Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act

Bill: 116-hr-4637
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Introduced: 2019-10-11
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Employment and training programs

Food assistance and relief

Government information and archives

Higher education
Latest action: action_date: 2019-10-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-10-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHE) that receive grants to operate work-study programs to notify a student receiving work-study assistance that the student may be eligible for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Education must provide guidance to states and IHEs on how to identify and communicate with students who are potentially eligible for SNAP.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4637 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 11, 2019 Ms. Bonamici (for herself and Mr. Takano ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide notice to students receiving work-study assistance about potential eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act . 2. Notification regarding SNAP for students receiving Federal work-study assistance Section 443 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087–53 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) Notification regarding SNAP (1) In general An institution receiving a grant under this part shall send a notification (by email or other electronic means) to each eligible student informing the student of their potential eligibility for participation in the SNAP and the process for obtaining more information, confirming eligibility, and accessing benefits under that program. The notification shall be developed by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, and shall include details on eligibility requirements for participation in the SNAP that a student must satisfy. The notification shall be, to the extent practicable, specific to the student’s State of residence and shall provide contact information for the local office where an application for the SNAP may be made. (2) Evidence of participation in federally financed work-study program The notification under paragraph (1) shall include an official document confirming that the recipient is an eligible student sufficient for purposes of demonstrating that the exclusion from ineligibility for participation in the SNAP under section 6(e)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(e)(4) ) applies to the student. (3) Guidance The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall provide guidance to States and institutions of higher education on how to identify and communicate with students who are likely to be eligible for the SNAP, including those eligible for a State or federally financed work-study program. (4) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) The term eligible student means a student receiving work-study assistance under this part. (B) The term SNAP means the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(t) )). .