zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Safe Campus Act of 2015

This bill amends title I (General Provisions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish requirements with respect to sexual violence allegations at institutions of higher education (IHEs).

An IHE that receives HEA funds, except a foreign institution, must provide support services to affected students and annual training to relevant personnel.

If an IHE receives a sexual violence allegation and written consent to proceed from the alleged victim, then the IHE must report and refer the allegation to local law enforcement. An IHE may not initiate an institutional disciplinary proceeding during a law enforcement investigation, except to impose certain interim sanctions (e.g., a class schedule adjustment).

The requirement to report and refer a sexual violence allegation does not apply if an alleged victim provides written notification to an IHE declining law enforcement involvement. In such case, an IHE may not initiate a disciplinary proceeding, including to impose interim sanctions.

This bill prohibits an IHE from imposing a sanction on a person, including a student organization (e.g., a fraternity or sorority), with respect to alleged sexual violence, except pursuant to a formal hearing in accordance with institutional disciplinary proceedings. It specifies due process requirements for such proceedings, permits an IHE to select the applicable standard of proof, and directs an IHE to publish applicable procedures in its student handbook.

It also prohibits an IHE from requiring a sorority or fraternity to: (1) admit members who do not meet membership requirements, or (2) waive its coverage exemption under title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities) as a disciplinary or punitive measure.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Fair Campus Act of 2015

This bill amends title I (General Provisions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish requirements with respect to sexual violence allegations at institutions of higher education (IHEs).

An IHE that receives HEA funds, except a foreign institution, must provide support services to affected students and annual training to relevant personnel.

This bill prohibits an IHE from imposing sanctions on a person, including a student organization (e.g., a fraternity or sorority), with respect to alleged sexual violence, except pursuant to a formal hearing in accordance with institutional disciplinary proceedings. It specifies due process requirements for such proceedings, permits an IHE to select the applicable standard of proof, and directs an IHE to publish applicable procedures in its student handbook.

 An IHE may initiate an institutional disciplinary proceeding to impose certain interim sanctions (e.g., a class schedule adjustment).

It also prohibits an IHE from requiring a sorority or fraternity to: (1) admit members who do not meet membership requirements, or (2) waive its coverage exemption under title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities) as a disciplinary or punitive measure.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Support for Student Veterans with Families Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make up to 50 grants in FY2016 to eligible educational institutions to provide child care services on campus for student veterans.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Investing in Student Success Act of 2015

This bill authorizes an individual (i.e., a student) and another person (i.e., an investor) to enter an income-share agreement (ISA) in which the student agrees to pay a percentage of future income, for a specified period of time, in exchange for funds to pay for postsecondary educational expenses.

An ISA that complies with specified terms and conditions and meets certain disclosure requirements is a valid, binding, and enforceable contract and is not subject to state laws that limit interest rates or regulate assignments of future income.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include an ISA as a qualified education loan (a qualified education loan is not dischargeable in bankruptcy), but it prohibits a tax deduction for interest paid on an ISA (interest paid on a qualified education loan is tax deductible).

Payments to a student under an ISA are not includible as: (1) gross income for tax purposes, or (2) income or assets for federal financial aid eligibility purposes under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exclude as an investment company any person whose business substantially consists of making ISAs.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Simplifying Financial Aid for Students Act of 2015

 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to provide for the use of 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 the Internal Revenue Service and ED, pursuant to taxpayer consent.

 The bill also increases from $23,000 to $30,000 the adjusted gross income threshold used to determine whether a student qualifies for an automatic zero expected family contribution (EFC) in the calculation of such student's financial need. A dependent student is eligible for an automatic zero EFC if the student's parents have adjusted gross income up to $30,000. An independent student with non-spouse dependents is eligible for a zero EFC if the student and spouse have adjusted gross income up to $30,000.

