Substitute Bill No. 204 is a legislative proposal aimed at expanding the debt-free community college program and renaming the grants provided under this program after Mary Ann Handley. The bill introduces changes to the existing law by substituting certain terms and updating the eligibility criteria for students. Notably, the term "Award" is replaced with "Grant" throughout the text, indicating a shift in terminology. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that a qualifying student must have graduated from a high school in the state, simplifying the eligibility to enrollment in a community-technical college, in-state classification, satisfactory academic progress, completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and acceptance of all available financial aid.

The bill outlines the operational aspects of the debt-free community college program, including the establishment of grants for qualifying students, the adoption of necessary rules and procedures, and the submission of reports to the General Assembly. Grants are to be made available to qualifying students for up to the first seventy-two credit hours earned at a regional community-technical college, with the condition that the student continues to meet the program's requirements. The bill also mandates the Board of Regents for Higher Education to report on various aspects of the program, such as enrollment numbers, grant amounts, and completion rates. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, and amends section 10a-174 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes.