Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5895
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE ON THE REDUCTION OF STUDENT
Title: LOAN DEBT.
Vote Date: 3/11/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/2/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
REP. TURCO, 27th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
To form a task force to study average student loan debt in CT, compare it to neighboring
states, options available for reducing student loan debt, and relationship of debt to certain
demographics.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
Lines 12-14: requires the task force study to examine the relationship between race,
ethnicity, gender identity, sex, or age and the average amount of debt incurred by
students and graduates
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Jeanette W. Weldon Executive Director, CHESLA:
Submitted written testimony in support. CHESLA appreciates the opportunity to participate in
the task force and are willing to work with all stakeholders to help students, higher education,
and economic development.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
John Board:
Submitted written testimony in support. John proposes a financing method called "Tuition
Contracting" and provided an outline. He advocates for a fixed tuition rate over a period of
time that adjusts if the student exceeds that time.
Madeline Granato, Policy Director, CT Womens Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF):
Submitted written testimony in support. CWEALF details the debt load for students nationally,
as well as the portion held by women and Black women in particular. They say that even
before the pandemic, student debt threatened the ability to afford basic needs for both
women and men (23.5% and 16% of graduates respectively). The Pandemic has only made
things worse for graduates as they enter the worst unemployment crisis since the
Depression, which has seen "a 'shecession' where job and income losses have more
severely impacted women, specifically women of color, than men."
Asia Perkins:
Submitted in support a research brief from "Economics for Inclusive Prosperity" titled The
Economics of Free College, by Harvard economist David J. Deming.
Rep. Winkler, 56th District:
Submitted written testimony in support. He says less debt for young people without wealth is
innately a good thing, especially with the legacies of "racial discrimination in housing
through the GI bill, red-lining and blockbusting has denied Blacks intergenerational wealth."
He attached a Brookings study discussing student debt cancellation and wealth inequality as
a guide for combatting institutional racism.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed.
Reported by: Jeremy Salyer Date: 03/18/2021
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