Date: 2015-09-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Debt Repayment Fairness Act of 2015

Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a private educational lender from accelerating the repayment terms of the outstanding obligation of a borrower in good standing with respect to a particular private education loan if a cosigner jointly liable on the loan is unable to fulfill any obligations with respect to it by reason of death or disability.

Date: 2015-09-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Bankruptcy Parity Act of 2015

This bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to eliminate the provision that makes certain education debts non-dischargeable in bankruptcy unless repayment imposes an undue hardship.

Specifically it permits a borrower to discharge in bankruptcy a nonprofit, government, or private student loan, or an obligation to repay an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.

Date: 2015-09-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Scholarship Tax Relief for Students Act of 2015

The Internal Revenue Code allows an exclusion from gross income for amounts received as a scholarship if such amounts are used to pay for qualified tuition and related expenses. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in the definition of "qualified tuition and related expenses" the room and board expenses of a full-time student and expenses payable under a Federal Pell Grant.

Date: 2015-09-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
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.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015

 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore a student's Pell Grant eligibility for any period of time during which the student qualified for, or would have qualified for, federal student loan forgiveness due to school closure, assertion of a defense against repayment, or institutional fraud or misconduct.

Specifically, this bill provides that Pell Grants received by a student during that period of time do not count toward the student's lifetime limit on Pell Grant eligibility (currently 12 full-time semesters).

Date: 2015-09-16
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Ravi Thackurdeen Safe Students Study Abroad Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify campus security reporting requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs.

Currently, an IHE must annually report data to the Department of Education on certain criminal offenses that occur in the following geographic categories: on campus, on campus in a residential facility, on noncampus property, and on public property. This bill expands the geographic categories of reportable offenses to also include crimes that occur while a student is participating in an approved study abroad program.

Additionally, it requires an IHE to develop and distribute, as part of its annual security report provided to students and employees, a statement that it has adopted and implemented a program to protect students participating in an approved study abroad program from crime and harm.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the authority of institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disburse Federal Perkins Loans to new undergraduate borrowers through September 30, 2017. A student must first exhaust Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan eligibility.

IHEs may continue to disburse Perkins Loans to current undergraduate borrowers through September 30, 2017. A student must first exhaust all Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan eligibility.

IHEs may continue to disburse Perkins Loans to certain graduate borrowers through September 30, 2016, to enable students to continue or complete an academic program. A student must have received a Perkins loan prior to October 1, 2015.

The bill prohibits Perkins Loan disbursement beyond September 30, 2017.

It also prohibits authorization of additional appropriations for the Federal Perkins Loan program beyond September 30, 2016.

Beginning October 1, 2017, each participating IHE must pay to the Department of Education: (1) a portion of the federal share of the balance of its Perkins Loan funds; (2) a portion of the Perkins student loan payments, including principal and interest, received by the institution; and (3) a capital distribution from its Perkins Loan fund.

(Sec. 3) The bill also expands disclosure requirements for IHEs that participate in the Federal Perkins Loan program.

Specifically, prior to Perkins Loan disbursement, an IHE must provide notice and explanation to all borrowers regarding unavailability of future Perkins loans, limited Perkins loan repayment and forgiveness options, and Direct Loan consolidation options. Also, an IHE must provide notice and explanation to new and current undergraduate borrowers regarding a comparison of Perkins and Direct loan interest rates. 

Date: 2015-09-24
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Fairness and Opportunities for Married Households With Student Loans Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $5,000 the tax deduction for interest on education loans for married couples filing a joint tax return.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Student Loan Debt Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to permit a borrower to discharge in bankruptcy a nonprofit, government, or private student loan, or an obligation to repay an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.

It amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reinstate the six-year statute of limitations on actions to recover on defaulted student loans.

The bill prohibits collecting the amount owed on a defaulted federal student loan through: (1) offsets of social security, railroad retirement, or black lung benefits; (2) offsets of tax refunds; or (3) wage garnishment. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from an individual's gross income: (1) discharged student loan debt, and (2) income distributions from qualified tuition plans that are used to pay the interest or principal on student loans.

