1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Equitable Student Aid Access Act”.
Equitable Student Aid Access Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the financial aid application process, and for other purposes.
2. Zero expected family contribution
Simplified needs test— Section 479(b)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss(b)(1)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A)(i)—
in subclause (II), by adding “or” at the end;
in subclause (III), by striking “or” at the end and inserting “and”; and
by striking subclause (IV); and
in subparagraph (B)(i)—
in subclause (II), by adding “or” at the end;
in subclause (III), by striking “or” at the end and inserting “and”; and
by striking subclause (IV).
Zero expected family contribution— Section 479(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by inserting “except as provided in paragraph (3),” before “in the case of”;
in subparagraph (A)—
in clause (ii), by adding “or” at the end;
in clause (iii) by striking “or” at the end and inserting “and”; and
by striking clause (iv); and
in subparagraph (B), by striking “or” at the end;
in paragraph (2)—
by inserting “except as provided in paragraph (3),” before “in the case of”;
in subparagraph (A)—
in clause (ii), by adding “or” at the end;
in clause (iii) by striking “or” at the end and inserting “and”; and
by striking clause (iv); and
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3)
“(A) in the case of a dependent student, the student or a member of the student’s household received benefits at some time during the previous 24-month period under a means-tested Federal benefit program as defined under subsection (d); or
“(B) in the case of an independent student (without regard to whether such student has dependents), the student received benefits at some time during the previous 24-month period under a means-tested Federal benefit program as defined under subsection (d).”
Income threshold— Section 479(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “$23,000” and inserting “$30,000”; and
in paragraph (2)(B), by striking “$23,000” and inserting “$30,000”.
Means-Tested Federal benefit program— Section 479(d)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss(d)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
“(C) the Medicaid program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);”
3. Using data from second preceding year
Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
by striking “may” in both places it appears and inserting “shall”; and
by striking “sharing of data between” and inserting “sharing of data, to the extent such data is available, between”.
4. Early FAFSA submission
Section 483(a)(8) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(8)) is amended by striking “as early as practicable prior to January 1 of” and inserting “not later than October 1 of the year preceding”.
5. Effective date
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to award years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.