Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Closing the College Hunger Gap Act of 2019”.
Closing the College Hunger Gap Act of 2019
A BILL
To address food and housing insecurity on college campuses.
Sec. 2 Questions on food and housing insecurity in National Postsecondary Student Aid Study
The Secretary of Education shall add questions that measure rates of food and housing insecurity to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.
Sec. 3 Information on SNAP eligibility
In general— Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(i) Information on SNAP eligibility
“(1) In general—For each year for which a student described in paragraph (2) submits a form described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall send to such student information regarding potential eligibility for assistance under, and application process for, the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) in written and electronic form. Both the written and electronic communication shall include contact information for the State agency responsible for administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the State in which the student resides.
“(2) Students—A student is described in this paragraph if the student has an expected family contribution equal to zero for the year.”
Consultation— The Secretary of Education shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State agency, in designing the written and electronic communication regarding potential eligibility for assistance under, and application process for, the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) as described in section 483(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(i)).
Sec. 4 Effective date
This Act and the amendment made by this Act shall take effect 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.