Title: Simple FAFSA Act of 2019
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Simple FAFSA Act of 2019
This bill revises the application process, eligibility requirements, and certain calculations related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Specifically, the bill

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4478 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4478

   To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove barriers for 
 students seeking Federal financial aid by reducing the complexity and 
  length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and 
  increasing support for working students and vulnerable populations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2019

Mr. Sablan (for himself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and Mr. Bera) 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 remove barriers for 
 students seeking Federal financial aid by reducing the complexity and 
  length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and 
  increasing support for working students and vulnerable populations.

    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 ``Simple FAFSA Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RULES.

    (a) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 
in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
    (b) Orderly Transition.--The Secretary shall take such steps as are 
necessary to provide for the orderly transition to, and implementation 
of, the amendments made by this Act. The authority provided in the 
preceding sentence shall cease on the day that is one year after the 
effective date of this Act.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Effective Date.--This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall take effect with respect to the first award year beginning after 
the first October after the date of enactment of this Act and each 
succeeding award year.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Special rules.
Sec. 3. Effective date; table of contents.
                 TITLE I--EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

Sec. 101. Expected family contribution.
Sec. 102. Increasing support for working students by 35 percent.
Sec. 103. Zero expected family contribution.
Sec. 104. Using data from the second preceding year.
Sec. 105. Changes to untaxed income and benefits.
                    TITLE II--SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA

Sec. 201. FAFSA pathways.
Sec. 202. One-time FAFSA filing.
Sec. 203. FAFSA in various languages.
Sec. 204. Use of Internal Revenue Service data retrieval tool to 
                            populate FAFSA.
Sec. 205. Information on FAFSA verification.
Sec. 206. Conforming amendments to section 483.
                   TITLE III--FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY

Sec. 301. Exception to required registration with Selective Service 
                            System.
Sec. 302. Repeal of suspension of eligibility under the Higher 
                            Education Act of 1965 for grants, loans, 
                            and work assistance for drug-related 
                            offenses.
Sec. 303. Federal aid eligibility for Dreamer students.

                 TITLE I--EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

SEC. 101. EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    (a) In General.--Section 473(a) (20 U.S.C. 1087mm) is amended by 
striking ``academic year'' and inserting ``award year''.
    (b) Special Rule.--Section 473(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087mm) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``academic year'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``academic year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``award year''; and
                    (B) by striking ``academic years'' and inserting 
                ``award years''.
    (c) Data Elements.--Section 474(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087nn(b)) is amended 
in paragraph (4), by inserting before ``the net'' the following: ``only 
in the case of a pathway three applicant,''.
    (d) Dependent Students.--Section 475 (20 U.S.C. 1087oo) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before ``the 
        student'' the following: ``only in the case of a pathway three 
        applicant,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting before ``the 
        parents''' the following: ``only in the case of a pathway three 
        applicant,''; and
            (3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''.
    (e) Independent Students Without Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 476(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087pp(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
inserting before ``the family's contribution'' the following: ``only in 
the case of a pathway three applicant,''.
    (f) Independent Students With Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 477(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087qq(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
inserting before ``the family's contribution'' the following: ``only in 
the case of a pathway three applicant,''.

SEC. 102. INCREASING SUPPORT FOR WORKING STUDENTS BY 35 PERCENT.

    (a) Dependent Students.--Section 475(g)(2)(D) (20 U.S.C. 
1087oo(g)(2)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) an income protection allowance (or a 
                successor amount prescribed by the Secretary under 
                section 478) of $9,230 for award year 2020-2021;''.
    (b) Independent Students Without Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 476 (20 U.S.C. 1087pp) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b)(1)(A)(iv) to read as 
        follows:
                            ``(iv) an income protection allowance (or a 
                        successor amount prescribed by the Secretary 
                        under section 478)--
                                    ``(I) for single or separated 
                                students, or married students where 
                                both are enrolled pursuant to 
                                subsection (a)(2), of $14,360 for award 
                                year 2020-2021; and
                                    ``(II) for married students where 1 
                                is enrolled pursuant to subsection 
                                (a)(2), of $23,030 for award year 2020-
                                2021;''.
    (c) Independent Students With Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 477 (20 U.S.C. 1087qq) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b)(4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) Income protection allowance.--The income protection 
        allowance is determined by the following table (or a successor 
        table prescribed by the Secretary under section 478), for award 
        year 2020-2021:

