Committee backs changes to Pell reporting and creates youth apprenticeship council

A senator (speaker 20) told the committee SB195 implements federal requirements tied to Pell eligibility and launches a Workforce Pell pathway for short-term training. The sponsor said states must report graduates' earning power for programs seeking Pell support and that the substitute creates an anonymized, GRAMA‑compliant system to collect wage outcomes.

The bill also creates a youth apprenticeship council to coordinate apprenticeship pilots across public education, higher education and industry. The sponsor said the council will help scale successful local pilots and better demonstrate graduate outcomes required by federal rules.

The committee moved the bill with a favorable recommendation; the record shows the motion passed 6–1 with Representative Hansen voting no. Supporters argued the change is necessary to secure federal Pell eligibility for short-term programs and to expand youth apprenticeship opportunities.