In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity 
Enhancement Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Mental health treatment capacity at community-based 
        outpatient clinics remains inadequate and inconsistent, despite 
        the requirement under section 1706(c) of title 38, United 
        States Code, that every primary care health care facility of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs develop and carry out a plan 
        to meet the mental health care needs of veterans who require 
        such services.
            (2) In 2001, the minority staff of the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate conducted a survey of 
        community-based outpatient clinics and found that there was no 
        established systemwide baseline of acceptable mental health 
        service levels at such clinics.
            (3) In 2004, the Department of Veterans Affairs workgroup 
        on mental health care, which developed and submitted a 
        Comprehensive Mental Health Strategic Plan to the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, found service and funding gaps within the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, and made 
        numerous recommendations for improvements. As of May 2005, 
        Congress had not received a final report on the workgroup's 
        findings.
            (4) In February 2005, the Government Accountability Office 
        reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs had not fully 
        met any of the 24 clinical care and education recommendations 
        made in 2004 by the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress 
        Disorder of the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
        Administration.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Strengthening of Performance Measures for Mental Health 
Programs.--Section 1706(b)(6) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(D) The Under Secretary shall include, as goals in the 
performance contracts entered into with Network Directors to prioritize 
mental health services--
            ``(i) establishing appropriate staff-patient ratio levels 
        for various programs (including mental health services at 
        community-based outpatient clinics);
            ``(ii) fostering collaborative environments for providers; 
        and
            ``(iii) encouraging clinicians to conduct mental health 
        consultations during primary care visits.''.
    (b) Inflationary Indexing of Capacity Requirements.--Section 
1706(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(7) For the purposes of meeting and reporting on the capacity 
requirements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that the 
funding levels allocated for specialized treatment and rehabilitative 
services for disabled veterans are adjusted for inflation each fiscal 
year.''.
    (c) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.--Section 1706(c) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 90 percent of 
community-based outpatient clinics have the capacity to provide onsite, 
contract-referral, or tele-mental health services--
            ``(A) for at least 10 percent of all clinic visits by not 
        later than September 30, 2006; and
            ``(B) for at least 15 percent of all clinic visits by not 
        later than September 30, 2007.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph--
            ``(A) each primary care health care facility of the 
        Department has the capacity and resources to provide not less 
        than 5 days of inpatient, residential detoxification services 
        onsite or at a nearby contracted or Department facility; and
            ``(B) a case manager is assigned to coordinate follow up 
        outpatient services at each community-based outpatient 
        clinic.''.
    (d) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than January 31, 2008, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to Congress that--
            (1) describes the status and availability of mental health 
        services at community-based outpatient clinics;
            (2) describes the substance of services available at such 
        clinics;
            (3) includes the ratios between mental health staff and 
        patients at such clinics; and
            (4) includes the certification of the Inspector General of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 4. COOPERATION ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PREVENTION.

    (a) Agreement.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding--
            (1) to ensure that separating servicemembers receive 
        standardized individual mental health and sexual trauma 
        assessments as part of separation exams; and
            (2) includes the development of shared guidelines on how to 
        conduct the assessments.
    (b) Establishment of Joint VA-DoD Workgroup on Mental Health.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a joint workgroup 
        on mental health, which shall be comprised of not less than 7 
        leaders in the field of mental health appointed from their 
        respective departments.
            (2) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment 
        of the workgroup under paragraph (1), the workgroup shall 
        analyze the feasibility, content, and scope of initiatives 
        related to--
                    (A) combating stigmas and prejudices associated 
                with servicemembers who suffer from mental health 
                disorders or readjustment issues, through the use of 
                peer counseling programs or other educational 
                initiatives;
                    (B) ways in which the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs can make their expertise in treating mental 
                health disorders more readily available to Department 
                of Defense mental health care providers;
                    (C) family and spousal education to assist family 
                members of veterans and servicemembers to recognize and 
                deal with signs of potential readjustment issues or 
                other mental health disorders; and
                    (D) seamless transition of servicemembers who have 
                been diagnosed with mental health disorders from active 
                duty to veteran status (in consultation with the 
                Seamless Transition Task Force and other entities 
                assisting in this effort).
            (3) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2007, the Secretary of 
        Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a 
        report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations 
        of the workgroup established under this subsection.