                                          ``Income Protection Allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Family  Size                                          Number in College
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     For each
   (including           1               2               3               4               5           additional
    student)                                                                                        subtract:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      2              $36,370         $30,160                                                           $6,180
      3               45,290          39,100         $32,890
      4               55,920          49,720          43,540         $37,300
      5               65,990          59,750          53,570          47,360         $41,180
      6               77,170          70,960          64,790          58,540          52,350
For each
additional
   add:                8,710                                                                              ''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Updated Tables and Amounts.--Section 478 (20 U.S.C. 1087rr) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                and (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--For each award year after award 
                year 2020-2021, the Secretary shall publish in the 
                Federal Register a revised table of income protection 
                allowances for the purpose of sections 475(c)(4) and 
                477(b)(4), subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C).
                    ``(B) Table for independent students.--For each 
                award year after award year 2020-2021, the Secretary 
                shall develop the revised table of income protection 
                allowances by increasing each of the dollar amounts 
                contained in the table of income protection allowances 
                under section 477(b)(4) by a percentage equal to the 
                estimated percentage increase in the Consumer Price 
                Index (as determined by the Secretary for the most 
                recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of 
                the award year for which the determination is being 
                made), and rounding the result up to the nearest 
                $10.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``academic year after academic year 2007-2008'' 
                        and inserting ``award year after award year 
                        2020-2021''; and
                            (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``shall be developed'' and all that follows 
                        through the period at the end and inserting 
                        ``shall be developed for each award year after 
                        award year 2020-2021, by increasing each of the 
                        dollar amounts contained in such section for 
                        award year 2020-2021 by a percentage equal to 
                        the estimated percentage increase in the 
                        Consumer Price Index (as determined by the 
                        Secretary for the most recent calendar year 
                        ending prior to the beginning of the award year 
                        for which the determination is being made), and 
                        rounding the result up to the nearest $10.''; 
                        and
            (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``academic year'' and 
        inserting ``award year''.

SEC. 103. ZERO EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    Section 479 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 479. ZERO EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall consider an applicant to 
have an expected family contribution equal to zero if--
            ``(1) in the case of a dependent student--
                    ``(A)(i) the student's parents are not required to 
                file--
                            ``(I) a Federal income tax return; or
                            ``(II) with respect to Internal Revenue 
                        Service Form 1040, any of the following forms: 
                        Schedule A, Schedule B, Schedule C, Schedule C-
                        EZ, Schedule D, Schedule E, Schedule F, 
                        Schedule H, Schedule J, and Schedule SE; and
                    ``(ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the 
                parents is less than or equal to $34,000; or
                    ``(B) the student's parents, or the student, 
                received a benefit at some time during the previous 24-
                month period under a means-tested Federal benefit 
                program;
            ``(2) in the case of an independent student without regard 
        to whether the student has dependents other than a spouse--
                    ``(A)(i) the student (and the student's spouse, if 
                any) certifies--
                            ``(I) that the student (and the student's 
                        spouse, if any)--
                                    ``(aa) is not required to file a 
                                Federal income tax return; or
                                    ``(bb) with respect to Internal 
                                Revenue Service Form 1040, any of the 
                                following forms: Schedule A, Schedule 
                                B, Schedule C, Schedule C-EZ, Schedule 
                                D, Schedule E, Schedule F, Schedule H, 
                                Schedule J, and Schedule SE; and
                    ``(ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the 
                student and spouse (if appropriate) is less than or 
                equal to $34,000; or
                    ``(B) the student received a benefit at some time 
                during the previous 24-month period under a means-
                tested Federal benefit program; or
            ``(3) the applicant is a pathway one applicant under 
        section 483(a)(13).
    ``(b) Earned Income Credit.--An individual is not required to 
qualify or file for the earned income credit in order to be eligible 
under this section.
    ``(c) Adjustments.--The Secretary shall annually adjust the income 
level necessary to qualify an applicant for the zero expected family 
contribution. The income level shall be annually increased by the 
estimated percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, as defined in 
section 478(f), for the most recent calendar year ending prior to the 
beginning of an award year, and rounded up to the nearest $1,000.
    ``(d) Means-Tested Federal Benefit Program Defined.--For purposes 
of this paragraph, a `means-tested Federal benefit program' means a 
mandatory spending program of the Federal Government, other than a 
program under this title, in which eligibility for the program's 
benefits, or the amount of such benefits, are determined on the basis 
of income or resources of the individual or family seeking the benefit, 
and may include such programs as--
            ``(1) the supplemental security income program under title 
        XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
            ``(2) the supplemental nutrition assistance program under 
        the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), a 
        nutrition assistance program carried out under section 19 of 
        such Act (7 U.S.C. 2028), and a supplemental nutrition 
        assistance program carried out under section 1841(c) of title 
        48 of the United States Code;
            ``(3) 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.);
            ``(4) the special supplemental nutrition program for women, 
        infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
            ``(5) the State Medicaid program under title XIX of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and
            ``(6) any other program identified by the Secretary.''.

