Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “FAFSA Deadline Act”.
FAFSA Deadline Act
AN ACT
To establish an earlier application processing cycle for the FAFSA.
Sec. 2 Establishment of earlier application processing cycle
Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4)) is amended by striking “not later than January 1 of the applicant’s planned year of enrollment, to the maximum extent practicable, on or around October 1 prior to the applicant’s planned year of enrollment” and inserting “not later than October 1 prior to the applicant's planned year of enrollment”.
Sec. 3 Certification and testimony requirements
Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4)) is further amended—
by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(A) In general—The Secretary”
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Certification and testimony requirements—The Secretary shall, with respect to each application processing cycle, prior to the initiation of such processing cycle—
“(i) on a date that is not later than September 1—
“(I) certify to the authorizing committees that the Department will meet the October 1 deadline specified in subparagraph (A) for such processing cycle; or
“(II) certify to such committees that the Department will not meet such deadline; and
“(ii) in the case of a certification described in clause (i)(II), on a date that is not later than September 30, testify before the authorizing committees on—
“(I) the anticipated failure to meet such deadline; and
“(II) the financial impact such failure will have on students and families.”