The bill makes parent PLUS loans eligible for income-contingent repayment plans, including the Pay As You Earn repayment plan. Additionally, it makes parent PLUS loans and consolidation loans that repay parent PLUS loans eligible for income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness for service in areas of national need.

It prohibits: (1) evidence of an individual's default on a federal student loan from being used in a federal or state proceeding involving the individual's professional or vocational license, and (2) an institution of higher education from blocking access to a student's records due to federal student loan default.

Finally, the bill modifies the public service loan forgiveness program to require the Department of Education to forgive 50% of the Direct loan balance for an eligible borrower who is employed in a public service job and makes 60 monthly payments after October 1, 2015.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Borrower Fairness Act 

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit student loan borrowers to refinance their loans at interest rates offered on loans to banks by the Federal Reserve System. The cost of this bill is offset by an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code that increases the corporate income rate on companies that pay their chief executive officers or highest paid employees more than 100 times the median compensation of all their employees.

Date: 2015-10-01
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2015

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the qualifying service requirement of the teacher loan forgiveness program for certain military spouses.

Under current law, an otherwise qualified full-time teacher must complete five consecutive years of service to be eligible for the teacher loan forgiveness program. This bill permits a teacher who completes five full-time years of non-consecutive service to be eligible for loan forgiveness if the teacher was a qualified military spouse during any break in teaching service.

A qualified military spouse is an individual who: (1) is a highly-qualified teacher at a high-need school, (2) is the spouse of a servicemember, (3) experienced a break in teaching service to relocate with servicemember spouse pursuant to military orders, and (4) resumed teaching the next academic year.

The Department of Education must report to Congress on the number of individuals impacted by this modification.

Date: 2015-10-06
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Earnings Contingent Education Loans Act of 2015 or the ExCEL Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace several existing federal student loan programs with a single repayment plan that caps annual debt repayments based on the borrower's income.

The bill terminates the authority of the Department of Education (ED) to make federal Direct Stafford Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS loans, subject to exceptions for existing student borrowers, PLUS loans made to parents of undergraduates, and Direct Consolidation Loans.

To replace the programs, the bill establishes the Income Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Loan Program and the IDEA Loan Repayment Program, which limit annual repayments based on the borrower's income and prohibit the accrual of interest on loans for active duty service members. Loans under the program are not eligible for the federal public service loan forgiveness program.

ED must provide through the Internet a tool to enable borrowers to make payments and access specified details regarding loans.

The bill amends the Social Security Act (SSAct) to provide ED with access to information in the National Directory of New Hires to determine when borrowers are hired and remind them of their repayment status and obligation to provide accurate employment information.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require: (1) reporting on W-2 forms the total amount deducted and withheld under the IDEA Loan Repayment Program, and (2) the Department of the Treasury to disclose to ED tax return information necessary to carry out the IDEA Loan Repayment Program.

Date: 2015-10-06
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Affordable College Textbook Act

This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to make competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support pilot programs that expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students.

 It requires the full and complete digital content of the educational resources created or adopted using grant funds to be made available free of charge to the public: (1) on an easily accessible and interoperable website; and (2) in a machine readable, digital format that anyone can directly download, edit with attribution, and redistribute.

 ED must give special consideration to grant applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential to:

 achieve the highest level of savings for students; expand the use of open textbooks at other IHEs; and produce open textbooks that are of the highest quality, that can be most easily utilized and adapted by faculty members, that correspond to the highest enrollment courses, and that are created or adopted in partnership with entities that will assist in their marketing and distribution. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include any educational material developed to accompany a college textbook as supplemental material that is subject to college textbook information disclosure requirements.

Date: 2015-10-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Mining Schools Enhancement Act

(Sec. 2)This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to require the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) of the Department of the Interior to ensure that at least 70% of specified research fundsare expended to enhance and support programs at mining and mineral engineering schools in the United States.

