Title: Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act
This bill revises provisions related to financial aid and higher education programs for children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.
It requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) participating in financial aid programs to, among other things, simplify the financial aid determinations process for these students. It also requires IHEs to designate a staff liaison to assist these students with support services, programs, and community resources in a variety of areas, including financial aid and housing.
The bill also requires these students to receive in-state tuition rates at public IHEs. Under current law, some states offer these students in-state tuition or provide them with tuition waivers.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 789 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 789

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid 
              process for homeless and foster care youth.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 13, 2019

  Mrs. Murray (for herself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid 
              process for homeless and foster care youth.

    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 ``Higher Education Access and Success 
for Homeless and Foster Youth Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Independent Student.--Section 480(d)(1)(H) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d)(1)(H)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``during the school year in which 
                the application is submitted'';
                    (B) by inserting ``age 23 or younger'' after 
                ``unaccompanied youth''; and
                    (C) by striking ``terms are'' and inserting ``term 
                is'';
            (2) in clause (i), by inserting ``, or a designee of the 
        liaison'' after ``Act'';
            (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``a program funded under 
        the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act'' and inserting ``an 
        emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, 
        homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving 
        homeless youth,''; and
            (4) in clause (iii), by striking ``program funded under 
        subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (relating to emergency shelter grants)'' and 
        inserting ``Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness 
        and Readiness for Undergraduate program under chapter 1 or 2 of 
        subpart 2 of part A,''.
    (b) Foster Care Youth.--Section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(25) Foster care youth.--The term `foster care youth'--
                    ``(A) means children and youth whose care and 
                placement are the responsibility of the State or Tribal 
                agency that administers a State or Tribal plan under 
                part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.), without regard to 
                whether foster care maintenance payments are made under 
                section 472 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) on behalf of 
                such children and youth; and
                    ``(B) includes individuals who were age 13 or older 
                when their care and placement were the responsibility 
                of a State or Tribal agency that administered a State 
                or Tribal plan under part B or E of title IV of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et 
                seq.) and who are no longer under the care and 
                responsibility of such a State or Tribal agency, 
                without regard to any such individual's subsequent 
                adoption, guardianship arrangement, or other form of 
                permanency outcome.''.

SEC. 3. STREAMLINING DETERMINATIONS AND VERIFICATION.

