ud5t privacy ) respect to  
data 9 ! ,/ate longitud9al data sy/em & 
comply ) section #ddd ( ! ,g5]al        
,education ,provisions ,act 7commonly   
ref]r$ to z ! ,family ,educational      
,rights & ,privacy ,act ( #aigd72 or    
7ii7 ! ,/ate's plan to develop su*      
adm9i/rative capacity z "p ( !          
activities c>ri$ out "u ! grant4  7d7   
,aw>d basis & priority ,! ,secret>y %all
 aw>d grants "u ?is section to ,/ates   
bas$ on ! quality ( ! applications      
submitt$ "u subsection 7c74 ,9 aw>d+    
grants "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all 
give priority to applications f ,/ates--
  7#a7 t d n h1 z ( ! "t ( !            
application1 /atewide policies or       
/atewide initiatives 9 place to         
retroactively aw>d associate's degrees  
to /ud5ts2 or  7#b7 t h a commitm5t to  
initiatives reg>d+ ! retroactive aw>d+ (

 associate's degrees t w cont9ue aft] ! 
p]iod ( ! grant4  7e7 ,m&atory use (    
funds  7#a7 ,subgrants ,a ,/ate t       
receives a grant "u ?is section %all use
 n less ?an #hj p]c5t ( ! grant funds   
provid$ to aw>d subgrants1 on a         
competitive basis1 to in/itutions (     
high] education or sy/ems ( high]       
education4 ,ea* in/itution ( high]      
education or sy/em ( high] education    
receiv+ a subgrant %all c>ry out all ( !
 foll[+ activities & s]vices1 pursuant  
to ! conditions "u subsection 7g73  7,a7
 ,id5tify ! gr\p ( /ud5ts enroll$ at !  
in/itution ( high] education on ! date (
 ! id5tification & =m] /ud5ts enroll$ at
 ! in/itution ( high] education1 or at !
 in/itutions ( high] education )9 !     
sy/em ( high] education1 z ! case may   
be1 t1 bas$ on ! data held by !         
in/itution or sy/em1 meet bo? ( ! foll[+
 requirem5ts3  7i7 ,ea* individual 0    
enroll$ 9 n less ?an #de po/second>y    
cr$it h\rs 7or ! m9imum requir$ by !    
,/ate to e>n an associate's degree7--   

7,i7 9 ! case ( =m] /ud5ts enroll$ at ! 
in/itution ( high] education or at !    
in/itutions ( high] education )9 ! sy/em
 ( high] education1 z ! case may be1 at 
! in/itution or in/itutions2 &  7,,ii7 9
 ! case ( /ud5ts enroll$ at ! in/itution
 ( high] education or at ! in/itutions (
 high] education )9 ! sy/em ( high]     
education1 z ! case may be1 on ! date ( 
! id5tification1 at ano!r in/itution (  
high] education4  7ii7 ,ea* individual  
has n _h any po/second>y degree or      
c]tificate1 ( any k9d1 issu$ to ! /ud5t 
by an in/itution ( high] education4     
7,b7 ,p]=m a degree audit on ea* /ud5t  
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 & id5tify  
ea* su* /ud5t z "o ( ! foll[+3  7i7     
,eligible to obta9 an associate's       
degree4  7ii7 ,eligible to obta9 an     
associate's degree ^u ! completion ( #ab
 or few] po/second>y cr$it h\rs 7or !   
equival5t74  7iii7 ,n eligible "u ei!r  
clause 7i7 or 7ii74  7,c7 ,provide      
outrea* to ea* /ud5t id5tifi$ 9         
subp>agraph 7,b77i71 & aw>d ! e>n$      

associate's degree to su* /ud5t1 unless 
su* /ud5t decl9es ?r\gh a writt5 or oral
 decl>ation4  7,d7 ,provide outrea* to  
ea* /ud5t id5tifi$ 9 subp>agraph        
7,b77ii7 t includes in=mation reg>d+    
next /eps t[>d degree atta9m5t1 includ+ 
f9ancial aid options4  7#b7 ,application
 process ,an in/itution ( high]         
education or sy/em ( high] education    
desir+ a subgrant "u ?is subsection %all
 submit an application to ! ,/ate at su*
 "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su*         
in=mation z ! ,/ate may require4 ,su*   
application %all include a writt5       
commitm5t f ! in/itution or sy/em t1 if 
! in/itution or sy/em receives a grant1 
! in/itution or sy/em w c>ry out all ( !
 activities describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74   
7#c7 ,priority ,ea* ,/ate aw>d+         
subgrants "u ?is "p %all give priority  
to applications f in/itutions ( high]   
education or sy/ems ( high] education   
t--  7,a7 h up-to-date degree audit     
s(tw>e or sy/ems to increase automation 
( degree audits & transcript ex*ange1 or

