Sec. 4044. Emergency financial aid grant program
1,133 words·~5 min read·
/bill/116/hr/4674/ih/section-4044A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall carry out a grant program to make grants, in accordance with subsection (c), to eligible entities to provide emergency financial aid grants to students in accordance with subsection (d). Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Federal share of the cost of any emergency grant aid program carried out under this section may not exceed 50 percent.
Matching funds provided by an eligible entity under this subsection may not include in-kind contributions. The Federal share of the cost of an emergency grant aid program carried out under this section shall equal 100 percent if the institution carrying out the emergency grant aid is an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or V. Each eligible entity desiring to carry out an emergency grant aid program under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The Secretary shall, at least 30 days before each deadline to submit applications under paragraph (1), conduct outreach to institutions of higher education described in subsection (b)(3) to provide such institutions with information on the opportunity to apply under paragraph
(1)to carry out an emergency grant aid program under this section. Each application under paragraph
(1)shall include a description of the emergency grant aid program to be carried out by the eligible entity, including— an estimate of the number of emergency financial aid grants that such entity will make in an award year and how such eligible entity assessed such estimate; the criteria the eligible entity will use to determine an emergency for which an eligible student will be eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant; an assurance that an emergency for which an eligible student will be eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant will include financial challenges that would directly impact the ability of an eligible student to continue and complete the course of study of such student, including— a loss of employment, transportation, child care, utilities, or housing of the student; a medical condition (including pregnancy) of the student, or a dependent of the student; with respect to the eligible student, food insecurity; and in the case of an eligible student who is a dependent student— the death of a parent or guardian of such eligible student; or a medical condition of the parent or guardian of such eligible student which results in the loss of employment of such parent or guardian; a description of the process by which an eligible student may apply and receive an emergency financial aid grant; an assurance that the eligible entity, when applicable, will make information available to eligible students about the eligibility of such students and their dependents for assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ), and the program of block grants for States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); how the eligible entity will administer the emergency grant aid program, including the processes the eligible entity will use to respond to applications, approve applications, and disburse emergency financial aid grants outside of normal business hours; an assurance that the process by which an eligible student applies for an emergency financial aid grant includes— to the extent practicable, an interview; and at least one opportunity to appeal a denial of such a grant; an assurance that the eligible entity will acknowledge receipt of a student’s request and distribute funds in a timely manner as determined by the Secretary; a description of how the school intends to limit fraud or abuse; and any other information the Secretary may require. In selecting eligible entities to carry out an emergency grant aid program under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity in which at least 30 percent of the students enrolled at such eligible entity are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. An eligible entity may only use funds provided under this section to make emergency financial aid grants to eligible students. An emergency financial aid grant to an eligible student may not be in an amount greater than $750. The total amount of the Federal share of emergency financial aid grants that an eligible student may receive from an eligible entity may not exceed $2,000. An eligible student may receive an amount under this section that would cause the amount of total financial aid received by such student to exceed the cost of attendance of the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled. Not less frequently than once annually, each eligible entity that receives a grant under this subpart shall submit to the Secretary a report on the progress of the eligible entity in carrying out the programs supported by such grant. The report under paragraph
(1)shall be submitted to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall issue uniform guidelines describing the information that shall be reported by grantees under such paragraph. The report under paragraph
(1)shall include, at minimum, the following: The number of students that received a grant, including the number of students who received more than one grant. The average award amount awarded to eligible students. The types of emergencies declared and frequencies emergencies declared by eligible students. The number of students that applied for emergency grant aid. The number of students that were denied such grants. The average amount of time it took an eligible entity to respond to requests for emergency grant aid and average amount of time it took the eligible entity to award or deny the emergency grant aid. Outcomes of the eligible students that received emergency grant aid, including rates of persistence, retention, and completion, and a comparison of such rates for such students as compared to such rates for Federal Pell recipients at the institution. In this section: The term eligible entity means an institution of higher education that on the date such entity receives a grant under this section, is participating in the FSEOG program under subpart 3. The term eligible student means a student who— is enrolled in an eligible entity on an at least half-time basis; and who is making satisfactory academic progress. The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101. .
Connectionstraces to 4
Citation graph
cites case law
Cites 4Cited by 0 across 0 sources