    Section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087vv(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Simplifying the determination process for 
        unaccompanied youth.--
                    ``(A) Verification.--A financial aid administrator 
                shall accept a determination of independence made by 
                any individual authorized to make such determinations 
                under clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(H) in 
                the absence of conflicting information. A documented 
                phone call with, or a written statement from, one of 
                the authorized individuals is sufficient verification 
                when needed. For purposes of this paragraph, a 
                financial aid administrator's disagreement with the 
                determination made by an authorized individual shall 
                not be considered conflicting information.
                    ``(B) Determination of independence.--A financial 
                aid administrator shall make a determination of 
                independence under paragraph (1)(H) if a student does 
                not have, and cannot get, documentation from any of the 
                other designated authorities described in such 
                paragraph. Such a determination shall be--
                            ``(i) based on the definitions outlined in 
                        paragraph (1)(H);
                            ``(ii) distinct from a determination of 
                        independence under paragraph (1)(I);
                            ``(iii) based on a documented interview 
                        with the student; and
                            ``(iv) limited to whether the student meets 
                        the definitions in paragraph (1)(H) and not 
                        about the reasons for the student's 
                        homelessness.
                    ``(C) Additional streamlining permitted.--Nothing 
                in this paragraph prohibits an institution from 
                implementing polices that--
                            ``(i) streamline the determination of 
                        independence under paragraph (1)(H); and
                            ``(ii) improve a student's access to 
                        financial aid because that student is an 
                        unaccompanied youth.
            ``(4) Simplifying the verification process for foster care 
        youth.--
                    ``(A) Verification of independence.--If an 
                institution requires documentation to verify that a 
                student is independent based on a status described in 
                paragraph (1)(B), a financial aid administrator shall 
                consider any of the following as adequate verification:
                            ``(i) Submission of a court order or 
                        official State documentation that the student 
                        received Federal or State support in foster 
                        care.
                            ``(ii) A documented phone call with, 
                        written statement from, or verifiable 
                        electronic data match with--
                                    ``(I) a child welfare agency 
                                authorized by a State or county;
                                    ``(II) a Tribal child welfare 
                                authority;
                                    ``(III) an Independent Living case 
                                worker;
                                    ``(IV) a public or private foster 
                                care placing agency or foster care 
                                facility or placement;
                                    ``(V) another program serving 
                                orphans, foster care youth, or wards of 
                                the court; or
                                    ``(VI) a probation officer.
                            ``(iii) A documented phone call with, or a 
                        written statement from, an attorney, a guardian 
                        ad litem, or a Court Appointed Special 
                        Advocate, documenting that person's 
                        relationship to the student.
                            ``(iv) A documented phone call with, or a 
                        written statement from, a representative of a 
                        Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early 
                        Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate 
                        program under chapter 1 or 2 of subpart 2 of 
                        part A.
                            ``(v) Verification of the student's 
                        eligibility for an education and training 
                        voucher under the John H. Chafee Foster Care 
                        Independence Program (42 U.S.C. 677).
                            ``(vi) Submission of a copy of the 
                        student's biological or adoptive parents' or 
                        legal guardians'--
                                    ``(I) Certificates of Death; or
                                    ``(II) verifiable obituaries.
                            ``(vii) An attestation from the student, 
                        which includes a description of why the student 
                        may qualify for a status described in paragraph 
                        (1)(B), including the approximate dates that 
                        the student was in foster care, dependent, or a 
                        ward of the court, to the best of the student's 
                        knowledge after making reasonable efforts to 
                        provide any requested documentation.
                    ``(B) Additional streamlining permitted.--Nothing 
                in this paragraph prohibits an institution from 
                implementing policies that streamline the determination 
                of independent status and improve a student's access to 
                financial aid because that student is an orphan, in 
                foster care, or a ward of the court, or was an orphan, 
                in foster care, or a ward of the court at any time when 
                the student was 13 years of age or older.
            ``(5) Timing; use of earlier determination.--
                    ``(A) Timing.--A determination under subparagraph 
                (B) or (H) of paragraph (1) for a student--
                            ``(i) shall be made as quickly as 
                        practicable;
                            ``(ii) may be made as early as the year 
                        before the award year for which the student 
                        initially submits an application; and
                            ``(iii) shall be made no later than during 
                        the award year for which the student initially 
                        submits an application.
                    ``(B) Use of earlier determination.--Any student 
                who is determined to be independent under subparagraph 
                (B) or (H) of paragraph (1) for a preceding award year 
                at an institution shall be presumed to be independent 
                for each subsequent award year at the same institution 
                unless--
                            ``(i) the student informs the institution 
                        that circumstances have changed; or
                            ``(ii) the institution has specific 
                        conflicting information about the student's 
                        independence, and has informed the student of 
                        this information and the opportunity to 
                        challenge such information through a documented 
                        interview or an impartial review by the Student 
                        Loan Ombudsman pursuant to section 
                        141(f)(3)(C).
            ``(6) Retention of documents.--A financial aid 
        administrator shall retain all documents related to the 
        determination of independence under subparagraph (B) or (H) of 
        paragraph (1), including documented interviews, for the 
        duration of the student's enrollment at the institution and for 
        a minimum of 1 year after the student is no longer enrolled at 
        the institution.''.

SEC. 4. STUDENT LOAN OMBUDSMAN.

    Section 141(f)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1018(f)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) receive, review, and resolve expeditiously 
                complaints regarding a student's independence under 
                subparagraph (B) or (H) of section 480(d)(1), in 
                consultation with knowledgeable parties, including 
                child welfare agencies, local educational agency 
                liaisons for homeless individuals designated under 
                section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), or State 
                Coordinators for Education of Homeless Children and 
                Youth established in accordance with section 722 of 
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 11432).''.

SEC. 5. HOUSING AND DESIGNATION OF LIAISONS.

