March 25, 2015
Rep. Haddad has introduced and supported a number of bills this session aimed at easing the burden of college costs and keeping students safe on campus. Thankfully, a number of these important measures have been approved by the Higher Education Committee and are heading to the House and Senate chambers to be voted on by the entire legislature. Listed below are several of these bills which Rep. Haddad urges his colleagues in the House and Senate to support.
House Bill 6117 - An Act Concerning the Use of Digital Open-Source Textbooks in Higher Education
Shockingly, between 2003 and 2013, textbook prices increased by 82 percent. Rep. Haddad is pleased that HB 6117 which would establish a consortium of colleges to assess and promote the use of digital open-source textbooks cleared the Higher Education Committee with unanimous and bi-partisan support.
“College students typically spend hundreds of dollars a semester on textbooks alone. I have also heard from a number of students who have had to forgo purchasing a textbook because they could not afford the out-of-pocket cost, hindering their education in the process. We must find creative solutions to ensure that more students can afford to learn and that is why I introduced House Bill 6117,” said Rep. Haddad.
House Bill 5795 - An Act Concerning a Deduction from the Personal Income Tax for Student Loan Interest
Rep. Haddad introduced HB 5796 because 64 percent of college graduates in Connecticut have student loan debt and the average graduate in Connecticut has $30,000 worth of loans. One way to lessen that burden is to implement a personal income tax deduction for student loan interest. Rep. Haddad believes that this proposal is just one piece of the puzzle in terms of reducing college costs.
House Bill 6907 - An Act Concerning the Duties and Authority of the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority
This legislation will allow the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) to refinance eligible loans and establish a maximum rate of interest for authority loans made to finance attendance at an institution of higher education. Student loan debt forces many graduates to delay major life events like buying a home or starting a family. Allowing more college graduates the opportunity to refinance their loans is an important step toward making college more affordable.
House Bill 6118 - An Act Concerning Student Membership on the Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut
Rep. Haddad is also happy that HB 6118, a bill which he championed this session, is heading out of the Higher Education Committee. The bill seeks to amplify the student voice on the UConn Board of Trustees by allowing for the election of an additional two student members. Rep. Haddad always welcomes the chance to allow more students the opportunity to play an active role in governing their own university.
Senate Bill 636 - An Act Concerning Affirmative Consent
Rep. Haddad introduced this bill with State Senator Mae Flexer to require that affirmative consent standards be in place at all Connecticut colleges. The legislation will help promote safe and healthy sexual relationships on campus by encouraging students to talk with each other about consent. Rep. Haddad is thrilled that the Higher Educated voted in favor of the bill and hopes his other colleagues in the legislature will do the same when the bill is on the House and Senate floor.
Rep. Haddad with college students who came to testify in support of SB 636.