SEC. 5. PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

    (a) Guidelines.--The Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
Administration, shall establish systemwide guidelines for screening 
primary care patients for mental health disorders and illnesses.
    (b) Training.--Based upon the guidelines established under 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
Administration, shall conduct appropriate training for clinicians of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out mental health 
consultations.

Ex Output:
Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity Enhancement Act of 2005 - Requires the Under Secretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include as goals in performance contracts for prioritizing mental health services to veterans: (1) establishing appropriate staff-patient ratio levels; (2) fostering collaborative environments for providers; and (3) encouraging clinicians to conduct mental health consultations during primary care visits.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that not less than 90 percent of Department community-based outpatient clinics have the capacity to provide on-site, contract-referral, or tele-mental health services for at least: (1) ten percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2006; and (2) 15 percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2007.

Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure interdepartmental cooperation on mental health awareness and mental illness prevention.

Requires the Under Secretary to establish system-wide guidelines for screening primary care patients for mental health disorders and illnesses.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Our Future Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO COURTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 13712(b) of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 629b) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this 
section:
            ``(1) Application.--A highest State court shall submit to 
        the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and 
        including such information and assurances as the Secretary 
        shall require.
            ``(2) Measures of court performance.--There shall be in 
        effect in the State such laws and procedures as are necessary 
        to ensure that the courts of the State measure the following 
        with respect to children under the jurisdiction of the courts:
                    ``(A) The percentage of children who do not have a 
                subsequent petition of maltreatment filed in court 
                after the initial such petition is filed.
                    ``(B) The percentage of children who are the 
                subject of additional allegations of maltreatment 
                within 12 months after the original petition was 
                closed.
                    ``(C) The percentages of children who reach legal 
                permanency within 6 months after removal, within 12 
                months thereafter, within 18 months thereafter, and 
                within 24 months thereafter.
                    ``(D) The percentage of children who do not reach 
                permanency in the foster care system.
                    ``(E) The percentages of children who re-enter 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being returned to their families, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(F) The percentages of children who return to 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being adopted or placed with an individual or 
                couple who are permanent guardians, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(G) The percentages of children who are 
                transferred among 1, 2, 3, or more placements while 
                under court jurisdiction, distinguishing, where 
                possible, between placements in and out of a child's 
                own home from multiple placements in a variety of 
                environments.
                    ``(H) The percentage of cases in which both parents 
                receive written service of process within the required 
                time standards or where notice of hearing has been 
                waived by parties.
                    ``(I) The percentage of cases in which there is 
                documentation that timely and proper notice is given to 
                parties in advance of the next hearing.
                    ``(J) The percentage of cases in which children who 
                have attained 10 years of age receive notice of the 
                legal proceedings in their dependency case; the 
                percentage of cases in which children who have attained 
                10 years of age are present in court and afforded an 
                opportunity to be heard in their own cases; and the 
                percentage of cases in which children have legal 
                representation.
                    ``(K) The percentage of cases in which the court 
                reviews case plans within established time guidelines.
                    ``(L) The percentage of children receiving legal 
                counsel, guardians ad litem, or court-appointed special 
                advocates before the preliminary protective hearing or 
                equivalent, with separate measures of the percentages 
                of each type of representation and of whether the 
                representation was received within established time 
                guidelines, within 5 days after the adoption petition 
                is filed, within 6 through 10 days after the filing, 
                and within more than 10 days after the filing.
                    ``(M) The percentage of cases in which counsel for 
                parents are appointed before the preliminary protective 
                hearing or equivalent, with separate measures of the 
                percentages in which such appointments are made within 
                established time guidelines, within 5 days after the 
                adoption petition is filed, within 6 through 10 days 
                after the filing, and within more than 10 days after 
                the filing.
                    ``(N) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for children is appointed on or before the 
