Bill Overview
Title: ED ACCESS Act of 2022
Description: This bill repeals the prohibition against granting the American Opportunity Tax Credit to students with federal or state felony drug convictions.
Sponsors: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Target Audience
Population: Students with federal or state felony drug convictions seeking higher education
Estimated Size: 50000
- The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) provides tax credits for qualified education expenses for eligible students. This availability impacts students seeking higher education.
- Previously, students with federal or state felony drug convictions were prohibited from receiving the AOTC, limiting financial aid and resources accessible to them.
- By repealing the prohibition on accessing AOTC, the bill impacts all students who have been previously convicted of federal or state drug felonies, thus increasing their potential educational opportunities.
- Worldwide, the number of people directly affected may vary, but the greatest immediate impact will be in the U.S., where the legislation applies directly.
Reasoning
- The defined budget limits mean that not every eligible student will immediately benefit from the changes. With 50,000 students estimated to benefit, the policy might prioritize students based on income level and potential impact on educational success.
- The policy impacts a specialized subset of the population, which is approximately 50,000 students with past felony drug convictions that would become eligible for the AOTC, possibly increasing their educational engagement and success.
- There is variability in how the policy will impact individuals based on their current financial situation, educational aspirations, and past convictions related to drug offenses.
- Given the size of the U.S. student population, this is a smaller niche; hence the commonness factor in the simulated interviews reflects this targeted group.
- The policy's financial support through tax credits might have varying degrees of impact on an individual's ability to attend college—some may benefit significantly, while others may experience minimal changes due to other barriers in educational access.
Simulated Interviews
Part-time retail worker and student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could offer significant help since I'm balancing work and school with limited resources.
- Access to the tax credit might enable me to attend classes full-time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Full-time job at a non-profit (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, I can afford to pursue a master's degree without being financially crippled.
- This makes higher education more accessible despite my past.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Unemployed (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy gives people like me a second chance at building a better future.
- I'd like to use this opportunity to get into a tech program.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Hospitality worker (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been balancing several jobs; this could provide some relief.
- Education is expensive without support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelancer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My main challenge has been access to funds for courses.
- This opportunity could help me manage better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- College feels more attainable with this policy change.
- Financial barriers have been a major hurdle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The tax credit could reduce financial stress significantly.
- I've been getting by, but I'm eager to learn new skills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Barista (Austin, TX)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change gives hope for better education funding.
- I've been trying to save money for school, but it's been tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Part-time student and artist (Detroit, MI)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act could really help balance costs while I'm studying.
- Art supplies and tuition have been a lot without aid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy change opens a path for my education from the start.
- I worry less about fitting education into my budget now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $75000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $76000000 (Low: $51000000, High: $101000000)
Year 3: $77000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $102000000)
Year 5: $79000000 (Low: $53000000, High: $104000000)
Year 10: $83000000 (Low: $57000000, High: $108000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Key Considerations
- Eligibility for AOTC means students may claim up to four years of credit for educational expenses.
- Varied levels of expenses and incomes will determine individual credit entitlements, likely lowering the total cost impact compared to the maximum possible.