Title: CAMPUS Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Cost Assistance Made Possible for Undergraduate Students Act or the CAMPUS Act
This bill establishes a grant program whereby the Department of Education shall make grants to eligible higher education institutions to provide emergency finanical aid to students.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4308 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4308

  To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency 
               grant aid program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 12, 2019

Mr. Morelle (for himself, Ms. Hill of California, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. King 
 of New York, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Brindisi, and 
 Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency 
               grant aid program, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cost Assistance Made Possible for 
Undergraduate Students Act'' or the ``CAMPUS Act''.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAM.

    Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``Subpart 11--Emergency Financial Aid Grants

``SEC. 440D. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Emergency Financial Aid Grant Programs Authorized.--The 
Secretary shall carry out a grant program to make grants, in accordance 
with subsection (c), to eligible entities to provide emergency 
financial aid grants to students in accordance with subsection (e).
    ``(b) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) Limitation on amount of federal share.--Except as 
        provided in paragraph (3), the Federal share of the cost of any 
        emergency grant aid program carried out under this section may 
        not exceed 50 percent.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Matching funds provided by an eligible 
        entity under this subsection may not include in-kind 
        contributions.
            ``(3) Exceptions.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        emergency grant aid program carried out under this section 
        shall equal 100 percent if the institution carrying out the 
        emergency grant aid is an institution of higher education 
        described in section 371(a).
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring to carry 
        out an emergency grant aid program under this section shall 
        submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            ``(2) Outreach.--The Secretary shall, at least 30 days 
        before each deadline to submit applications under paragraph 
        (1), conduct outreach to eligible institutions (as defined in 
        section 371(a)) to provide such institutions with information 
        on the opportunity to apply under paragraph (1) to carry out an 
        emergency grant aid program under this section.
            ``(3) Contents.--Each application under paragraph (1) shall 
        include a description of the emergency grant aid program to be 
        carried out by the eligible entity, including--
                    ``(A) an estimate of the number of emergency 
                financial aid grants that such entity will make in an 
                award year and how such eligible entity assessed such 
                estimate;
                    ``(B) the criteria the eligible entity will use to 
                determine an emergency for which an eligible student 
                will be eligible to receive an emergency financial aid 
                grant;
                    ``(C) an assurance that an emergency for which an 
                eligible student will be eligible to receive an 
                emergency financial aid grant will include financial 
                challenges that would directly impact the ability of an 
                eligible student to continue the course of study of 
                such student, including--
                            ``(i) a loss of employment, transportation, 
                        child care, or housing of the student;
                            ``(ii) a medical condition of the student, 
                        or a dependent of the student;
                            ``(iii) with respect to the eligible 
                        student, food insecurity; and
                            ``(iv) in the case of an eligible student 
                        who is a dependent student--
                                    ``(I) the death of a parent or 
                                guardian of such eligible student; or
                                    ``(II) a medical condition of the 
                                parent or guardian of such eligible 
                                student which results in the loss of 
                                employment of such parent or guardian;
                    ``(D) a description of the process by which an 
                eligible student may apply and receive an emergency 
                financial aid grant;
                    ``(E) an assurance that the eligible entity, when 
                applicable, will make information available to eligible 
                students about the eligibility of such students and 
                their dependents for assistance under the supplemental 
                nutrition assistance program under the Food and 
                Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the 
                special supplemental nutrition program for women, 
                infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act of 
                1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), and the program of block grants 
                for States for temporary assistance for needy families 
                established under part A of title IV of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                    ``(F) an assurance that the eligible entity will, 
                to the extent practicable, assist eligible students in 
                obtaining information about and accessing means-tested 
                Federal benefit programs (as defined in section 479(d)) 
                for which such students may be eligible;
                    ``(G) how the eligible entity will administer the 
                emergency grant aid program, including--
                            ``(i) which employees and departments of 
                        the eligible entity will administer the 
                        emergency grant aid program;
                            ``(ii) the role of the student financial 
                        aid administrator of the eligible entity with 
                        respect to the emergency grant aid program;
                            ``(iii) the online processes the eligible 
                        entity will use to respond to applications, 
                        approve applications, and disburse emergency 
                        financial aid grants outside of normal business 
                        hours;
                            ``(iv) the data management tools the 
                        eligible entity will use--
                                    ``(I) to ensure efficient 
                                administration of the emergency grant 
                                aid program; and
                                    ``(II) for data collection for 
                                purposes of evaluating the emergency 
                                grant aid program;
                            ``(v) the internal controls the eligible 
                        entity will use to discourage fraud under the 
                        emergency grant aid program;
                            ``(vi) a description of other student 