    (a) Access to Housing.--Section 487(a)(19) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(19)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The institution will not'' and inserting 
        the following: ``The institution--
                    ``(A) will not'';
            (2) inserting ``housing facilities,'' after ``libraries,'';
            (3) by striking ``institution.'' and inserting 
        ``institution; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) will provide a means for students to access 
                institutionally owned or operated housing if a student 
                is temporarily unable to meet financial obligations 
                related to housing, including deposits, due to delayed 
                disbursement of vouchers for education and training 
                made available under section 477 of part E of title IV 
                of the Social Security Act or delays attributable to 
                the institution.''.
    (b) Liaison.--Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1092) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Each institution of higher education participating in any 
program under this title shall--
            ``(1) have designated an appropriate staff person as a 
        liaison to assist homeless individuals described in section 725 
        of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11434a) and foster care youth in accessing and completing 
        postsecondary education, including by ensuring that such 
        homeless individuals and foster care youth are connected to 
        applicable and available student support services, programs, 
        and community resources in areas such as financial aid, 
        academic advising, housing, food, public benefits, health care, 
        health insurance, mental health, child care, transportation 
        benefits, and mentoring;
            ``(2) post public notice about student financial assistance 
        and other assistance available to such homeless individuals and 
        foster care youth, including their eligibility as independent 
        students under subparagraphs (B) and (H) of sections 480(d)(1);
            ``(3) give priority for any institutionally owned or 
        operated housing facilities, including student housing 
        facilities that remain open for occupation during school breaks 
        or on a year-round basis, to--
                    ``(A) homeless individuals described in section 725 
                of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11434a);
                    ``(B) youth who are unaccompanied, at risk of 
                homelessness, and self-supporting; and
                    ``(C) foster care youth;
            ``(4) have developed a plan for how such homeless 
        individuals, youth who are unaccompanied, at risk of 
        homelessness, and self-supporting, and foster care youth can 
        access housing resources during and between academic terms, 
        through means that may include access to institutionally owned 
        or operated housing during breaks and a list of housing 
        resources in the community that provide short-term housing; and
            ``(5) include, in its application for admission, questions 
        (to be answered voluntarily) regarding the applicant's status 
        as a homeless individual or foster care youth, that--
                    ``(A) can be answered by the applicant voluntarily 
                for the limited purpose of being provided information 
                about financial aid or any other available assistance;
                    ``(B) explain the key terms in the question in a 
                manner children and youth can understand in order to 
                self-identify and declare eligibility as a homeless 
                individual or foster care youth; and
                    ``(C) with consent of the applicant, may be shared 
                with the liaison after admission but prior to the 
                beginning of the next academic term.''.

SEC. 6. FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS.

    Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(6), by striking the last sentence and 
        inserting the following: ``The Secretary shall require each 
        applicant for funds under the programs authorized by this 
        chapter to identify and conduct outreach to foster care youth 
        and homeless individuals described in section 725 of the 
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), and 
        make available to foster care youth and homeless individuals 
        services under such programs, including mentoring, tutoring, 
        and other services provided by such programs.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``college students, 
        and'' and inserting ``college students, foster care youth, 
        homeless individuals, and''.

SEC. 7. TALENT SEARCH.

    Section 402B(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-12(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless individuals described in section 725 of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), 
        including unaccompanied youth, and foster care youth;
            ``(6) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application for the project, a description of the activities 
        that will be undertaken to reach out to such homeless 
        individuals and foster care youth as part of the project; and
            ``(7) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless individuals 
        and foster care youth.''.

SEC. 8. UPWARD BOUND.

    Section 402C(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-13(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless individuals described in section 725 of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), 
        including unaccompanied youth, and foster care youth;
            ``(7) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless individuals and foster 
        care youth regarding the project; and
            ``(8) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless individuals 
        and foster care youth.''.

SEC. 9. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

    Section 402D(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-14(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless individuals described in section 725 of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), 
        including unaccompanied youth, and foster care youth;
            ``(8) require that such entity submit, in the application 
        for the project, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless individuals, and 
        foster care youth, who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment 
        at the institution; and
            ``(9) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless individuals 
        and foster care youth.''.

SEC. 10. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS.

    Section 402F(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-16(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless individuals described in section 725 of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), 
        including unaccompanied youth, and foster care youth;
            ``(6) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless individuals and foster 
        care youth regarding the project; and
            ``(7) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless individuals 
        and foster care youth.''.

SEC. 11. REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS.

    Section 402H of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
18) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Report Regarding Homeless Individuals and Foster Care 
Youth.--Each entity carrying out a project under section 402B, 402C, 
402D, or 402F shall, at the conclusion of the project, prepare and 
submit a report to the Secretary that includes--
            ``(1) data on the number of homeless individuals described 
        in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11434a) and foster care youth served through the 
        project; and
            ``(2) a description of any strategies or program 
        enhancements that were used in the project and that were 
        effective in meeting the needs of such homeless individuals and 
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 12. GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 404C(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-23(a)(2))--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) describe how the eligible entity will 
                facilitate the participation of foster care youth and 
                homeless individuals described in section 725 of the 
                McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                11434a), including--
                            ``(i) how the eligible entity will identify 
                        foster care youth and such homeless 
                        individuals, in collaboration with child 
                        welfare agencies, homeless shelters, and local 
                        educational agency liaisons for homeless 
                        individuals designated under section 
                        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));
                            ``(ii) how the eligible entity will collect 
                        and submit to the Secretary data on the number 
                        of such homeless individuals and foster care 
                        youth served; and
                            ``(iii) the policies and practices the 
                        eligible entity will adopt to remove barriers 
                        to the participation of such homeless 
                        individuals and foster care youth, including 
                        policies to facilitate continued participation 
                        despite changes in residence resulting from 
                        homelessness or foster care placement and 
                        policies consistent with the McKinney-Vento 
                        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et 
                        seq.).''.

SEC. 13. GRANT FOR FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS.