                first court appearance, and the percentage of cases in 
                which legal counsel for children changes, and the 
                number of changes involved.
                    ``(O) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents changes, and the number of changes 
                involved.
                    ``(P) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents, children, and agencies are present 
                at each hearing.
                    ``(Q) The percentages of children for whom all 
                hearings are heard by 1 or more judicial officers, and 
                the number of judicial officers hearing the case.
                    ``(R) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to adjudication.
                    ``(S) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to disposition.
                    ``(T) The percentages of cases that are adjudicated 
                within 30 days after the filing of the dependency 
                petition, within 60 days thereafter, and within 90 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(U) The percentages of cases that receive a 
                disposition within 10 days after the dependency 
                adjudication, within 30 days thereafter, and within 90 
                days thereafter.
                    ``(V) The percentage of cases where children are 
                successfully served in the home and not detained; the 
                average and median times to reunification; and the 
                percentage of cases where children are not successfully 
                reunified.
                    ``(W) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to permanent placement.
                    ``(X) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to finalized termination of 
                parental rights.
                    ``(Y) The percentages of cases for which the 
                termination petition is filed within 3 months after the 
                dependency disposition, within 6 months thereafter, 
                within 12 months thereafter, and within 18 months 
                thereafter.
                    ``(Z) The percentage of cases that receive a 
                termination order within 30 days after the filing of 
                the termination petition, within 90 days thereafter, 
                within 120 days thereafter, and within 180 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(AA) The percentages of cases for which an 
                adoption petition is filed within 1 month after the 
                termination order, within 3 months thereafter, and 
                within 6 months thereafter.
                    ``(BB) The percentages of cases for which the 
                adoption is finalized within 1 month after the adoption 
                petition is filed, within 3 months thereafter, within 6 
                months thereafter, and within 12 months thereafter.
                    ``(CC) The percentage of hearings (by hearing type) 
                not completed within timeframes set forth in statute or 
                court rules, including, where possible, the reason for 
                noncompletion.''.
    (b) Student Loan Repayment for Family Law, Dependency, and Domestic 
Relations Attorneys.--
            (1) In general.--The Higher Education Act of 1965 is 
        amended by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR FAMILY LAW, DEPENDENCY, AND DOMESTIC 
              RELATIONS ATTORNEYS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage 
qualified individuals to enter and continue employment as family law, 
dependency, and domestic relations attorneys.
    ``(b) Loan Forgiveness.--
            ``(1) Loan forgiveness authorized.--The Secretary is 
        authorized to forgive, in accordance with this section and the 
        agreement described in subsection (e), the student loan debt of 
        an eligible borrower in the amount specified in subsection (d) 
        and for the period specified in such agreement.
            ``(2) Method of loan forgiveness.--To provide the loan 
        forgiveness authorized in paragraph (1), the Secretary is 
        authorized to carry out a program--
                    ``(A) through the holder of the loan, to assume the 
                obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part B of this title; and
                    ``(B) to cancel a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part D of this title.
    ``(c) Eligible Borrower.--The Secretary is authorized to provided 
loan forgiveness under this section to any individual who--
            ``(1) is employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or 
        domestic relations attorney; and
            ``(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower 
        seeks forgiveness.
    ``(d) Loan Forgiveness Amount.--The Secretary may, from funds 
appropriated under subsection (l), forgive the loan obligation of an 
eligible borrower in accordance with such terms, limitations, and 
conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by such borrower and the 
Secretary in the agreement described in subsection (e), except that the 
amount paid by the Secretary under this section shall not exceed--
            ``(1) $6,000 in any calendar year for any borrower; or
            ``(2) $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower.
    ``(e) Loan Forgiveness Agreement.--
            ``(1) Terms of agreement.--The Secretary shall not provide 
        loan forgiveness to an eligible borrower unless the borrower 
        enters into a written agreement with the Secretary which 
        provides that--
                    ``(A) the borrower shall remain employed full-time 
                as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
                attorney for a period of service specified in the 
                agreement (but not less than 3 years), unless 
                involuntarily separated from that employment;
                    ``(B) if the borrower is involuntarily separated 
                from the employment described in subparagraph (A) on 
                account of misconduct, or voluntarily separates from 
                that employment, before the end of the period specified 