In addition, OSMRE shall ensure that research activities relate to conventional fuel resource development and production.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Social Security Garnishment Modernization Act of 2015

This bill limits the amount offset (i.e., withheld) from an individual's Social Security benefit payments to repay a defaulted federal student loan to the amount by which such Social Security benefit payments exceed $9,000 annually (i.e., $750 monthly), adjusted for inflation. 

Currently, the federal government may offset certain Social Security, railroad retirement, or black lung benefit payments to repay an individual's nontax federal debts, but the amount offset is limited to the amount of federal benefit payments that exceeds $9,000 annually, unadjusted for inflation.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.

It directs the Department of Education (ED) to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this bill's enactment. It gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to ED if they wish to consolidate their loans.

The bill sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation.

It adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated.

It reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender.

The bill prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Earnings Contingent Education Loans Act of 2015 or the ExCEL Act of 2015

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace several existing federal student loan programs with a single repayment plan that caps annual debt repayments based on the borrower's income.

The bill terminates the authority of the Department of Education (ED) to make federal Direct Stafford Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS loans, subject to exceptions for existing student borrowers, PLUS loans made to parents of undergraduates, and Direct Consolidation Loans.

To replace the programs, the bill establishes the Income Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Loan Program and the IDEA Loan Repayment Program, which limit annual repayments based on the borrower's income and prohibit the accrual of interest on loans for active duty service members. Loans under the program are not eligible for the federal public service loan forgiveness program.

The bill amends the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require ED and the Department of Health and Human Services to exchange information necessary to use the National Directory of New Hires to assist in the collection of student loans.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Department of the Treasury to disclose to ED tax return information necessary to carry out the IDEA Loan Repayment Program.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Fair Prepayment Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require a student loan borrower's prepayment amount on a Federal Family Education Loan, Federal Direct Loan, or Federal Perkins Loan to be applied first toward outstanding fees and then, unless a borrower requests otherwise, in the following order: (1) toward the principle due on the loan with the highest interest rate, if multiple loans have different interest rates; and (2) toward the principle due on the loan with the highest balance, if multiple loans have the same interest rate.

Additionally, it amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a borrower's prepayment amount on a private education loan to be applied first toward outstanding fees and then, unless a borrower requests otherwise, in the following order: (1) toward the principle due on the loan with the highest interest rate, if multiple loans have different interest rates; and (2) toward the principle due on the loan with the highest balance, if multiple loans have the same interest rate.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Opportunity Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt private activity bond financing, to: (1) eliminate the restriction on nonprofit corporations that acquire student loan notes to notes incurred under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (thus allowing such corporations to access tax-exempt financing for other types of student loans), and (2) expand the operations of such corporations to include performing student assistance related activities.

Date: 2015-10-23
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Employer Participation in Student Loan Assistance Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance to include payments of qualified education loans paid to either an employee or a lender.

Date: 2015-10-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Veterans Collaboration Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a two-year pilot program in states with the highest veteran populations to promote collaboration between the VA and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning.

The VA shall emphasize collaboration with: (1) veterans service organizations that provide personnel with appropriate credentials to assist veterans in filing disability compensation claims and appeals with the VA, and (2) educational institutions that provide veterans with pro bono legal assistance.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Recruiting and Retaining Effective School Leaders Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish a student loan forgiveness program for school principals employed in schools where at least 30% of students meet federal poverty guidelines. Loans are forgiven over a seven-year period.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Payment Optimization Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Truth in Lending Act to establish rules that lenders must follow regarding the overpayment and underpayment of student loan payments for borrowers with one or more loans that are grouped together. These rules are applicable to the Federal Family Education Loan and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan programs, except for income-based repayment plans, and federal Perkins Loans.