    Section 443(b)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087-53(b)(6)) is amended by inserting ``, and prioritize employment 
for students who are currently or formerly homeless individuals 
described in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 11434a) or foster care youth'' after ``thereof''.

SEC. 14. EXCLUDABLE INCOME.

    Section 480(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087vv(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following:
            ``(5) payments made and services provided under part E of 
        title IV of the Social Security Act to or on behalf of any 
        child or youth over whom the State agency has responsibility 
        for placement, care, or supervision, including the value of 
        vouchers for education and training and amounts expended for 
        room and board for youth who are not in foster care but are 
        receiving services under section 477 of such Act; and''.

SEC. 15. CONSOLIDATING QUESTIONS REGARDING HOMELESS STATUS ON THE 
              FAFSA.

    Section 483(a)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1090(a)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Single question regarding homeless status.--
                The Secretary shall ensure that, on each form developed 
                under this section for which the information is 
                applicable, there is a single, easily understood 
                screening question to identify an applicant for aid who 
                is--
                            ``(i) an unaccompanied homeless child or 
                        youth (as such term is defined in section 725 
                        of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act); 
                        or
                            ``(ii) an unaccompanied youth who is self-
                        supporting and at risk of homelessness.''.

SEC. 16. DATA TRANSPARENCY ON THE NUMBER OF FINANCIAL AID APPLICANTS.

    Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Data Transparency on the Number of Applicants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall annually publish 
        data on the number of individuals who apply for Federal student 
        aid pursuant to this section who are homeless individuals 
        described in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), including unaccompanied 
        youth, and foster care youth.
            ``(2) Contents.--The data described in paragraph (1) with 
        respect to homeless individuals shall include, at a minimum, 
        for each application cycle--
                    ``(A) the total number of all applicants who were 
                determined to be (or to be at risk of becoming) 
                unaccompanied homeless youth, under section 
                480(d)(1)(H);
                    ``(B) the number of applicants described in 
                subparagraph (A), disaggregated--
                            ``(i) by State; and
                            ``(ii) by the sources of determination as 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iv) of 
                        section 480(d)(1)(H); and
                    ``(C) the number of undetermined requests for 
                homelessness consideration, including statuses that 
                remain unknown because no determination had been made 
                in response to the applicant's request for the 
                institution to consider the applicant's special 
                circumstance of being homeless.''.

SEC. 17. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND FOSTER CARE 
              YOUTH.

    Section 135 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015d) 
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``, homeless 
        youth, and foster care youth'' after ``children'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a) Requirement.--In the case'' 
                and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Requirement.--
            ``(1) Armed forces.--In the case''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Homeless youth and foster care youth.--In the case of 
        a homeless youth or a foster care youth, such State shall not 
        charge such individual tuition for attendance at a public 
        institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is 
        greater than the rate charged for residents of the State.''; 
        and
            (3) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--
            ``(1) Armed forces.--With respect to an individual 
        described in subsection (a)(1), this section shall take effect 
        at each public institution of higher education in a State that 
        receives assistance under this Act for the first period of 
        enrollment at such institution that begins after July 1, 2009.
            ``(2) Homeless youth and foster care youth.--With respect 
        to an individual described in subsection (a)(2), this section 
        shall take effect at each public institution of higher 
        education in a State that receives assistance under this Act 
        for the first period of enrollment at such institution that 
        begins during the first full award year following the date of 
        enactment of the Higher Education Access and Success for 
        Homeless and Foster Youth Act.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Armed forces.--The terms `armed forces' and `active 
        duty for a period of more than 30 days' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
            ``(2) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' has the 
        meaning given the term `homeless children and youths' in 
        section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 11434a).''.

SEC. 18. SECRETARIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND FOSTER 
              CARE YOUTH.

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

``SEC. 124. SECRETARIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND 
              FOSTER CARE YOUTH.

    ``(a) Guidance.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and 
Foster Youth Act, the Secretary shall issue revised guidance for 
institutions and financial aid administrators regarding serving 
unaccompanied homeless individuals described in section 725 of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and individuals who are former 
foster care youth.
    ``(b) Professional Development.--Beginning not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Access and Success 
for Homeless and Foster Youth Act, the Secretary shall conduct an 
annual professional development or training program, such as a webinar, 
for liaisons described under section 485(n) and interested faculty or 
staff regarding postsecondary education services for such homeless 
individuals and foster care youth.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth 
Act, and not less than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary 
shall prepare and submit to Congress a report containing strategies 
used by institutions, financial aid administrators, and liaisons 
described under section 485(n) that were effective in meeting the needs 
of such homeless individuals and foster care youth, including 
strategies relating to streamlining financial aid policies and 
procedures and postsecondary education recruitment, retention, and 
completion.''.
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