                in the agreement, the borrower shall repay the 
                Secretary the amount of any benefits received by such 
                borrower under this section;
                    ``(C) if the borrower is required to repay an 
                amount to the Secretary under subparagraph (B) and 
                fails to repay such amount, a sum equal to such amount 
                shall be recoverable by the Government from the 
                borrower (or such borrower's estate, if applicable) by 
                such method as is provided by law for the recovery of 
                amounts owing to the Government;
                    ``(D) the Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, 
                a right of recovery under this subsection if it is 
                shown that recovery would be against equity and good 
                conscience or against the public interest; and
                    ``(E) the Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness 
                under this section for the period of the agreement, 
                subject to the availability of appropriations.
            ``(2) Agreement renewal.--Upon completion by an eligible 
        borrower of the period of service required under the agreement 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may renew such 
        agreement with the eligible borrower for a successive period of 
        service to be specified in the renewed agreement (which may be 
        less than 3 years).
    ``(f) Repayments by Borrowers.--Any amount repaid by, or recovered 
from, a borrower (or a borrower's estate) under subsection (e)(1)(B) 
shall be credited to the appropriation account from which the loan 
forgiveness amount involved was originally paid. Any amount so credited 
shall be merged with other sums in such account and shall be available 
for the same purposes and period, and subject to the same limitations 
(if any), as the sums with which the amount was merged.
    ``(g) Application for Loan Forgiveness.--An eligible borrower 
desiring loan forgiveness under this section shall submit a complete 
and accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(h) Priority.--The Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness under 
this section on a first-come, first-served basis, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations.
    ``(i) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
section.
    ``(j) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
authorize the refunding of any repayment of any loan made by a borrower 
prior to the date on which the Secretary entered into an agreement with 
the borrower under subsection (e).
    ``(k) Definition.--In this section the term `family law, 
dependency, or domestic relations attorney' means an attorney who works 
in the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations, 
including juvenile justice, truancy, child abuse or neglect, adoption, 
domestic relations, child support, paternity, and other areas which 
fall under the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
law as determined by State law.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.
            (2) Cancellation of loans.--
                    (A) Amendment.--Section 465(a)(2)(F) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(F)) is 
                amended by inserting ``, or as a full-time family law, 
                dependency, or domestic relations attorney (as defined 
                in section 428L)'' after ``agencies''.
                    (B) Effective date.--The amendment made by this 
                paragraph shall apply to--
                            (i) eligible loans made before, on, or 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) service as a family law, dependency, 
                        or domestic relations attorney that is provided 
                        on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) Construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
                be construed to authorize the refunding of any 
                repayment of a loan made by a borrower prior to the 
                date on which the borrower became eligible for 
                cancellation under section 465(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)).
    (c) GAO Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study that compares States with respect 
        to each of the following:
                    (A) The legal representation provided for children.
                    (B) Children's participation in their own cases.
                    (C) Preparation of dependency court judges.
                    (D) Case tracking and performance measurement.
                    (E) Statewide collaborative foster care councils.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
        a written report that contains the results of the study 
        required by paragraph (1).
    (d) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Court Accountability for 
Improved Child Outcomes.--It is the sense of the Congress that State 
judicial leadership should use the measures of court performance 
described in section 13712(b)(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1993 (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) to ensure 
accountability by every court for improved outcomes for children, and 
to inform decisions about allocating resources across the court system.
    (e) Sense of the Congress With Respect to the Organization of State 
Dependency Courts.--It is the sense of the Congress that State courts 
should be organized to enable children and parents to have legal 
representation and participate in a meaningful way in their own court 
proceedings.
    (f) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Building the Pool of 
Attorneys Qualified to Handle Cases in Dependency Courts.--It is the 
sense of the Congress that law schools, bar associations, and law firms 
should help build the pool of qualified attorneys available to children 
and parents in dependency courts.
    (g) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Training, Caseloads, and 
Compensation of Attorneys for Children.--It is the sense of the 
Congress that attorneys for children should have adequate training, 
reasonable caseloads, and receive reasonable and adequate compensation.