The bill requires lenders to apply payments that are more than the monthly payment amount towards any outstanding fees owed and then towards the principal due on the loan that bears the highest interest rate. In addition, lenders must apply payments that are less than the monthly payment amount towards any outstanding fees owed and then towards the loan with the smallest balance of principal and interest combined unless the borrower requests otherwise.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Transfers Disclosure Act of 2015

This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish requirements related to the transfer of servicing of postsecondary education loans. "Transfer of servicing" refers to the assignment, sale, or transfer of student loan servicing from one servicer to another.

A postsecondary education lender must disclose to each loan applicant, at the time of application, whether there may be a transfer of servicing of the loan.

Both the transferor servicer and the transferee servicer must provide specified notice of a transfer to the borrower within a certain timeframe.

Loan payments improperly received by the transferor servicer instead of the transferee servicer (or vice versa) during the transfer period may not be treated as late.

A transferee servicer shall make available a simple, online process through which the borrower may transfer any electronic fund transfer authority that the borrower had provided to the transferor servicer.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is authorized to establish regulations and grant reasonable exceptions in accordance with the bill. A lender shall not be liable to a borrower for failure to comply with the bill's disclosure and notice requirements with respect to events that occur before such regulations take effect.

As a condition of eligibility for certain federal funding, an institution of higher education must ensure compliance with the bill's requirements.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Veterans' STEM Education Program 

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay an additional appropriate amount, beyond other educational assistance, to each individual entitled to post-9/11 educational assistance who is pursuing a program of education with a STEM focus (science, technology, engineering, and math).

Information on such additional payments must be included in a currently required annual VA educational assistance report.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Career and Technical Education Opportunity Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the programs eligible to participate in federal student aid.

Specifically, it makes eligible for Direct Loan program and Federal Perkins Loan program participation an educational program that provides at least 250 hours of instruction over a minimum of 5 weeks that leads to an industry-recognized credential.

An industry-recognized credential: (1) is high quality, as demonstrated by the institution offering the program; (2) meets local or regional workforce needs; and (3) is endorsed by a national industry trade association.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Stop Social Security Garnishment for Student Debt Act of 2015

This bill prohibits offsetting an individual's Social Security, railroad retirement, or black lung benefits to pay a federal student loan debt.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2015 or the JOBS Act of 2015 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish the Job Training Federal Pell Grant Program. The Department of Education must award job training Federal Pell Grants to eligible students. An eligible student is one who does not have a degree, attends an institution of higher education (IHE), is enrolled in a job training program at such IHE, and meets all other eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant. The maximum job training Federal Pell Grant award is 50% of the discretionary base maximum award specified in annual appropriations law. Any period during which a student receives a job training Federal Pell Grant counts toward that student's Federal Pell Grant eligibility period.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Military and Veterans Education Protection Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require proprietary institutions of higher education to derive at least 10% of their revenue from sources other than federal educational assistance, or risk becoming ineligible for title IV funding. Federal educational assistance includes title IV federal student aid and federal educational assistance for military personnel and veterans. Currently, this so-called 90/10 rule requires proprietary institutions to derive at least 10% of their revenue from sources other than title IV federal student aid, but it allows federal educational assistance for military personnel and veterans to count toward the 10%.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Start-up America's Students Act

This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (with program participation agreements) for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, expanding, and improving business incubators operated by or affiliated with them.

 A business incubator is a facility primarily used to provide space where start-up businesses in operation for under 4 years with 10 or fewer employees:

 share space, support staff or services, physical resources, or overhead expenses; and receive technical assistance, financial advice, or business planning services.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Commerce
Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act of 2015

This bill declares that, if a veteran is forced to discontinue a course as a result of a a permanent school closure and did not receive credit or lost training time toward completion of the education program, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance payments shall not, for a specified period of time, be:

 charged against the individual's entitlement to educational assistance, or counted against the aggregate period for which such assistance may be provided. The bill applies to courses and programs of education discontinued beginning with FY2015.