 a plan to inve/ & develop su* s(tw>e or
 sy/ems2  7,b7 if su* policy is         
p]missible "u applicable accr$itation or
 ,/ate /&>ds1 use a policy t aw>ds      
associate's degrees to any c&idate      
id5tifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,b77i7 &      
provides c&idates ) a process to opt out
 ( su* aw>d program2  7,c7 waive        
nonacademic b>ri]s to graduation1 su* z 
an application1 swimm+ te/1 libr>y f9e1 
transcript ex*ange fee1 graduation fee1 
p>k+ ticket1 or any o!r nom9al fee2     
7,d7 waive or am5d resid5cy & rec5cy    
requirem5ts to prev5t e>n$ cr$its f     
expir+1 if su* action is p]missible "u  
accr$itation or ,/ate /&>ds2  7,e7      
provide /ud5ts ) tuition waiv]s1 r$uc$  
tuition1 or prior le>n+ assessm5ts = ^? 
:o ne$ to e>n rema9+ cr$its2 &  7,f7    
agree t1 aft] ! conclusion ( !          
activities describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 &   
cont9u+ aft] ! end ( ! grant p]iod1 !   
in/itution or sy/em w--  7i7 conduct    
degree audits = all enroll$ /ud5ts once 
! /ud5ts enroll 9 #de po/second>y cr$it 

h\rs2 &  7ii7 provide in=mation ab\t    
graduation deadl9es to rem9d /ud5ts (   
relevant requirem5ts at lea/ #d mon?s   
be=e ! /ud5ts graduate & aga9 #a mon?   
be=e graduation4  7f7 ,p]missive use (  
funds ,a ,/ate receiv+ a grant "u ?is   
section may use-- 7#a7 n m ?an #ae p]c5t
 ( ! total am\nt receiv$ "u ?is section 
= adm9i/rative purposes relat+ to !     
grant "u ?is section1 includ+ te*nology 
ne$$ to c>ry out ! purposes ( ?is "p2 & 
7#b7 n m ?an #e p]c5t ( ! total am\nt   
receiv$ "u ?is section to create        
articulation agreem5ts betwe5 #b-ye> &  
#d-ye> in/itutions ( high] education1 9 
ord] to enhance collaboration & /r5g!n !
 transition pa?ways betwe5 su*          
in/itutions = transf] /ud5ts4  7g7      
,special conditions & prohibitions  7#a7
 ,availability to /ud5ts ,a ,/ate1      
in/itution ( high] education1 or sy/em (
 high] education receiv+ a grant or     
subgrant1 z ! case may be1 "u ?is       
section %all n *>ge any /ud5t an        
additional fee or *>ge to p>ticipate 9 !

 activities or s]vices support$ "u ?is  
section4  7#b7 ,prohibit$ uses ,a ,/ate1
 in/itution ( high] education1 or sy/em 
( high] education receiv+ a grant or    
subgrant1 z ! case may be1 "u ?is       
section %all n use any grant or subgrant
 funds = tuition1 fees1 room & bo>d1 or 
any o!r purpose outside ! goals ( !     
grant4  7#c7 ,,f]pa requirem5ts ,ea*    
,/ate1 in/itution ( high] education1 or 
sy/em ( high] education receiv+ a grant 
or subgrant1 respectively1 "u ?is       
section t ent]s into a contract or o!r  
agreem5t ) any outside entity to assi/ 9
 c>ry+ out ! activities or s]vices "u   
su* grant or subgrant1 %all ensure t !  
outside entity complies ) all           
requirem5ts ( section #ddd ( ! ,g5]al   
,education ,provisions ,act 7commonly   
ref]r$ to z ! ,family ,educational      
,rights & ,privacy ,act ( #aigd7 t w\ld 
apply to ! ,/ate1 in/itution1 or sy/em4 
7#d7 ,coord9ation ,a ,/ate receiv+ a    
grant "u ?is section %all ensure !      
coord9ation ( ! activities & s]vices    

c>ri$ out "u ?is section ) any o!r      
activities c>ri$ out 9 ! ,/ate t are    
simil> to ! goals ( ?is program1 & ) any
 o!r entities t support ! exi/+         
activities 9 ! ,/ate1 ) ! goal ( m9imiz+
 duplication4  7h7 ,report  7#a7 ,9     
g5]al ,a ,/ate receiv+ a grant "u ?is   
section %all prep>e & submit an annual  
report to ! ,secret>y on ! activities & 
s]vices c>ri$ out "u ?is section1 & on !
 implem5tation ( su* activities &       
s]vices4 ,! report %all include1 = ea*  
in/itution ( high] education or sy/em ( 
high] education receiv+ a subgrant1 !   
foll[+ in=mation3  7,a7 ,! numb] (      
/ud5ts :o 7 fir/ id5tifi$ 9 ! gr\p      
describ$ 9 subsection 7e77#a77;,a77i74  
7,b7 ,! numb] ( /ud5ts :o 7 remov$ f su*
 gr\p because ! /ud5ts _h receiv$ a     
degree else:]e1 9 accordance )          
subsection 7e77#a77;,a77ii74  7,c7 ,!   
numb] ( degree audits p]=m$ "u          
subsection 7e77#a77;,b74  7,d7 ,! numb] 
( /ud5ts id5tifi$ "u subsection         
7e77#a77;,b77i7 z eligible to obta9 an  