Ex Output:
Fostering Our Future Act of 2006 - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to require, for grants to the highest state courts for foster care proceedings, that the state in which the courts are located has laws and procedures in effect that will ensure that the courts measure their performance with respect to children under the court's jurisdiction.

 Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to forgive the student loan debt of a borrower who: (1) enters a written agreement with the Secretary to remain employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations attorney for at least three years; and (2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness. Limits the amount that the Secretary may pay to no more than $6,000 in any year for any borrower or $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower. Authorizes the Secretary to renew such agreements.

 Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comparative study of state dependency courts and foster care systems.

 Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) court accountability for improved child outcomes; (2) the organization of state dependency courts; (3) building the pool of attorneys qualified to handle cases in dependency courts; and (4) training, caseloads, and compensation of attorneys for children.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Christopher Bryski 
Student Loan Protection Act'' or ``Christopher's Law''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
        Protection (hereafter referred to as the ``CFPB'') Student Loan 
        Ombudsman:
                    (A) ``The CFPB received more than 3,100 private 
                student loan complaints and approximately 1,100 debt 
                collection complaints related to student loans between 
                October 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015.''.
                    (B) ``Co-signers complain that information about 
                discharge or alternative arrangements in the case of 
                death of the primary borrower is not readily available 
                and that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, 
                giving co-signers little understanding of how the 
                process works, or if they will be successful.''.
                    (C) ``The complaints and input received by the CFPB 
                resemble many of the same issues experienced by 
                mortgage borrowers, such as improper application of 
                payments, untimeliness in error resolution, and 
                inability to contact appropriate personnel in times of 
                hardship.''.
                    (D) ``The difference between federal and private 
                student loans in periods of disability was not well-
                understood.''.
            (2) An estimated 1,700,000 people sustain a traumatic brain 
        injury each year, with older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years 
        old more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury than other 
        age groups.
            (3) It has been estimated that the annual incidence of 
        spinal cord injury, not including those who die at the scene of 
        an accident, is approximately 40 cases per 1,000,000 people in 
        the United States or approximately 12,000 new cases each year. 
        These injuries can lead to permanent disability or loss of 
        movement and can prohibit the victim from engaging in any 
        substantial gainful activity.
            (4) According to the CFPB, more than 90 percent of new 
        private student loans are co-signed.
            (5) According to the CFPB, private student loan companies 
        provide co-signer release to less than 1 percent of eligible 
        borrowers.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL STUDENT LOAN PROTECTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1650) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Additional Protections Relating to Borrower or Co-Signer of a 
Private Education Loan.--
            ``(1) Clear and conspicuous description of borrower's and 
        co-signer's obligation.--In the case of any private educational 
        lender who extends a private education loan, the lender shall 
        clearly and conspicuously describe, in writing, the co-signer's 
        obligations with respect to the loan, including the effect the 
        death, disability, or inability to engage in any substantial 
        gainful activity of the borrower or any co-signer would have on 
        any such obligation, in language that the Bureau determines 
        would give a reasonable person a reasonable understanding of 
        the obligation being assumed by becoming a co-signer for the 
        loan.
            ``(2) Prohibition on automatic default with respect to a 
        performing loan.--
                    ``(A) Death, disability, or bankruptcy of co-
                signer.--If a private education loan includes a co-
                signer, a private educational lender may not take any 
                adverse action (including declaring a default, 
                accelerating any loan obligation, increasing the 
                interest rate, or altering any obligations under the 
                private education loan in a way that is adverse to the 
                borrower) against the borrower based on the death, 
                disability, or inability to engage in any substantial 
                gainful activity or bankruptcy of a co-signer.
                    ``(B) Death, disability, or bankruptcy of 
                borrower.--If a private education loan includes a co-
                signer, a private educational lender may not take any 
                adverse action (including declaring a default, 
                accelerating any loan obligation, increasing the 
                interest rate, or altering any obligations under the 
                private education loan in a way that is adverse to any 
                co-signer) against the co-signer based on the death, 
                disability, or inability to engage in any substantial 
                gainful activity, or bankruptcy of the borrower.
            ``(3) Co-signer release.--
                    ``(A) Requirements for automatic release of co-
                signer.--
                            ``(i) Criteria established by the bureau.--
                        Not later than 180 days after the date of 
                        enactment of this subsection, the Bureau shall 
                        establish criteria, which if met by the 
                        borrower of a private education loan, the 
                        private educational lender or servicer of the 