The VA may continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances to eligible veterans and eligible persons enrolled in specified courses for up to 4 weeks in any 12-month period when schools are temporarily closed under an established policy based on an executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation.

The VA may also continue to pay a monthly housing stipend following a permanent school closure, but only until the earlier of: (1) the date of the end of the term, quarter, or semester during which the school closure occurred; and (2) the date that is four months after the school closure.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Students Before Profits Act of 2015

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to recalculate the cohort default rate and redetermine title IV eligibility for an institution of higher education (IHE) that engages in default manipulation.

 ED may impose enhanced civil penalties and sanctions on IHEs and officers for substantial misrepresentation or other serious violations of title IV requirements. The bill requires ED to establish the Student Relief Fund, financed by civil penalties, to provide financial relief to students enrolled in an IHE that is sanctioned or fails to comply with title IV requirements.

If ED takes an enforcement action (e.g., heightened financial oversight) against a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) IHE, then ED may hold the executive officer of such proprietary IHE personally liable for financial losses related to the enforcement action. Additionally, ED may pursue claims against an IHE's executive officers and board of directors to recover discharged federal student loans.

A proprietary IHE must, as a condition of continued eligibility to participate in title IV programs, prohibit an individual who defrauds students from being a member of the board of directors or an executive officer of the institution.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act or the SUCCESS Act 

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify federal student aid eligibility criteria.

Specifically, the legislation repeals a provision that suspends a student's federal student aid eligibility for a one-year, two-year, or indefinite period following that student's first, second, or third drug offense.

Date: 2015-11-16
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions related to financial aid and educational programs for children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.

With respect to a student's independence for purposes of financial aid, a financial aid administrator must: (1) in the absence of conflicting information, accept a homelessness determination made by an authorized individual; and (2) make such a determination if the student cannot get documentation from a designated authority. A student who is determined to be independent on this basis shall generally be presumed to be independent for a subsequent award year at the same institution.

The bill expands the duties of the Student Loan Ombudsman to include the review and resolution of complaints regarding such determinations.

To be eligible for certain federal funds, an institution must meet specified requirements related to student housing, coordination, and notice of financial assistance eligibility with respect to children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.

In approving applications for entities to carry out specified programs related to higher education, the Department of Education shall require an entity to make specified assurances with respect to the participation of children and youths who are homeless or in foster care. A federal work-study agreement must prioritize employment for such students.

For purposes of income-based financial aid determinations, the bill excludes from income: (1) the value of specified vouchers for education and training, and (2) direct payments made through an extended foster care program.

With respect to children or youths who are homeless or in foster care, a state may not charge a tuition rate that is higher than the in-state tuition rate.

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Ensuring Quality Education for Veterans Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require proprietary institutions of higher education to derive not less than 10% of their revenue from sources other than title IV or the educational assistance programs of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, or become ineligible for title IV funding and participation in those programs. (Currently, this 90/10 rule requires these schools to derive not less than 10% of their revenue from sources other than title IV or become ineligible for title IV funding.)

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Visa Security Improvement Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to:

 require DHS employees to review the applications, conduct in-person interviews where appropriate, and conduct on-site reviews of applications and supporting documentation with respect to student and exchange program visa applicants prior to final visa adjudication, with emphasis on determining whether an applicant is inadmissible for terrorist-related activities; require an institution or exchange visitor program participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor is an active program participant, is observed, and is reported to DHS if he or she transfers institutions or academic majors; provide Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access to appropriate employees of a SEVIS program sponsor under specified circumstances; and require a SEVIS upgrade to add data fields that include verification that students are meeting minimum academic standards.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Immigration
Minority-Serving Institution Fairness Act

This bill amends titles III (Institutional Aid) and V (Developing Institutions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit an eligible minority-serving institution of higher education (IHE) to concurrently receive grant funds under more than one of the following programs: (1) the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program; (2) the Strengthening Native American-serving, Nontribal Institutions program; (3) the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program; and (4) the Hispanic-Serving Institutions program.

