Student financial aid fraud

AN ACT Relating to safeguarding student financial aid from fraud; 1
creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Within existing resources, the joint 4
legislative audit and review committee shall complete a systemic 5
performance audit of fraud in the state's financial aid programs. The 6
purpose of the audit is to determine the extent to which financial 7
aid fraud is occurring at institutions of higher education that 8
receive and distribute financial aid to students. To the extent 9
possible, the study must determine:10
(a) The number of fictitious students enrolled, denied 11
enrollment, and disenrolled at institutions that receive financial 12
aid; 13
(b) Any trends in fraudulent enrollments, such as preferred 14
course types or targeted colleges; 15
(c) The amount of federal, state, and local financial aid and 16
other forms of assistance that have been provided to fictitious 17
students. To the extent possible, the study must determine the amount 18
recovered; 19
S-3840.1
SENATE BILL 6082
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Boehnke and Dozier
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Higher Education
& Workforce Development.
p. 1 SB 6082
(d) Identify systemic weaknesses that may be exploited to enroll 1
fictitious students, including the use of artificial intelligence for 2
such purposes; 3
(e) Any unintended consequences to full-time equivalent 4
calculations and funding to institutions; and 5
(f) Other issues that may be relevant and significant to the 6
audit. 7
(2) The auditor shall report findings and recommendations to the 8
appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2027. The 9
report must include, but is not limited to, the following elements as 10
they relate to the audit: 11
(a) Analysis of gaps in fraud prevention; 12
(b) Evaluation of the use of any funding used for cybersecurity, 13
including efforts to combat enrollment and financial aid fraud;14
(c) Evaluation of any current actions used by participating 15
institutions to combat financial aid fraud; and 16
(d) Recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes that may 17
be necessary to protect student financial aid from fraud.18
(3) This section expires July 1, 2028. 19
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p. 2 SB 6082