                        private education loan shall promptly release 
                        any co-signer from the obligations of the co-
                        signer under the loan without requiring any 
                        action on behalf of the borrower.
                            ``(ii) Criteria established by lender.--A 
                        private educational lender may establish 
                        criteria for automatic release that are 
                        different from the criteria described in clause 
                        (i) if the criteria established by the lender 
                        are not more restrictive with respect to the 
                        borrower or any co-signer of the private 
                        education loan than the criteria established 
                        under clause (i).
                    ``(B) Disclosure of criteria for co-signer 
                release.--A private educational lender shall--
                            ``(i) include in the promissory note of a 
                        private education loan the criteria under which 
                        a co-signer may be released from the obligation 
                        of the co-signer under a private education loan 
                        under this subparagraph; and
                            ``(ii) disclose to the borrower and any co-
                        signer at the time the private education loan 
                        is consummated, clearly and conspicuously, the 
                        criteria under which a co-signer may be 
                        released from the obligation of the co-signer 
                        under a private education loan.
                    ``(C) Modifications to criteria.--The private 
                educational lender, or servicer of a private education 
                loan, as applicable, may not modify the criteria under 
                which a co-signer may be released from the obligation 
                of the co-signer under a private education loan if the 
                modification would be adverse to the borrower without 
                the consent of the borrower and applicable co-signer.
                    ``(D) Notification on release.--A private 
                educational lender, or servicer, as applicable, shall 
                promptly notify the borrower and any co-signers for a 
                private education loan if a co-signer is released from 
                the obligations of the co-signer under the private 
                education loan under this subparagraph.
                    ``(E) Modification of evaluation of 
                creditworthiness, credit standing, or credit 
                capacity.--In determining whether the criteria for a 
                co-signer release are met, a private educational lender 
                or servicer of a private education loan, as applicable, 
                may not evaluate the creditworthiness, credit standing, 
                or credit capacity of the borrower or a co-signer of 
                the private education loan using a standard that would 
                be more adverse to the borrower or co-signer, as 
                applicable, than the standard the private educational 
                lender used to evaluate the creditworthiness, credit 
                standing, or credit capacity of the borrower or co-
                signer on the date on which the private education loan 
                was consummated.
            ``(4) Designation of individual to act on behalf of the 
        borrower.--In the case of any private educational lender who 
        extends a private education loan, the lender shall provide the 
        borrower an option to designate an individual to have the legal 
        authority to act on behalf of the borrower with respect to the 
        private education loan in the event of the borrower's death, 
        disability, or inability to engage in any substantial gainful 
        activity.
            ``(5) Counseling.--In the case of any private educational 
        lender who extends a private education loan, the lender shall 
        ensure that the borrower, and any co-signer, receives 
        comprehensive information on the terms and conditions of the 
        loan and of the responsibilities the borrower has with respect 
        to such loan, including the information described under 
        subparagraphs (H), (I), (K), (L), (M), and (N) of section 
        485(l)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1092(l)(2)).
            ``(6) Model form.--The Bureau shall publish a model form 
        under section 105 for describing a co-signer's obligation for 
        purposes of paragraph (1).
            ``(7) Definition of death, disability, or inability to 
        engage in any substantial gainful activity.--For the purposes 
        of this subsection with respect to a borrower or co-signer, the 
        term `death, disability, or inability to engage in any 
        substantial gainful activity'--
                    ``(A) means any condition described in section 
                437(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1087(a)); and
                    ``(B) shall be interpreted by the Bureau in such a 
                manner as to conform with the regulations prescribed by 
                the Secretary of Education under section 437(a) of such 
                Act (20 U.S.C. 1087(a)) to the fullest extent 
                practicable, including safeguards to prevent fraud and 
                abuse.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Subsection (a) of section 140 of the Truth in 
Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1650(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (9), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following:
            ``(1) the term `co-signer'--
                    ``(A) means any individual who is liable for the 
                obligation of another without compensation, regardless 
                of how designated in the contract or instrument;
                    ``(B) includes any person whose signature is 
                requested as condition to grant credit or to forbear on 
                collection; and
                    ``(C) does not include a spouse of an individual 
                referred to in subparagraph (A) whose signature is 
                needed to perfect the security interest in the loan;''.
    (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than the end of the 1-year period 
following the date of the enactment of this Act, the Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection shall issue regulations to carry out section 
140(g) of the Truth in Lending Act.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