At least 35% of grant funds awarded under each program must be awarded to IHEs that are not eligible to concurrently receive funds under more than one program.

An eligible minority-serving IHE is a Hispanic-serving institution, Alaska Native-serving or Native Hawaiian-serving institution, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2015 or the POST Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to modify requirements for a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institution of higher education (IHE) to participate in title IV (Student Assistance) federal student aid programs.

Current law requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than title IV federal student aid. This legislation requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds (i.e., it replaces the so-called 90/10 rule with an 85/15 rule). It defines federal funds to mean title IV federal student aid, as well as education benefits for military personnel and veterans.

Additionally, the bill limits what a proprietary institution may treat as revenue to the school in calculating whether it derives at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds.

Finally, the bill moves the 85/15 rule from title IV to title I (General Provisions) of the HEA, making compliance a condition of institutional eligibility to participate in title IV federal student aid programs (i.e., failure to comply results in immediate loss of institutional eligibility). Currently, a proprietary IHE must violate the rule for two consecutive years before losing eligibility for title IV programs.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Relief Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to establish a temporary three-year program to facilitate federal student loan refinancing into the private market, at no cost to the federal government, to ensure payment of lower interest rates on student loans. Private lenders under such refinancing program shall be eligible to receive a federal government guarantee of 95% of loans.

Treasury shall, in consultation with the Department of Education, begin a national awareness campaign to alert student loan borrowers about such refinancing program with a disclosure that a private loan that results from such refinancing is not eligible for income driven repayment or loan forgivingness.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an exclusion from gross income for the payment of an employer, either to an employee or a lender, of any indebtedness of an employee under a qualified education refinance loan or any interest relating to such a loan. The term "qualified education refinance loan" means any indebtedness used solely to refinance a qualified education loan with respect to which the lender offers the borrower protection in the event of unemployment or financial hardship.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act

 This bill amends the Higher Education Opportunity Act to prohibit an institution of higher education (IHE) or postsecondary educational institution from using revenues derived from federal educational assistance funds for recruiting or marketing activities.

Federal educational assistance funds include federal student aid under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, education benefits for military personnel and veterans, and grants for workforce development programs.

An IHE or postsecondary educational institution must annually certify compliance with this requirement to retain eligibility to participate in title IV federal student aid programs.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Veterans Legal Support Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide support, including financial support, to one or more university law school programs to provide veterans with legal assistance.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Restoring Investment in ATB Student Education Act or the RISE Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the federal student aid eligibility requirements for students who are not high school graduates.

Currently, a student without a high school diploma or homeschool credential is eligible to receive federal student aid if such student is enrolled in a career pathway program and demonstrates an ability to benefit from an institution's education or training program.

This bill eliminates enrollment in a career pathway program as a federal student aid eligibility requirement. A student without a high school diploma or homeschool credential is eligible to receive federal student aid by demonstrating an ability to benefit from an institution's education or training program.

Date: 2015-12-02
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
SMART Grant Reauthorization Act of 2015

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the program awarding Academic Competitiveness Grants to first- and second-year undergraduates who completed a rigorous high school curriculum and are eligible for Federal Pell Grants.

It reauthorizes and appropriates funds through FY2022 for National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants (SMART Grants) currently awarded to third, fourth, and fifth-year undergraduates who are eligible for Pell Grants and are pursuing:

 a major in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or a critical foreign language; or equivalent coursework in a qualifying liberal arts program that does not allow students to declare a major in a particular subject matter. The bill limits SMART Grant eligibility to students who are pursuing a major in the physical sciences or are pursuing equivalent coursework in a qualifying liberal arts program that does not allow students to declare a major in a particular subject matter.

It terminates the Department of Education's authority to award SMART Grants at the end of award year 2020-2021.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education