The Higher Education and Employment Committee has voted to advance three of state Sen. James Maroney’s (D-Milford) bills to the Senate floor. Maroney’s bills aim to create nontraditional pathways to earning a bachelor’s degree and to make college more affordable and accessible.
“When I was on the campaign trail, I promised to be innovative in cultivating ways to ensure everyone has a chance to be successful in the 14th District and our state,” said Maroney, who is a member of the committee. “This legislation makes good on those promises and seeks innovative ways to provide opportunities to our citizens to better themselves. I commend my friends on both sides of the aisle in the committee for supporting this legislation and moving them forward.”
The following bills advanced:
SB 435: “An Act Establishing a Tax Credit for Employers Making Education Loan Payments for Employees” received bipartisan support, passing unanimously. This legislation will establish a tax credit for employers who make education loan payments for their employees. The average college graduate in Connecticut owes over $38,000 in student loan debt. To alleviate the crisis of exorbitant student loan debt, this legislation will incentivize employers who make student loan payments for their employees by providing a tax credit. The tax credit will be equal to half of the amount of the monthly loan payment made and multiplied by the number of months the employer made payments during that taxable year.
SB 607: “An Act Concerning Apprenticeships Pathways to Earning a Bachelor’s Degree” received bipartisan support and passed unanimously. In addition to creating apprenticeship pathways to receiving a bachelor’s degree, there will also be some coursework for students. The legislation would open the pool of individuals who can earn a bachelor’s if they determine college in the traditional sense is not for them. By 2025, over 70 percent of the jobs in Connecticut will require a post-secondary credential.
SB 746: “An Act Establishing the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Foundation and Creating a Business Tax Credit” passed by a 16-6 vote. This bill will establish the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Foundation and allow businesses that donate to the foundation to receive a 50 percent tax credit. Tax credits will be capped at $27 million. The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship is a need-based grant program with 31 participating higher education institutions, including the University of Connecticut, the University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University and Gateway Community College. Priority for the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship is given to individuals who are least able to afford college expenses.