PLUS Loan Disability Forgiveness Act

Bill: 115-hr-2270
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
Introduced: 2017-05-01
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis

Higher education

Student aid and college costs
Latest action: action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-05-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>PLUS Loan Disability Forgiveness Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education to forgive federal student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program for a parent of a student who: (1) becomes permanently and totally disabled, or (2) is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted (or is expected to last) for a continuous period of no less than 60 months.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2270 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2017 Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania , Mr. Krishnamoorthi , and Mr. Roskam ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend section 437(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for repayment by the Secretary of loans to parents of disabled students.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the PLUS Loan Disability Forgiveness Act . 2. Repayment of parent loans due to student disability Section 437(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087(d) ) is amended— (1) by striking If a student and inserting the following: (1) Death If a student ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Disability (A) In general The Secretary shall discharge a parent's liability on a loan described in section 428B by repaying the amount owed on the loan if the student on whose behalf the parent has received the loan— (i) becomes permanently and totally disabled (as determined in accordance with regulations of the Secretary); or (ii) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months, or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months. (B) Disability determinations Subsection (a)(2) shall apply to a disability determination under this paragraph in the same manner as such subsection applies to a determination under subsection (a)(1). (C) Safeguards The safeguards to prevent fraud and abuse developed under subsection (a)(1) shall apply under this paragraph. (D) Reinstatement of loans The Secretary may promulgate regulations to reinstate the obligation of, and resume collection on, loans discharged under this paragraph in cases in which the Secretary determines that the reinstatement and resumption is necessary and appropriate based upon the regulations developed under subsection (a)(1). .