R 90, Drug Penalty Opposition Act

Drug Penalty Opposition Act

R 90, 86th Session

Version Info:

2-26-2007, as initially introduced: HTML

Version Downloads (Senators only).

Basic Information:

Primary Sponsor(s):

Doucette, Gilbert, and M. Potter (Corresponding)

Current Status:

Enrolled

Report(s):

PA-10

Long Title:

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REPEAL THE AID ELIMINATION PENALTY FROM THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

Summary of Purpose:

If passed, this resolution will call on Congress to repeal the Aid Elimination Penalty from the Higher Education Act, which makes any student with a drug conviction ineligible for federal finacial aid.

Consideration History:

2-26-2007:

Filed for introduction

2-28-2007 Senate:

First Reading

3-20-2007 Committee:

Public Affairs Committee Consideration
The Public Affairs Committee reported the bill to Senate by counted vote, 0-4, PA-10

3-28-2007 Senate:

Second Reading
Adopted by roll call vote (Adopted: 24-11-1; 16 absent)

Roll Calls:

Senate, 3-28-2007:

Adopt R 90, Adopted: 24-11-1; 16 absent

Online Text

(as of 2-26-2007, as initially introduced)

RESOLUTION 90

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTITLED

An act to repeal the aid elimination penalty from the higher education act

Short Title: Drug Penalty Opposition Act (Public)

Sponsored by: Senators Potter, Doucette, and Gilbert

Signatories: Lutheran Student Fellowship President John Matthew Wendler, College Democrats President Tara Ilsley, Raleigh Wesley Foundation President William Alexander Ronke, College Libertarians President Cameron Gower, Engineering Senior Senate candidate Jared McCormick

First Reading: Month Day, Year Version Date: February 24, 2007

Referred to: __________________________________________________________.

WHEREAS, Congress passed the Higher Education Act (HEA) in 1965 for the purpose of expanding educational opportunities through the creation of federal grant and loan programs; and,

WHEREAS, the aid elimination penalty, added as an amendment to the HEA in 1998, automatically strips students of financial aid for all drug convictions, including misdemeanor and marijuana possession; and,

WHEREAS, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that high school grads not attending college are twice as likely to have used crack and are three times more likely to have used crystal meth in the last year than their same-age peers who are enrolled in college; and,

WHEREAS, this policy wrongly emphasizes punishment over treatment; and,

WHEREAS, no other offenses, including violent crimes such as murder or rape, result in a student loosing federal aid eligibility; and,

WHEREAS, nearly 200,000 students nation wide have become ineligible for federal financial aid under that aid elimination penalty since its enactment; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina is above the national average for percentage of applicants affected by the penalty since 5,323 North Carolinians, or one out of every 360 applicants in the state have been denied aid due to drug convictions; and,

WHEREAS, the aid elimination penalty unfairly affects lower class students, since wealthier students do not rely on financial aid; and,

WHEREAS, the aid elimination penalty is contrary to the original spirit of the original Higher Education Act, which was intended to expand access to education; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the North Carolina State University Student Senate calls upon the 110^th United States Congress to repeal the Aid Elimination Penalty from the Higher Education Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution is transmitted to each member of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation.

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