    (a) Counseling Information.--Section 485(l)(2) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(l)(2)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
                    ``(L) Information on the conditions required to 
                discharge the loan due to the death, disability, or 
                inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity 
                of the borrower in accordance with section 437(a).
                    ``(M) Any repayment, refinance, deferment, 
                forbearance, or forgiveness opportunities available to 
                the borrower, or co-signer, in the event of either 
                individual's death, disability, or inability to engage 
                in any substantial gainful activity.
                    ``(N) The effect that the death, disability, or 
                inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity 
                of the borrower would have on the obligations of the 
                borrower and any co-signer of the loan.''.
    (b) Designation of Individual To Act on Behalf of the Borrower.--
Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(4) file with the Secretary, as part of the original 
        financial aid application process, a certification, which need 
        not be notarized, but which--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) a statement of educational purpose 
                        stating that the money attributable to such 
                        grant, loan, or loan guarantee will be used 
                        solely for expenses related to attendance or 
                        continued attendance at such institution; and
                            ``(ii) such student's social security 
                        number; and
                    ``(B) may include a designation by such student of 
                an individual who shall have the legal authority to act 
                on behalf of the student with respect to any loan to 
                the student under this title in the event of the 
                student's death, disability, or inability to engage in 
                any substantial gainful activity;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(u) Option To Designate Individual To Act on Behalf of the 
Borrower in Clear and Conspicuous Manner.--The option for a student to 
make a designation described in subsection (a)(4)(B) shall be provided 
in a clear and conspicuous manner to the student.''.

SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, shall be 
construed to adversely affect the eligibility of a student to receive 
any grant, loan, or work assistance under part C or part G of title IV 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. and 20 
U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) based on a designation, or lack thereof, under 
section 484(a)(4)(B) of that Act, as added by section 3(b) of this Act.

Ex Output:

Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act or Christopher's Law This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a private student loan lender to disclose clearly and conspicuously in writing a cosigner's obligations regarding a private student loan. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must publish a model form for such disclosure.  The bill prohibits a private student loan lender from taking an adverse action against a borrower (e.g., placing a loan in default or accelerating a loan balance) upon a cosigner's death, disability, or bankruptcy. It also prohibits adverse actions against a cosigner for a borrower's death, disability, or bankruptcy.   The CFPB must establish and a private student loan lender must disclose criteria for releasing a cosigner from a private student loan obligation. A private student loan lender must also:    provide prompt notice of a cosigner's release;  allow a borrower to designate a legal representative to make decisions upon the death or disability of such borrower; and   ensure a borrower and cosigner receive comprehensive counseling on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of a private student loan.   Additionally, this bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the required elements of entrance counseling for a federal student loan borrower to include:   conditions for loan discharge upon the death or disability of a borrower, options for loan repayment and forgiveness upon the death or disability of a borrower or cosigner, and obligations of a borrower or cosigner upon the death or disability of a borrower.  It requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of a student's option to designate a legal representative to make decisions about a federal student loan upon such student's death or disability.