PROTECT Students Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-3512
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Debt collection
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Marketing and advertising
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2019 or the PROTECT Students Act of 2019

 
This bill provides additional oversight of postsecondary education programs, including for-profit institutions of higher education (IHEs), and addresses protections for students and student loan borrowers from fraudulent or predatory practices. 
 
The bill sets forth a variety of provisions concerning oversight of for-profit IHEs. Specifically, the bill decreases the cap on the amount of revenue for-profit IHEs may receive from federal sources, including funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. In addition, it establishes (1) a process for reviewing for-profit IHEs that convert to nonprofit or public status, and (2) a For-Profit Education Oversight Coordination Committee.
 
The bill also sets forth provisions to address predatory practices in higher education. For instance, the bill requires career education programs to prepare students for gainful employment. In addition, it requires the Office of Federal Student Aid to have a unit that enforces compliance with laws governing student financial assistance programs. The office must also maintain a system that tracks reports of suspicious activity of IHEs or student loan servicers, including anonymous complaints. Lastly, the bill allows borrowers of student loans to seek loan forgiveness if IHEs mislead the students or engage in other misconduct.
 
Finally, the bill prohibits IHEs that receive federal funding from limiting students' legal actions, providing incentive compensation, and using educational assistance funds for recruiting and marketing activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in House