SEC. 104. USING DATA FROM THE SECOND PRECEDING YEAR.

    Section 480(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
striking ``may'' in both places it appears and inserting ``shall''.

SEC. 105. CHANGES TO UNTAXED INCOME AND BENEFITS.

    Section 480(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), to read as follows:
            ``(1) The term `untaxed income and benefits' means--
                    ``(A) child support received;
                    ``(B) untaxed portion of pensions;
                    ``(C) payments to individual retirement accounts 
                and Keogh accounts excluded from income for Federal 
                income tax purposes; and
                    ``(D) cash support or any money paid on the 
                student's behalf, except, for dependent students, funds 
                provided by the student's parents.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (E);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (F) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) worker's compensation;
                    ``(H) veteran's benefits such as death pension, 
                dependency, or indemnity compensation, or veterans' 
                education benefits as defined in subsection (c);
                    ``(I) interest on tax-free bonds;
                    ``(J) housing, food, or other allowances (including 
                rent subsidies for low-income housing) for military, 
                clergy, and others (including cash payments and cash 
                value of benefits), or the value of on-base military 
                housing or the value of basic allowance for housing 
                determined under section 403(b) of title 37, United 
                States Code, received by the parents, in the case of a 
                dependent student, or the student or student's spouse, 
                in the case of an independent student; or
                    ``(K) any other untaxed income and benefits, such 
                as Black Lung Benefits, Refugee Assistance, or railroad 
                retirement benefits, or benefits received through 
                participation in employment and training activities 
                under title I of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.).''.

