Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act

Bill: 114-hr-5528
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Heck, Joseph J. [R-NV-3]
Introduced: 2016-06-20
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government information and archives

Higher education

Inflation and prices

Student aid and college costs

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-06-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to use tax information from the second preceding tax year (the "prior, prior year") to determine a student's financial aid eligibility. It requires data sharing between ED and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pursuant to taxpayer consent.</p> <p>The bill revises the annual adjustment percentage calculation used to determine the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award by measuring inflation over the most recent fiscal year instead of calendar year.</p> <p>ED must develop and maintain a consumer-tested technology tool to allow a federal financial aid applicant to complete and submit electronic forms (e.g., the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) using a mobile device. Additionally, ED must make every effort to use IRS data to automatically populate the electronic forms with tax return information. </p>

action_date: 2016-07-11
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to use tax information from the second preceding tax year (the "prior, prior year") to determine a student's financial aid eligibility. It requires data sharing between ED and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pursuant to taxpayer consent.</p> <p>(Sec. 3) The bill revises the annual adjustment percentage calculation used to determine the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award by measuring inflation over the most recent fiscal year instead of calendar year.</p> <p>(Sec. 4) ED must develop and maintain a consumer-tested technology tool to allow a federal financial aid applicant to complete, save, and submit electronic forms (e.g., the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) using a mobile device. </p> <p>Additionally, ED must make every effort to allow applicants to utilize the existing IRS data tool to automatically populate the electronic forms with tax return information.</p> <p>ED must report to Congress on: (1) efforts to simplify the federal financial aid application process, and (2) the needs of limited English proficient students. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5528 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 20, 2016 Mr. Heck of Nevada (for himself, Mr. Roe of Tennessee , Mr. Polis , and Mr. Pocan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act . 2. Using data from second preceding year Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking may in both places it appears and inserting shall . 3. Calculation of annual adjustment percentage for Federal Pell Grants Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) ) is amended by striking calendar year and inserting fiscal year . 4. FAFSA Simplification (a) FAFSA Simplification Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following: (I) Format Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act , the Secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, enable applicants to— (i) save data; and (ii) submit their FAFSA to the Secretary through such tool. (J) Consumer testing In developing and maintaining the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph and the technology tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons to ensure the forms and technology tool are designed to be easily usable and understandable by students and families. Such consumer testing shall include, but is not limited to— (i) current and prospective college students, family members of such students, and other individuals with expertise in student financial assistance application processes; (ii) dependent students and independent students meeting the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; and (iii) dependent students and independent students who do not meet the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479. ; and (2) by amending subsection (f) 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 use 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) 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 single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing jointly, and married taxpayers filing separately to utilize the 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 on the progress of the simplification efforts under this subsection. (4) Reports on FAFSA access Not less than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the needs of limited English proficient students using the FAFSA. . (b) Funding (1) Use of existing funds Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (2) No additional funds authorized No funds are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5528 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act . 2. Using data from second preceding year Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking may in both places it appears and inserting shall . 3. Calculation of annual adjustment percentage for Federal Pell Grants Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) ) is amended by striking calendar year and inserting fiscal year . 4. FAFSA Simplification (a) FAFSA Simplification Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following: (I) Format Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act , the Secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, enable applicants to— (i) save data; and (ii) submit their FAFSA to the Secretary through such tool. (J) Consumer testing In developing and maintaining the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph and the technology tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons to ensure the forms and technology tool are designed to be easily usable and understandable by students and families. Such consumer testing shall include— (i) current and prospective college students, family members of such students, and other individuals with expertise in student financial assistance application processes; (ii) dependent students and independent students meeting the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; and (iii) dependent students and independent students who do not meet the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479. ; and (2) by amending subsection (f) 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 single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing jointly, and married taxpayers filing separately 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 on the progress of the simplification efforts under this subsection. (4) Reports on FAFSA access Not less than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the needs of limited English proficient students using the FAFSA. . (b) Funding (1) Use of existing funds Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (2) No additional funds authorized No funds are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 11, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5528 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 12, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions AN ACT To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act . 2. Using data from second preceding year Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking may in both places it appears and inserting shall . 3. Calculation of annual adjustment percentage for Federal Pell Grants Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) ) is amended by striking calendar year and inserting fiscal year . 4. FAFSA Simplification (a) FAFSA Simplification Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following: (I) Format Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act , the Secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, enable applicants to— (i) save data; and (ii) submit their FAFSA to the Secretary through such tool. (J) Consumer testing In developing and maintaining the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph and the technology tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons to ensure the forms and technology tool are designed to be easily usable and understandable by students and families. Such consumer testing shall include— (i) current and prospective college students, family members of such students, and other individuals with expertise in student financial assistance application processes; (ii) dependent students and independent students meeting the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; and (iii) dependent students and independent students who do not meet the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479. ; and (2) by amending subsection (f) 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 single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing jointly, and married taxpayers filing separately 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 on the progress of the simplification efforts under this subsection. (4) Reports on FAFSA access Not less than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the needs of limited English proficient students using the FAFSA. . (b) Funding (1) Use of existing funds Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (2) No additional funds authorized No funds are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 11, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 526 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5528 [Report No. 114–678] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 20, 2016 Mr. Heck of Nevada (for himself, Mr. Roe of Tennessee , Mr. Polis , and Mr. Pocan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce July 11, 2016 Additional sponsors: Mr. Curbelo of Florida , Mr. Takano , Mr. Kline , Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania , Mr. Carter of Georgia , Mr. Scott of Virginia , Mr. Hinojosa , Mr. Courtney , Ms. Fudge , Ms. Bonamici , Ms. Adams , Ms. Wilson of Florida , and Mrs. Davis of California July 11, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 20, 2016 A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act . 2. Using data from second preceding year Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking may in both places it appears and inserting shall . 3. Calculation of annual adjustment percentage for Federal Pell Grants Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) ) is amended by striking calendar year and inserting fiscal year . 4. FAFSA Simplification (a) FAFSA Simplification Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following: (I) Format Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act , the Secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, enable applicants to— (i) save data; and (ii) submit their FAFSA to the Secretary through such tool. (J) Consumer testing In developing and maintaining the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph and the technology tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons to ensure the forms and technology tool are designed to be easily usable and understandable by students and families. Such consumer testing shall include— (i) current and prospective college students, family members of such students, and other individuals with expertise in student financial assistance application processes; (ii) dependent students and independent students meeting the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; and (iii) dependent students and independent students who do not meet the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479. ; and (2) by amending subsection (f) 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 use 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) 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 single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing jointly, and married taxpayers filing separately to utilize the 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 on the progress of the simplification efforts under this subsection. (4) Reports on FAFSA access Not less than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the needs of limited English proficient students using the FAFSA. . (b) Funding (1) Use of existing funds Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (2) No additional funds authorized No funds are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

July 11, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed