244
‘‘(II) in any succeeding academic 
years. 
‘‘(ii) MECHANISMS
FOR
REAPPLICA-
TION.—The Secretary shall develop appro-
priate mechanisms to support reapplica-
tion. 
‘‘(iii) IDENTIFICATION
OF
UPDATED 
DATA.—The Secretary shall determine, in 
cooperation with States, institutions of 
higher education, agencies, and organiza-
tions involved in student financial assist-
ance, the data elements that can be up-
dated from the previous academic year’s 
application. 
‘‘(iv) REDUCED DATA AUTHORIZED.—
Nothing in this title shall be construed as 
limiting the authority of the Secretary to 
reduce the number of data elements re-
quired of reapplicants. 
‘‘(v) ZERO FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.—
Applicants determined to have a zero fam-
ily contribution pursuant to section 479(c) 
shall not be required to provide any finan-
cial data in a reapplication form, except
245
that which is necessary to determine eligi-
bility under such section. 
‘‘(B) REDUCTION OF DATA ELEMENTS.—
‘‘(i) REDUCTION
ENCOURAGED.—Of 
the number of data elements on the 
FAFSA on the date of enactment of the 
College Access and Opportunity Act of 
2006 (including questions on the FAFSA 
for the purposes described in paragraph 
(6)), the Secretary, in cooperation with 
representatives of agencies and organiza-
tions involved in student financial assist-
ance, shall continue to reduce the number 
of such data elements following the date of 
enactment. Reductions of data elements 
under 
paragraph 
(3)(B), 
(4)(C), 
or 
(5)(A)(iv) shall not be counted towards the 
reduction referred to in this paragraph un-
less those data elements are reduced for all 
applicants. 
‘‘(ii) REPORT.—The Secretary shall 
annually report to the House of Represent-
atives and the Senate on the progress 
made of reducing data elements. 
‘‘(6) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—
246
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
include on the forms developed under this sub-
section, such State-specific data items as the 
Secretary determines are necessary to meet 
State requirements for State need-based finan-
cial aid under section 415C, except as provided 
in paragraphs (3)(B)(iii) and (4)(C)(iii) of this 
subsection. Such items shall be selected in con-
sultation with State agencies in order to assist 
in the awarding of State financial assistance in 
accordance with the terms of this subsection, 
except as provided in paragraphs (3)(B)(iii) and 
(4)(C)(iii) of this subsection. The number of 
such data items shall not be less than the num-
ber included on the form on October 7, 1998, 
unless a State notifies the Secretary that the 
State no longer requires those data items for 
the distribution of State need-based financial 
aid. 
‘‘(B) ANNUAL
REVIEW.—The Secretary 
shall conduct an annual review process to deter-
mine which forms and data items the States re-
quire to award State need-based financial aid 
and other application requirements that the 
States may impose.
247
‘‘(C) STATE USE OF SIMPLIFIED FORMS.—
The Secretary shall encourage States to take 
such steps as necessary to encourage the use of 
simplified application forms, including those de-
scribed in paragraphs (3)(B) and (4)(C), to 
meet the requirements under subsection (b) or 
(c) of section 479. 
‘‘(D) FEDERAL
REGISTER
NOTICE.—The 
Secretary shall publish on an annual basis a no-
tice in the Federal Register requiring State 
agencies to inform the Secretary—
‘‘(i) if the State agency is unable to 
permit applicants to utilize the simplified 
application forms described in paragraphs 
(3)(B) and (4)(C); and 
‘‘(ii) of the State-specific data that 
the State agency requires for delivery of 
State need-based financial aid. 
‘‘(E) STATE NOTIFICATION TO THE SEC-
RETARY.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Each State agency 
shall notify the Secretary—
‘‘(I) whether the State permits 
an applicant to file a form described 
in paragraph (3)(B) or paragraph