Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Bill: 116-s-2015
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2019-06-27
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Higher education

Interest, dividends, interest rates

Student aid and college costs
Latest action: action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-06-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act</b></p> <p>This bill&nbsp;requires loan disclosure forms for&nbsp;federal student loans&nbsp;to be written in plain language, thus enabling borrowers to understand loan terms, total costs of loans, and estimated monthly repayments. Borrowers must&nbsp;acknowledge in writing that they have read the form before the loans are issued.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2015 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 27, 2019 Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Manchin ) 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 direct the Secretary of Education to develop a plain language disclosure form for borrowers of Federal student loans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act . 2. Additional disclosures Section 433(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1083(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (4), by striking the origination fee and and inserting finance charges, the origination fee, and ; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (19) as paragraphs (7) through (20), respectively; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (5), the following: (6) the annual percentage rate applicable to the loan, taking into account— (A) the amount of the loan; (B) the stated interest rate of the loan; (C) the standard term for a loan of the same type; (D) any fees or additional costs associated with the loan; and (E) any capitalization of interest on the loan; . 3. Plain language disclosure form Section 455(p) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(p) ) is amended— (1) by striking Each institution and inserting the following: (1) In general Each institution ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Plain language disclosure form (A) Development and issuance of form Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall, based on consumer testing, develop and issue a model form to be known as the Plain Language Disclosure Form that shall be used by institutions and contractors described in paragraph (1) to comply with the disclosure requirements of such paragraph. (B) Format The Secretary shall ensure that the Plain Language Disclosure Form— (i) enables borrowers to easily identify the information required to be disclosed under section 433(a) with respect to a loan and loan repayment options (including income-based and income contingent repayment), with emphasis on the loan terms determined by the Secretary to be critical to understanding the total costs of the loan and the estimated monthly repayment; (ii) has a clear format and design, including easily readable font; and (iii) is as succinct as practicable. (C) Consultation In developing the Plain Language Disclosure Form, the Secretary shall, as appropriate, consult with— (i) the Federal Reserve Board; (ii) institutions and contractors described in paragraph (1); (iii) borrowers of loans under this part; and (iv) other organizations involved in the provision of financial assistance to students, as identified by the Secretary. (3) Electronic system for compliance In carrying out paragraph (2), Secretary shall develop and implement an electronic system that may be used by institutions and contractors described in paragraph (1) to generate a Plain Language Disclosure Form for each borrower by— (A) enabling institutions and contractors to enter personalized loan request information electronically; (B) integrating appropriate data found in the National Student Loan Data System; and (C) generating and integrating personalized borrower information. (4) Limit on liability Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create a private right of action against an institution or contractor described in paragraph (1) with respect to the form or electronic system developed under this paragraph. (5) Borrower signature required Beginning after the issuance of the Plain Language Disclosure Form by the Secretary under paragraph (2), a loan may not be issued to a borrower under this part unless the borrower acknowledges, in writing (which may include an electronic signature), that the borrower has read the Plain Language Disclosure Form for the loan concerned. (6) Consumer testing defined In this subsection, the term consumer testing means the solicitation of feedback from individuals, including borrowers and prospective borrowers of loans under this part (as determined by the Secretary), about the usefulness of different methods of disclosing material terms of loans on the Plain Language Disclosure Form to maximize borrowers’ understanding of the terms and conditions of such loans. . 4. Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit to Congress a report that includes a description of the methods and procedures used to develop the Plain Language Disclosure Form required under section 455(p)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as added by section 3 of this Act).