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PRO Students Act

USA116th CongressHR-3487| House 
| Updated: 6/25/2019
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (4)
John Garamendi (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act or the PRO Students Act This bill increases oversight of postsecondary educational institutions and provides consumer protections for students. Proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institutions of higher education (IHEs) must derive at least 15% of their revenue from non-federal sources or risk becoming ineligible for federal educational assistance funds. Postsecondary educational institutions must meet certain requirements regarding entrance counseling for first-time borrowers, disclosure of clinical training agreement terms, disclosure of a mandatory program review, and preparation of students upon successful program completion. The bill prohibits such institutions from using revenues derived from federal educational assistance funds for recruiting or marketing activities. The bill revises requirements governing IHEs that receive federal educational assistance funds, including to broaden the ban on institutions compensating employees based on their successes in securing either enrollments or student aid awards, prohibit predispute arbitration agreements in student loan contracts that waive the rights available to borrowers, and increase protections for whistleblowers who disclose institutional violations. The Department of Education (ED) must (1) establish a complaint tracking system, (2) conduct mandatory program reviews of institutions that pose a significant risk of failing to comply with certain requirements, and (3) recalculate the cohort default rate for institutions that engage in default manipulation and redetermine their eligibility for federal educational assistance funds. The bill expands the defenses that a borrower may assert for not repaying a student loan. ED may impose civil penalties on IHEs that engage in substantial misrepresentation or other serious violations.
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Timeline
Jun 25, 2019
Introduced in House
Jun 25, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
  • June 25, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • June 25, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4977: Higher Education Funds Integrity Act
Civil actions and liabilityConsumer affairsDebt collectionEducation programs fundingEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationLicensing and registrationsMarketing and advertisingStudent aid and college costsWages and earnings

PRO Students Act

USA116th CongressHR-3487| House 
| Updated: 6/25/2019
Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act or the PRO Students Act This bill increases oversight of postsecondary educational institutions and provides consumer protections for students. Proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institutions of higher education (IHEs) must derive at least 15% of their revenue from non-federal sources or risk becoming ineligible for federal educational assistance funds. Postsecondary educational institutions must meet certain requirements regarding entrance counseling for first-time borrowers, disclosure of clinical training agreement terms, disclosure of a mandatory program review, and preparation of students upon successful program completion. The bill prohibits such institutions from using revenues derived from federal educational assistance funds for recruiting or marketing activities. The bill revises requirements governing IHEs that receive federal educational assistance funds, including to broaden the ban on institutions compensating employees based on their successes in securing either enrollments or student aid awards, prohibit predispute arbitration agreements in student loan contracts that waive the rights available to borrowers, and increase protections for whistleblowers who disclose institutional violations. The Department of Education (ED) must (1) establish a complaint tracking system, (2) conduct mandatory program reviews of institutions that pose a significant risk of failing to comply with certain requirements, and (3) recalculate the cohort default rate for institutions that engage in default manipulation and redetermine their eligibility for federal educational assistance funds. The bill expands the defenses that a borrower may assert for not repaying a student loan. ED may impose civil penalties on IHEs that engage in substantial misrepresentation or other serious violations.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jun 25, 2019
Introduced in House
Jun 25, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
  • June 25, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • June 25, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Mark Takano

Mark Takano

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (4)
John Garamendi (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)

Education and Workforce Committee

Education

Related Bills

  • HR 116-4977: Higher Education Funds Integrity Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityConsumer affairsDebt collectionEducation programs fundingEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationLicensing and registrationsMarketing and advertisingStudent aid and college costsWages and earnings