                    TITLE II--SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA

SEC. 201. FAFSA PATHWAYS.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(13) FAFSA pathways.--
                    ``(A) Memorandum of understanding.--Not later than 
                the effective date of the Simple FAFSA Act of 2019, the 
                Secretary shall seek to enter into a Memorandum of 
                Understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the 
                Secretary of the Treasury, under which any information 
                exchanged under an income and eligibility verification 
                system established pursuant to section 1137 of the 
                Social Security Act by State agencies administering a 
                program listed in paragraph (1), (4), or (5) of 
                subsection (b) of such section which may be of use in 
                establishing or verifying eligibility or benefit 
                amounts under such program shall be made available to 
                the Secretary of Education to assist in determining 
                whether the applicant (or, in the case of a dependent 
                applicant, whether the applicant or the applicant's 
                parents) received a benefit at some time during the 
                previous 24-month period under a means-tested Federal 
                benefit program, but subject to the requirements of 
                Federal law.
                    ``(B) Requirement for all applicants and the 
                secretary.--For any award year for which an applicant 
                applies for financial assistance under this title 
                (except for any award year for which, pursuant to 
                paragraph (14), the applicant is not required to submit 
                a FAFSA)--
                            ``(i) the applicant shall provide on the 
                        form described in this subsection whether the 
                        applicant received (or, in the case of a 
                        dependent applicant, whether the applicant or 
                        the parents of the applicant received) a 
                        benefit at some time during the previous 24-
                        month period under a means-tested Federal 
                        benefit program; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary, to the extent 
                        practicable and pursuant to the Memorandum of 
                        Understanding entered into under subparagraph 
                        (A), and without any further action by the 
                        applicant, shall verify the applicant's (or, in 
                        the case of a dependent applicant, the 
                        applicant's or the applicant's parents) receipt 
                        of such benefit.
                    ``(C) Pathway one applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who received (or, in the case of a 
                        dependent applicant, an applicant who received 
                        or whose parents received) a benefit at some 
                        time during the previous 24-month period under 
                        a means-tested Federal benefit program, the 
                        applicant shall not be required to provide any 
                        further income or asset information on the form 
                        under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        one applicant'.
                    ``(D) Pathway two applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who is not a pathway one applicant 
                        and is described in clause (ii), the Secretary, 
                        to the extent practicable, shall use the data 
                        retrieval tool under section 484(q) to obtain 
                        any information for the applicant beyond the 
                        information described in subparagraph (A) for 
                        purposes of the form under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--An applicant 
                        described in this clause is an applicant who 
                        certifies that--
                                    ``(I) the applicant is not required 
                                to file or, in the case of a dependent 
                                applicant, no parent of the applicant 
                                is required to file--
                                            ``(aa) a Federal income tax 
                                        return; or
                                            ``(bb) with respect to 
                                        Internal Revenue Service Form 
                                        1040, any of the following 
                                        forms: Schedule A, Schedule B, 
                                        Schedule C, Schedule C-EZ, 
                                        Schedule D, Schedule E, 
                                        Schedule F, Schedule H, 
                                        Schedule J, and Schedule SE; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) the sum of the adjusted 
                                gross income of the applicant or, in 
                                the case of a dependent applicant, the 
                                parents of the applicant, is less than 
                                or equal to $60,000.
                            ``(iii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        two applicant'.
                    ``(E) Pathway three applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who is not a pathway one applicant or 
                        a pathway two applicant, the Secretary, to the 
                        extent practicable, shall use the data 
                        retrieval tool under section 484(q) to obtain 
                        any information for the applicant beyond the 
                        information described in subparagraph (A) for 
                        purposes of the form under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        three applicant'.
                    ``(F) Means-tested federal benefit program 
                defined.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
                `means-tested Federal benefit program' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 479(d).''.

