US Congress House Bill 970 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Sponsorship: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 38-2)
Status: Introduced on February 13 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-04-29 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act Repeals certain Department of Education (ED) 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." Prohibits ED 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, (2) the definition or application of the term "gainful employment," or (3) a teacher preparation program accountability system. 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 ED from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA. Prohibits ED from carrying out, developing, refining, promulgating, publishing, implementing, administering, or enforcing a postsecondary institution ratings system or any other performance system to rate IHEs. 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.

Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act

Rep. Virginia Foxx [R-NC]	Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]	Rep. John Kline [R-MN]	Rep. Matt Salmon [R-AZ]
Rep. Trent Franks [R-AZ]	Rep. French Hill [R-AR]	Rep. Mike Kelly [R-PA]	Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL]
Rep. Todd Rokita [R-IN]	Rep. Scott DesJarlais [R-TN]	Rep. Barbara Comstock [R-VA]	Rep. Marlin Stutzman [R-IN]
Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R-VA]	Rep. Larry Bucshon [R-IN]	Rep. Steve Chabot [R-OH]	Rep. Joseph Heck [R-NV]
Rep. Reid Ribble [R-WI]	Rep. Luke Messer [R-IN]	Rep. Glenn Grothman [R-WI]	Rep. Rick Allen [R-GA]
Rep. Glenn Thompson [R-PA]	Rep. Tim Murphy [R-PA]	Rep. Bill Johnson [R-OH]	Sen. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN]
Rep. Randy Neugebauer [R-TX]	Rep. Martha Roby [R-AL]	Rep. Earl Carter [R-GA]	Rep. Mia Love [R-UT]
Rep. Mac Thornberry [R-TX]	Rep. Rob Bishop [R-UT]	Rep. Lou Barletta [R-PA]	Rep. Robert Latta [R-OH]
Rep. David Roe [R-TN]	Rep. Joe Wilson [R-SC]	Rep. Kay Granger [R-TX]	Rep. Tim Walberg [R-MI]
Rep. David Young [R-IA]	Rep. Steve Womack [R-AR]	Rep. Tom Price [R-GA]	Rep. Vicky Hartzler [R-MO]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-04-29	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
2015-02-13	House	Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
2015-02-13	House	Introduced in House

SB559 (Same As) 2015-02-25 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/970/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr970/BILLS-114hr970ih.pdf