To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change certain Federal Pell Grant requirements for certain students with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.5739 | Sponsor: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. (D-NY)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This bill revises certain requirements under the Federal Pell Grant Program for students with disabilities.
Currently, Pell Grant awards are based on enrollment status and a student must attend an institution of higher education (IHE) on a full-time basis in order to receive the maximum award amount. This bill provides an exception for a student with a disability who is receiving appropriate and reasonable accommodations for such disability. Specifically, the bill requires the amount of a Pell Grant to be calculated as if such a student is attending an IHE on a full-time basis, without regard to whether the student is attending less than full time.
Additionally, the bill extends the period of time during which a student with a disability may receive a Pell Grant. In particular, the bill allows a student to exceed the current 12-semester limit to complete the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study if required by the student's accommodations.

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change certain Federal 
Pell Grant requirements for certain students with disabilities, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE HEA.

    (a) Award Year 2022-2023.--Section 401 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B) In any 
                case'' and inserting ``(B)(i) Except as provided in 
                clause (ii), in any case''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) The amount of a Federal Pell Grant 
                        to which a student with a disability (as 
                        defined in section 3 of the Americans with 
                        Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) who 
                        is receiving appropriate and reasonable 
                        accommodations for such disability is entitled 
                        shall be calculated as if such student attends 
                        an institution of higher education on a full-
                        time basis, without regard to whether the 
                        student is attending on less than a full-time 
                        basis.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``(5) The 
                period'' and inserting ``(5)(A) Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the period''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) In the case of a student with a disability 
                (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) who is 
                receiving appropriate and reasonable accommodations for 
                such disability, the period during which such student 
                may receive Federal Pell Grants may exceed 12 semesters 
                or the equivalent of 12 semesters if required by such 
                accommodations for the completion of the first 
                undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being 
                pursued by that student at the institution at which the 
                student is in attendance.''.
    (b) Award Year 2023-2024 and Each Subsequent Award Year.--
            (1) Amendments.--Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a), as amended by section 703 of division 
        FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 
        116-260), is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(2)--
                            (i) by striking ``In any case'' and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) Reduction.--In any case''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Students with disabilities.--The amount of a 
                Federal Pell Grant to which a student with a disability 
                (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) who is 
                receiving appropriate and reasonable accommodations for 
                such disability is entitled shall be calculated as if 
                such student attends an institution of higher education 
                on a full-time basis, without regard to whether the 
                student is attending on less than a full-time basis.''; 
                and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(5)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``Except as provided in 
                        subparagraph (B)'' and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) Period.--Except as provided in clause 
                        (ii) of this subparagraph and in subparagraph 
                        (B)''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) Students with disabilities.--In the 
                        case of a student with a disability (as defined 
                        in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities 
                        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) who is receiving 
                        appropriate and reasonable accommodations for 
                        such disability, the period during which such 
                        student may receive Federal Pell Grants may 
                        exceed 12 semesters or the equivalent of 12 
                        semesters if required by such accommodations 
                        for the completion of the first undergraduate 
                        baccalaureate course of study being pursued by 
                        that student at the institution at which the 
                        student is in attendance.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall take effect as if included in section 703 of division FF 
        of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-
        260).
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