associate's degree4  7,e7 ,! numb] (    
/ud5ts id5tifi$ "u subsection           
7e77#a77;,b77ii7 z eligible to obta9 an 
associate's degree ^u ! completion ( #ab
 or few] cr$its4  7,f7 ,! numb] ( /ud5ts
 id5tifi$ "u subsection                 
7e77#a77;,b77iii7 z ineligible to obta9 
an associate's degree & ineligible to   
obta9 su* a degree ^u ! completion ( #ab
 or few] cr$its4  7,g7 ,! numb] ( /ud5ts
 aw>d$ an associate's degree "u         
subsection 7e77#a77;,c74  7,h7 ,! numb] 
( /ud5ts id5tifi$ 9 subsection          
7e77#a77;,b77ii7 :o are return+ to an   
in/itution ( high] education aft]       
receiv+ outrea* describ$ 9 subsection   
7e77#a77;,d74  7,i7 ,! av]age am\nt (   
cr$it h\rs previ\sly e>n$ by /ud5ts     
describ$ 9 subsection 7e77#a77;,b77i7 :5
 ! associate's degrees are aw>d$4  7,j7 
,! numb] ( /ud5ts :o receiv$ outrea*    
describ$ 9 subsection 7e77#a77;,c7 & :o 
decl9e to receive ! associate's degree4 
7,k7 ,! numb] ( /ud5ts :o c\ld n be     
locat$ or rea*$ z "p ( ! process4  7,l7 

,! reasons :y /ud5ts id5tifi$ 9         
subsection 7e77#a77;,b77ii7 did n return
 to an in/itution ( high] education to  
receive a degree4  7,m7 ,details ( any  
policy *anges implem5t$ z a result (    
implem5t+ ?is program & conduct+ !      
requir$ degree audits4  7#b7            
,disaggregation ,! report %all include !
 in=mation describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 
?r\gh 7,l7 ( p>agraph 7#a7 9 ! aggregate
 & disaggregat$ by age1 g5d]1 race or   
e?nicity1 /atus z an individual ) a     
disability1 & socioeconomic /atus       
7includ+ /atus z a ,f$]al ,pell ,grant  
recipi5t74  7i7 ,en=cem5t provisions    
7#a7 ,recov]y or )hold+ ,! ,secret>y    
may1 aft] notice & an opportunity = a   
he>+ 9 accordance ) *apt] #e ( title #e1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code--  7,a7 )hold funds
 provid$ "u a grant or subgrant "u ?is  
section if a ,/ate or in/itution ( high]
 education is fail+ to comply           
sub/antially ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is      
section2 or  7,b7 take actions to recov]
 funds provid$ "u a grant or subgrant "u

 ?is section1 if ! ,/ate or in/itution  
made an unall[able exp5se1 or o!rwise   
fail$ to dis*>ge its responsibility to  
prop]ly acc\nt = funds4  7#b7 ,use (    
recov]$ or unus$ funds ,any funds       
recov]$ or )held "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all--
 7,a7 be cr$it$ to ! appropriations     
acc\nt f :i* am\nts are available to    
make grants or ent] coop]ative agreem5ts
 "u ?is section2 &  7,b7 rema9 available
 until exp5d$ = any purpose ( t acc\nt  
au?oriz$ by law t relates to ! program  
"u ?is section4  7j7 ,au?orization (    
appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section su* 
sums z may be necess>y = fiscal ye>     
#bjai & ea* ( ! #b subsequ5t fiscal     
ye>s4  4  #c4 ,release ( education      
records to facilitate ! aw>d ( a        
recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial ,section 
#ddd7;b7 ( ! ,g5]al ,education          
,provisions ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4         
#abcb;g7b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph  
7#a7--  7,a7 9 subp>agraph 7,k77ii71 by 
/rik+ 2 & & ins]t+ a semicolon2 &  7,b7 

9 subp>agraph 7,l71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at 
! end & ins]t+ 2 & 2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+  
aft] subp>agraph 7,l7 ! foll[+3  7,m7 an
 in/itution ( po/second>y education 9   
:i* ! /ud5t 0 previ\sly enroll$1 to :i* 
records ( po/second>y c\rsework & cr$its
 are s5t = ! purpose ( apply+ su*       
c\rsework & cr$its t[>d completion ( a  
recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial 7z t t]m 
is def9$ 9 section #c ( ! ,work=ce      
,innovation & ,opportunity ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #cajb771 ^u condition t !     
/ud5t provides writt5 cons5t prior to   
receiv+ su* cr$5tial4  4