Dollar's HOPE Bill Sent to Governor

A bill sponsored by State Rep. Matt Dollar (R-East Cobb) that would enable HOPE Scholarship applicants to bypass a layer of paperwork has been sent to the office of Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

HB 324 was passed by the Georgia Senate on Tuesday. The legislation removes a new rule that requires HOPE scholars to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.

“This change will make the process much easier for HOPE scholars and their families,” Dollar said in a statement issued Thursday.

Current Georgia law requires all state agencies to verify the lawful presence of any individual who applies for a public benefit.

The law provides an exemption for the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia because these state institutions already verify that their students are lawfully present in the United States in a manner that is in compliance with federal law.

HB 324 provides the Georgia Student Finance Commission the same exemption. Instead, students could go back to using the simpler Georgia Student Financial Aid Application System, the state application for student benefits.