SEC. 202. ONE-TIME FAFSA FILING.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(14) One-time fafsa filing.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of this section and subject to subparagraphs 
                (B) and (C), an applicant who submits a FAFSA for the 
                first time for an award year for the period required 
                for the completion of the first undergraduate 
                baccalaureate course of study being pursued by such 
                applicant and is eligible to receive a Federal Pell 
                Grant for such award year, for any succeeding award 
                year--
                            ``(i) for which the applicant does not 
                        submit a FAFSA and for which the applicant 
                        submits a certification form described in 
                        subparagraph (D) that does not indicate a 
                        change in the dependency status of such 
                        applicant, such applicant--
                                    ``(I) shall not be required to 
                                submit a FAFSA to receive financial 
                                assistance under this title; and
                                    ``(II) shall have an expected 
                                family contribution for such year that 
                                is equal to the expected family 
                                contribution of the applicant 
                                determined for the award year for which 
                                the applicant submitted a FAFSA for 
                                such period, except that an adjustment 
                                to such expected family contribution 
                                may be made under section 479A;
                            ``(ii) for which the applicant submits a 
                        certification form described in subparagraph 
                        (D) that indicates a change in the dependency 
                        status of the applicant, such applicant--
                                    ``(I) shall be required to submit a 
                                FAFSA with respect to such award year 
                                to receive financial assistance under 
                                this title; and
                                    ``(II) shall have an expected 
                                family contribution for such year that 
                                is determined based on such FAFSA;
                            ``(iii) for which the applicant submits a 
                        FAFSA, such applicant--
                                    ``(I) shall have an expected family 
                                contribution for such year that is 
                                determined based on such FAFSA; and
                                    ``(II) shall be required to submit 
                                a FAFSA for any other award year for 
                                which the applicant seeks financial 
                                assistance under this title; and
                            ``(iv) for which the applicant does not 
                        submit a certification form described in 
                        subparagraph (D), such applicant shall submit a 
                        FAFSA for such succeeding award year and any 
                        other award year for which the applicant seeks 
                        financial assistance under this title.
                    ``(B) Adjustment of expected family contribution.--
                With respect to an applicant described in subparagraph 
                (A)(i) who receives an adjustment under section 479A to 
                the expected family contribution of the applicant for 
                an award year, for any succeeding award year after the 
                award year for which the adjustment was made, subclause 
                (II) of such subparagraph shall be applied to such 
                applicant by substituting `expected family contribution 
                of the applicant as most recently adjusted under 
                section 479A for such applicant' for the `expected 
                family contribution of the applicant determined for the 
                award year for which the applicant submitted a FAFSA 
                for such period'.
                    ``(C) Rule for certain students.--With respect to 
                an applicant who submits a FAFSA for award year 2020-
                2021 and enrolls in an institution of higher education 
                for such year, subparagraph (A) shall be applied--
                            ``(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
                        by substituting `award year 2020-2021' for `the 
                        first time for an award year'; and
                            ``(ii) in clause (i)(II), by substituting 
                        `award year 2020-2021' for `the award year for 
                        which the applicant submitted a FAFSA for such 
                        period'.
                    ``(D) Student certification form.--The Secretary, 
                in cooperation with representatives of agencies and 
                organizations involved in student financial assistance, 
                shall use behavioral science insights to produce, 
                distribute, and process free of charge a short and 
                simple consumer-tested certification form that uses 
                skip logic to bypass fields that are inapplicable to an 
                applicant. Such form shall not require an applicant to 
                provide data that the Secretary may otherwise obtain 
                with respect to the applicant (such as age or active 
                duty military status), and may only contain the data 
                elements required for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)--
                            ``(i) to confirm whether the applicant is--
                                    ``(I) a dependent student;
                                    ``(II) a single independent student 
                                or a married independent student 
                                without dependents (other than a 
                                spouse); or
                                    ``(III) an independent student with 
                                dependents other than a spouse;
                            ``(ii) to allow the applicant to update the 
                        contact information of such applicant or the 
                        Federal School Code of the institution of 
                        higher education in which the applicant is, or 
                        will be enrolled, for the award year for which 
                        the applicant submits such form; and
                            ``(iii) to ask whether the applicant's need 
                        and eligibility for financial assistance under 
                        this title has not changed substantially since 
                        the most recent of the following:
                                    ``(I) The applicant submitted a 
                                FAFSA.
                                    ``(II) The applicant received an 
                                adjustment under section 479A to the 
                                expected family contribution of the 
                                applicant.
                    ``(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Dependency status.--The term 
                        `dependency status' means the status of an 
                        applicant as--
                                    ``(I) a dependent student;
                                    ``(II) a single independent student 
                                or a married independent student 
                                without dependents (other than a 
                                spouse); or
                                    ``(III) an independent student with 
                                dependents other than a spouse.
                            ``(ii) Succeeding award year.--The term 
                        `succeeding award year'--
                                    ``(I) when used with respect to an 
                                applicant who submits a FAFSA for the 
                                first time for an award year for the 
                                period required for the completion of 
                                the first undergraduate baccalaureate 
                                course of study being pursued by such 
                                applicant, means any award year for 
                                such period that follows the award year 
                                for which the applicant submits such 
                                FAFSA; and
                                    ``(II) when used with respect to an 
                                applicant described in subparagraph 
                                (C), means any award year after award 
                                year 2020-2021 for the period required 
                                for the completion of the first 
                                undergraduate baccalaureate course of 
                                study being pursued by such 
                                applicant.''.