                        emergency financial support services offered by 
                        the eligible entity and the relationship 
                        between the emergency grant aid program and 
                        such support services; and
                            ``(vii) the process the eligible entity 
                        will use to inform students who apply for an 
                        emergency financial aid grant of the services 
                        described under clause (vi);
                    ``(H) an assurance that either the financial aid 
                department or the student services department of the 
                eligible entity will serve as the primary program 
                administrator for the emergency grant aid program;
                    ``(I) an assurance that the process by which an 
                eligible student applies for an emergency financial aid 
                grant includes--
                            ``(i) to the extent practicable, an 
                        interview; and
                            ``(ii) at least one opportunity to appeal a 
                        denial of such a grant;
                    ``(J) an assurance that the eligible entity will--
                            ``(i) acknowledge a request of a student 
                        for an emergency financial aid grant not later 
                        than 8 hours after such a request is submitted 
                        to the eligible entity; and
                            ``(ii) not later than 48 hours after such a 
                        request is submitted to the eligible entity--
                                    ``(I) decide whether to award an 
                                emergency financial aid grant to such 
                                student; and
                                    ``(II) if applicable, disburse such 
                                emergency financial aid grant to such 
                                eligible student;
                    ``(K) a description of how the school intends to 
                limit excessive demand, fraud, or abuse including 
                through program audits and requiring student 
                documentation of the expenses for which the emergency 
                financial aid grant was disbursed;
                    ``(L) an assurance that the eligible entity will 
                provide the emergency financial aid grants to eligible 
                students--
                            ``(i) subject to the availability of funds, 
                        as requested by such eligible students in the 
                        order such requests are made; and
                            ``(ii) without regard to any other 
                        criteria; and
                    ``(M) any other information the Secretary may 
                require.
            ``(4) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to carry 
        out an emergency grant aid program under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity in which at 
        least 30 percent of the students enrolled at such eligible 
        entity are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
    ``(d) Notification.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
enactment of this subpart, the Secretary shall make available to the 
authorizing committees and the public a list of eligible entities 
selected to carry out an emergency grant aid program under this 
section.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may only use funds 
        provided under this section to make emergency financial aid 
        grants to eligible students.
            ``(2) Limitations.--
                    ``(A) Amount.--An emergency financial aid grant to 
                an eligible student may not be in an amount greater 
                than $750.
                    ``(B) Total amount.--The total amount of emergency 
                financial aid grants that an eligible student may 
                receive from an eligible entity may not exceed $2,000.
    ``(f) Information and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Information.--
                    ``(A) Student-level data.--Each eligible entity 
                that carries out an emergency grant aid program under 
                this section shall annually submit to the Director of 
                the Institute of Education Sciences a report that 
                includes, with respect to each eligible student who 
                received an emergency financial aid grant from such 
                eligible entity in the preceding year, the following:
                            ``(i) The number of credit hours such 
                        eligible student earned prior to receiving an 
                        emergency financial aid grant.
                            ``(ii) The amount of the emergency 
                        financial aid grant.
                            ``(iii) The date in the academic year such 
                        eligible student applied for an emergency 
                        financial aid grant.
                            ``(iv) The type of emergency declared by 
                        such eligible student.
                            ``(v) The period of time between the 
                        request by the eligible student for an 
                        emergency financial aid grant and when the 
                        eligible entity--
                                    ``(I) acknowledged such request;
                                    ``(II) decided whether to award an 
                                emergency financial aid grant; and
                                    ``(III) disbursed such emergency 
                                financial aid grant.
                            ``(vi) If the eligible student completed 
                        the program of study of such eligible student 
                        after receiving such emergency financial aid 
                        grant.
                            ``(vii) In the case of an eligible student 
                        described in clause (vi), the period of time 
                        between the date such eligible student received 
                        an emergency financial aid grant and when such 
                        eligible student completed the program of study 
                        of such eligible student.
                    ``(B) Aggregate information.--The Director shall 
                use the student-level data provided under subparagraph 
                (A) to annually determine the following information 
                with respect to each emergency grant aid program 
                carried out under this section in the preceding year:
                            ``(i) The average number of credit hours 
                        eligible students earned prior to receiving an 
                        emergency financial aid grant.
                            ``(ii) The average amount of an emergency 
                        financial aid grant.
                            ``(iii) The dates in the academic year on 
                        which each student applied for an emergency 
                        financial aid grant.
                            ``(iv) The type of emergency declared by 
                        each student.
                            ``(v) The average period of time between 
                        the date an eligible student received an 
                        emergency financial aid grant and when such 
                        eligible student completed the program of study 
                        of such eligible student.
