(2) To provide detailed recommendations that 
institutions of higher education, States, and the 
Federal Government can take to improve the mental 
health services available to students and properly 
treat the rising number of students with mental 
health issues. 
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON SERVING AND SUP-
PORTING STUDENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH 
DISABILITIES IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 
establish a commission to be known as the Advisory Com-
mission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental 
Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—The Com-
mission shall include not more than 20 members, 
who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Edu-
cation in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(2) MEMBERS
OF
THE
COMMISSION.—The 
Commission shall include 1 representative from each 
of the following: 
(A) The Office of Postsecondary Education 
of the Department of Education. 
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(B) The Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitation Services of the Department of 
Education. 
(C) The Office of Civil Rights of the De-
partment of Education. 
(D) The Office of Civil Rights of the De-
partment of Justice. 
(E) The National Council on Disability. 
(F) A membership association for adminis-
trative and personnel professionals focused on 
creating an inclusive higher education environ-
ment for individuals with disabilities. 
(G) An organization that represents the 
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with 
Mental Illness program. 
(H) An organization operated by and rep-
resenting secondary and postsecondary edu-
cation students with mental health disabilities 
advocating for mental health services and sui-
cide prevention. 
(I) An organization representing college 
and university counseling directors. 
(3) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS
OF
THE
COMMIS-
SION.—In addition to the members included under 
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paragraph (2), the Commission shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Four members from leadership of in-
stitutions of higher education who have dem-
onstrated experience in successfully supporting 
the retention and graduation of students with 
mental health disabilities, including from coun-
seling and psychiatric services staff. With re-
spect to such 4 members, 1 member shall be a 
staff member of a 2-year degree-granting insti-
tution of higher education, 1 member shall be 
a staff member from a 4-year degree-granting 
institution of higher education, 1 member shall 
be a member of campus law enforcement, and 
1 member shall serve as a general counsel. Such 
4 members shall represent institutions of dif-
fering sizes. 
(B) Three members from family members 
of individuals who are— 
(i) enrolled in an institution of higher 
education on the date such family member 
is appointed to the Commission; or 
(ii) former students with a mental 
health disability. 
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(C) Four members from individuals with 
mental health disabilities, including not less 
than 2 individuals enrolled in an institution of 
higher education on the date of appointment to 
the Commission. Any remaining member shall 
be an individual with a mental health disability 
who has attended an institution of higher edu-
cation. 
(4) TIMING.—The Secretary of Education shall 
establish the Commission and appoint the members 
of the Commission not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall select a chairperson and vice chair-
person from among the members of the Commission. Ei-
ther the chairperson or the vice chairperson shall be a stu-
dent or former student with a mental health disability. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet 
at the call of the chairperson, but not less often than 
8 times. 
(2) FIRST MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 
after the appointment of the members of the Com-
mission under subsection (b), the Commission shall 
hold the Commission’s first meeting. 
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(e) DUTIES.—The Commission shall conduct a study, 
using the highest quality and most representative data and 
research available, and prepare a report for the Secretary 
of Education that includes the following: 
(1) Findings from stakeholders, including 
through solicitation of public testimony, related to 
the challenges faced by students with mental health 
disabilities in institutions of higher education, in-
cluding— 
(A) the services available to students with 
mental health disabilities in institutions of high-
er education and their effectiveness in sup-
porting these students; 
(B) the impact of policies and procedures 
that help or hinder the goal of providing equal 
opportunity for students with mental health dis-
abilities, such as reasonable accommodation 
policies, mandatory and voluntary leave policies, 
and disciplinary policies; 
(C) the use of protected health information 
of students with mental health disabilities by 
institutions of higher education, including the 
extent to which campus-based mental health 
providers share this information with college or 
university officials without student consent; and 
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(D) the impact of providing mental health 
services on a student’s academic performance, 
well-being, and ability to complete college. 
(2) Conclusions on the major challenges facing 
students with mental health disabilities in institu-
tions of higher education. 
(3) Recommendations to improve the overall 
education, and retention and graduation, of students 
with mental health disabilities in institutions of 
higher education, with the goal of helping these stu-
dents access educational opportunities equal to those 
of their non-disabled peers. 
(f) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Commission shall not receive compensation for the 
performance of services for the Commission, but 
shall be allowed reasonable travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Commission. 
Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
States Code, the Secretary of Education may accept 
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the voluntary and uncompensated services of mem-
bers of the Commission. 
(2) STAFF.—The Secretary of Education may 
designate such personnel as may be necessary to en-
able the Commission to perform its duties. 
(3) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Any Federal Government employee, with the ap-
proval of the head of the appropriate Federal agen-
cy, may be detailed to the Commission without reim-
bursement, and such detail shall be without inter-
ruption of loss of civil service status or privilege. 
(4) FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES.— 
The Secretary of Education shall make available to 
the Commission, under such arrangements as may 
be appropriate, necessary equipment, supplies, and 
services. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS.—The Com-
mission shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of 
Education, as well as the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives— 
(A) an interim report that summarizes the 
progress of the Commission, along with any in-
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terim findings, conclusions, and recommenda-
tions as described in subsection (e); and 
(B) a final report that states final find-
ings, conclusions, and recommendations as de-
scribed in subsection (e). 
(2) PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION.—The re-
ports described in paragraph (1) shall be prepared 
and submitted— 
(A) in the case of the interim report, not 
later than 1 year after the date on which all the 
members of the Commission are appointed; and 
(B) in the case of the final report, not 
later than 2 years after the date on which all 
the members of the Commission are appointed. 
(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
on the day after the date on which the Commission sub-
mits the final report under subsection (g). 
Æ 
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