SEC. 203. FAFSA IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(15) FAFSA in various languages.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) translate the form developed under this 
                subsection into not fewer than 11 foreign languages 
                based on the languages most often spoken by English 
                learner students and their parents, and make the 
                translated form available and accessible to applicants 
                in paper and electronic formats; and
                    ``(B) ensure that the form developed under this 
                subsection is available in formats accessible to 
                individuals with disabilities.''.

SEC. 204. USE OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL TO 
              POPULATE FAFSA.

    Section 483(f) (20 U.S.C. 1090(f)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Use of Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool To 
Populate FAFSA.--
            ``(1) Simplification efforts.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) make every effort to allow applicants to 
                utilize the current data retrieval tool to transfer 
                data available from the Internal Revenue Service to 
                reduce the amount of original data entry by applicants 
                and strengthen the reliability of data used to 
                calculate expected family contributions, including 
                through the use of technology to--
                            ``(i) allow an applicant to automatically 
                        populate the electronic version of the forms 
                        under this paragraph with data available from 
                        the Internal Revenue Service; and
                            ``(ii) direct an applicant to appropriate 
                        questions on such forms based on the 
                        applicant's answers to previous questions; and
                    ``(B) allow taxpayers, regardless of filing status, 
                to utilize the current data retrieval tool to its full 
                capacity.
            ``(2) Use of tax return in application process.--The 
        Secretary shall continue to examine whether data provided by 
        the Internal Revenue Service can be used to generate an 
        expected family contribution without additional action on the 
        part of the student and taxpayer.
            ``(3) Reports on fafsa simplification efforts.--Not less 
        than once every other year, the Secretary shall report to the 
        authorizing committees and the Committees on Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives and the Senate on the progress of 
        the simplification efforts under this subsection.''.

SEC. 205. INFORMATION ON FAFSA VERIFICATION.

    Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(i) FAFSA Verification.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to applicants who submit a 
        FAFSA for an award year and were determined using data provided 
        in such FAFSA to be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant 
        for such award year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        authorizing committees, and make publicly available, a report 
        for such award year on--
                    ``(A) the number and share of such applicants who 
                received a Federal Pell Grant for such award year;
                    ``(B) the number and share of such applicants who 
                did not receive a Federal Pell Grant for such year;
                    ``(C) the number and share of such applicants who 
                were selected by the Secretary for verification of the 
                data provided in the FAFSA;
                    ``(D) to the extent practicable, the number and 
                share of applicants described in subparagraph (C) who 
                enrolled in an institution of higher education in a 
                year after such selection;
                    ``(E) the number and share of applicants described 
                in subparagraph (C) who completed the verification 
                process;
                    ``(F) of the applicants described in subparagraph 
                (E)--
                            ``(i) the average of the expected family 
                        contribution for all such applicants as 
                        determined using data provided in the FAFSA;
                            ``(ii) the average of the expected family 
                        contribution difference for all such 
                        applicants;
                            ``(iii) the average of the expected family 
                        contribution difference for all such applicants 
                        whose expected family contribution as 
                        determined using data provided in the 
                        verification process was greater than the 
                        expected family contribution as determined 
                        using data provided in the FAFSA; and
                            ``(iv) the average of the expected family 
                        contribution difference for all such applicants 
                        whose expected family contribution as 
                        determined using data provided in the FAFSA was 
                        greater than the expected family contribution 
                        as determined using data provided in the 
                        verification process;
                    ``(G) of the applicants described in subparagraph 
                (E)--
                            ``(i) the average Federal Pell Grant amount 
                        for all such applicants as determined using 
                        data provided in the FAFSA;
                            ``(ii) the average of the Federal Pell 
                        Grant difference for all such applicants;
                            ``(iii) the average of the Federal Pell 
                        Grant difference for all such applicants whose 
                        Federal Pell Grant amount as determined using 
                        data provided in the verification process was 
                        greater than the Federal Pell Grant amount as 
                        determined using data provided in the FAFSA;
                            ``(iv) the average of the Federal Pell 
                        Grant difference for all such applicants whose 
                        Federal Pell Grant amount as determined using 
                        data provided in the FAFSA was greater than the 
                        Federal Pell Grant amount as determined using 
                        data provided in the verification process; and
                            ``(v) the number and share of such 
                        applicants who were determined using the data 
                        provided in the verification process to be 
                        ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant;
                    ``(H) the number and share of applicants described 
                in subparagraph (C) who received a Federal Pell Grant 
                for such award year; and
                    ``(I) the number and share of applicants described 
                in subparagraph (C) who did not receive a Federal Pell 
                Grant for such award year.
            ``(2) Disaggregation.--The data provided in a report under 
        paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated--
                    ``(A) by applicants who were pathway one applicants 
                for such year;
                    ``(B) by applicants who were pathway two applicants 
                for such year;
                    ``(C) by applicants who were pathway three 
                applicants for such year; and
                    ``(D) with respect to applicants described in 
                subparagraphs (C) and (E), the verification tracking 
                groups of such applicants.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Expected family contribution difference.--The 
                term `expected family contribution difference' means, 
                with respect to an applicant who completed a 
                verification process with respect to the FAFSA, the 
                difference between--
                            ``(i) the expected family contribution of 
                        such applicant as determined using data 
                        provided in the FAFSA; and
                            ``(ii) the expected family contribution of 
                        such applicant as determined using data 
                        provided in the verification process.
                    ``(B) Federal pell grant difference.--The term 
                `Federal Pell Grant difference' means, with respect to 
                an applicant who completed a verification process with 
                respect to the FAFSA, the difference between--
                            ``(i) the amount of the Federal Pell Grant 
                        of such applicant as determined using data 
                        provided in the FAFSA; and
                            ``(ii) the amount of the Federal Pell Grant 
                        of such applicant as determined using data 
                        provided in the verification process.''.

SEC. 206. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 483.

    Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090), as amended by sections 201 through 
205, is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``process'' and all that follows through the 
                        end of clause (ii) and inserting ``process a 
                        paper version of the forms described in this 
                        subsection, in accordance with subparagraph 
                        (B).''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                            (iv) in subparagraph (B), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``subparagraphs (A) 
                        and (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking the 
                        end sentence;
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B), and 
                        redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as 
                        subparagraphs (B) through (G), respectively; 
                        and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E), as so 
                        redesignated, by striking ``subparagraph (G)'' 
                        and inserting ``subparagraph (F)'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``academic year'' each 
                        place it appears and inserting ``award year''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        clause (iv); and
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``paragraphs (2)(B)(iii), (3)(B), and 
                        (4)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
                        (4)(A)(ii)'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``determine'' and 
                                all that follows through ``which'' and 
                                inserting ``determine which'';
                                    (II) by striking ``; and'' and 
                                inserting a period; and
                                    (III) by striking clause (ii);
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``Beginning'' and all that follows through ``of 
                        the State-specific'' and inserting ``The 
                        Secretary shall publish on an annual basis a 
                        notice in the Federal Register requiring State 
                        agencies to inform the Secretary of the State-
                        specific''; and
                            (iv) by striking subparagraphs (D) through 
                        (F), and redesignating subparagraph (G) as 
                        subparagraph (D);
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking the last sentence;
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and EZ 
                FAFSA''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and EZ 
                FAFSA'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or, as 
                appropriate, an EZ FAFSA''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ``or, as 
                appropriate, an EZ FAFSA,'';
            (5) by striking subsection (g); and
            (6) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).