                            ``(vi) The average period of time between a 
                        request of a student for an emergency financial 
                        aid grant and when the eligible entity--
                                    ``(I) acknowledged such request;
                                    ``(II) decided whether to award an 
                                emergency financial aid grant; and
                                    ``(III) disbursed the emergency 
                                financial aid grant.
                            ``(vii) In the case of eligible students 
                        who received more than one emergency financial 
                        aid grant, the average amount of an emergency 
                        financial aid grant received over the period of 
                        enrollment of such eligible students.
                            ``(viii) The completion and retention rates 
                        of eligible students who received an emergency 
                        financial aid grant.
                    ``(C) Disaggregation.--The information determined 
                under subparagraph (B) shall, in a manner that does not 
                identify any individual student, be disaggregated as 
                follows:
                            ``(i) For each eligible entity that carries 
                        out an emergency grant aid program under this 
                        section, disaggregated by--
                                    ``(I) the eligible students who 
                                received an emergency financial aid 
                                grant under such emergency grant aid 
                                program;
                                    ``(II) the students who applied but 
                                did not receive an emergency financial 
                                aid grant under such emergency grant 
                                aid program;
                                    ``(III) the eligible students who 
                                received more than one emergency 
                                financial aid grant under such 
                                emergency grant aid program; and
                                    ``(IV) the eligible students who 
                                received a total of $2,000 from 
                                emergency financial aid grants under 
                                such emergency grant aid program.
                            ``(ii) For each group of students described 
                        in clause (i), disaggregated by age, race (as 
                        defined in section 153(a)(3) of the Education 
                        Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9543)), 
                        gender, disability status, students who are 
                        veterans or service members, first generation 
                        college students, and status as a recipient of 
                        a Federal Pell Grant.
            ``(2) Evaluation.--The Director, in consultation with the 
        Secretary and using the information determined under paragraph 
        (1), shall annually evaluate each eligible entity carrying out 
        an emergency grant aid program under this section. Each 
        evaluation shall be disaggregated in accordance with paragraph 
        (1)(C) and include, with respect to the preceding year--
                    ``(A) the extent to which the eligible entity met 
                the elements of the application of such eligible entity 
                under subsection (c);
                    ``(B) whether, with respect to the students 
                enrolled in the eligible entity, the emergency grant 
                aid program led to a reduced average time to completion 
                or increased retention rates;
                    ``(C) any obstacles related to the administration 
                of the emergency grant aid program;
                    ``(D) the total amount of emergency financial aid 
                grant assistance transmitted by the eligible entity;
                    ``(E) with respect to eligible students who 
                received an emergency financial aid grant, the average 
                amount of such emergency financial aid grant;
                    ``(F) enrollment data, disaggregated by enrollment 
                status, retention rates, credit accumulation, and 
                completion rates for--
                            ``(i) first-time, full-time students;
                            ``(ii) first-time, part-time students;
                            ``(iii) non-first-time, full-time students;
                            ``(iv) non-first-time, part-time students;
                            ``(v) students eligible for Federal Pell 
                        Grants;
                            ``(vi) race (as defined in section 
                        153(a)(3) of the Education Sciences Reform Act 
                        of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9543)) and ethnicity; and
                            ``(vii) transfer rates; and
                    ``(G) a description of the role of staff and 
                faculty in the administration of the emergency grant 
                aid program.
            ``(3) Annual report.--The Director, in consultation with 
        the Secretary, shall annually provide to the authorizing 
        committees a report on the effectiveness of the emergency grant 
        aid programs.
    ``(g) Data Privacy.--
            ``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for any person who 
        obtains or has access to personally identifiable information 
        pursuant to this section to knowingly disclose to any person 
        (except as authorized in this section or any Federal law) such 
        personally identifiable information.
            ``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall 
        be fined under title 18, United States Code.
            ``(3) Officer or employee of the united states.--If any 
        officer or employee of the United States violates paragraph 
        (1), the officer or employee shall be dismissed from office or 
        discharged from employment upon conviction for the violation.
            ``(4) Law enforcement.--Personally identifiable information 
        collected under this section shall not be used for any law 
        enforcement activity or any other activity that would result in 
        adverse action against any student, including debt collection 
        activity or enforcement of the immigration laws.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an 
        institution of higher education that on the date such entity 
        receives a grant under this section, is participating in the 
        FSEOG program under subpart 3.
            ``(2) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means 
        a student who--
                    ``(A) is enrolled in an eligible entity on an at 
                least half-time basis; and
                    ``(B) who is making satisfactory academic progress.
            ``(3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101.
            ``(4) First generation college student.--The term `first 
        generation college student' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 402A(h)(3).''.
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