Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act

3/14/2024, 12:48 PM
Congress
113

Number
HR - 2637

Introduced on
2013-07-10

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/10/2013

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act - (Sec. 2) Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education (IHEs) and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, (3) impose standards and disclosure requirements on programs that prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation, and (4) define "credit hour."

Restores regulations that were in effect on June 30, 2011, but were amended by the regulations that this Act repeals.

Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule not in effect on the date of this Act's enactment regarding: (1) the state authorization for IHEs to operate within a state, or (2) the definition or application of the term "gainful employment." Ends that prohibition when a law is enacted that extends by at least two fiscal years the authorization or duration of one or more programs under the HEA.

Prohibits the Secretary from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA.

(Sec. 3) Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the HEA to authorize nonprofit IHEs to make payments to third-party entities for services that include student recruitment and are based on the amount of tuition that the IHE generates from student enrollment if the third-party entity: (1) is not affiliated with the IHE, (2) does not provide incentive payments to its employees for their success in enrolling students or securing financial aid for them, (3) is not paid by the IHE solely or separately for student recruitment services, and (4) will not make student recruitment information available to any other person or entity.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo prohibit the Secretary of Education from engaging in regulatory overreach with regard to institutional eligibility under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Education

Potential Impact
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business ethics
Consumer affairs
Contracts and agency
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Intergovernmental relations
Right of privacy
School administration
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary9/12/2013

Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act - (Sec. 2) Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 19...


Latest Action9/10/2013
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 151.