                   TITLE III--FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY

SEC. 301. EXCEPTION TO REQUIRED REGISTRATION WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE 
              SYSTEM.

    (a) Exception.--Part B of title I (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 124. EXCEPTION TO REQUIRED REGISTRATION WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE 
              SYSTEM.

    ``Notwithstanding section 12(f) of the Military Selective Service 
Act (50 U.S.C. 3811(f)), a person shall not be ineligible for 
assistance or a benefit provided under title IV if the person is 
required under section 3 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 3802) to present 
himself for and submit to registration under such section, and fails to 
do so in accordance with any proclamation, rule, or regulation issued 
under such section.''.
    (b) Repeal.--Subsection (n) of section 484 (20 U.S.C. 1901) is 
repealed.

SEC. 302. REPEAL OF SUSPENSION OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 FOR GRANTS, LOANS, AND WORK 
              ASSISTANCE FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES.

    (a) Repeals.--
            (1) Suspension of eligibility.--Subsection (r) of section 
        484 (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)) is repealed.
            (2) Notice.--Subsection (k) of section 485 (20 U.S.C. 1092) 
        is repealed.
    (b) Revision of FAFSA Form.--Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090), as 
amended by title II, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(i) Prohibition on Questions Relating to Drug Offenses.--The 
Secretary may not include on the forms developed under this subsection 
any data items relating to whether an applicant has a conviction of any 
offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale 
of a controlled substance (as defined in section 102(6) of the 
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6)).''.

SEC. 303. FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY FOR DREAMER STUDENTS.

    (a) Federal Aid Eligibility for Dreamer Students.--Section 
484(a)(5) is amended by inserting ``, or be a Dreamer student, as 
defined in subsection (u)'', as amended by this section, after 
``becoming a citizen or permanent resident''.
    (b) Definition of Dreamer Student.--Section 484 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(u) Dreamer Student.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `Dreamer 
        student' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) was younger than 16 years of age on the date 
                on which the individual initially entered the United 
                States;
                    ``(B) has provided a list of each secondary school 
                that the student attended in the United States; and
                    ``(C)(i) has earned a high school diploma, the 
                recognized equivalent of such diploma from a secondary 
                school, or a high school equivalency diploma in the 
                United States or is scheduled to complete the 
                requirements for such a diploma or equivalent before 
                the next academic year begins;
                    ``(ii) has acquired a degree from an institution of 
                higher education or has completed not less than 2 years 
                in a program for a baccalaureate degree or higher 
                degree at an institution of higher education in the 
                United States and has made satisfactory academic 
                progress, as defined in subsection (c), during such 
                time period;
                    ``(iii) at any time was eligible for a grant of 
                deferred action under--
                            ``(I) the June 15, 2012, memorandum from 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security entitled 
                        `Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with 
                        Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United 
                        States as Children'; or
                            ``(II) the November 20, 2014, memorandum 
                        from the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                        entitled `Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion 
                        with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the 
                        United States as Children and with Respect to 
                        Certain Individuals Who Are the Parents of U.S. 
                        Citizens or Permanent Residents'; or
                    ``(iv) has served in the uniformed services, as 
                defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code, 
                for not less than 4 years and, if discharged, received 
                an honorable discharge.
            ``(2) Hardship exception.--The Secretary shall issue 
        regulations that direct when the Department shall waive the 
        requirement of subparagraph (A) or (B), or both, of paragraph 
        (1) for an individual to qualify as a Dreamer student under 
        such paragraph, if the individual--
                    ``(A) demonstrates compelling circumstances for the 
                inability to satisfy the requirement of such 
                subparagraph (A) or (B), or both; and
                    ``(B) satisfies the requirement of paragraph 
                (1)(C).''.
                                 <all>