Federal

Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act

Source: Congress.gov · 702 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill requires colleges and universities that receive federal work-study funding to send notices to students about whether they may qualify for SNAP (food assistance benefits). The notices must explain how students can check their eligibility and apply for benefits. The bill also requires the Secretary of Education to work with the Secretary of Agriculture to create guidance for states and colleges on how to identify students who might qualify for SNAP. ##

Who It Affects

- Students receiving work-study assistance at colleges and universities - Colleges and universities that receive federal work-study grants - The Secretary of Education - The Secretary of Agriculture - State governments and local SNAP offices ##

Key Provisions

- Colleges receiving federal work-study grants must send electronic notifications to eligible students explaining their potential eligibility for SNAP and how to apply. (Sec. 2(f)(1)) - The notification must be developed by the Secretary of Education working with the Secretary of Agriculture and must include SNAP eligibility requirements and contact information for local SNAP offices based on the student's state of residence. (Sec. 2(f)(1)) - Each notification must include an official document proving the student participates in the federal work-study program for purposes of demonstrating SNAP eligibility. (Sec. 2(f)(2)) - The Secretary of Education and Secretary of Agriculture must provide guidance to states and colleges on how to identify and communicate with students likely to qualify for SNAP. (Sec. 2(f)(3)) ##

What Changes

Colleges must now notify all students receiving work-study assistance about their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits, including state-specific application information and eligibility details that did not previously have to be communicated this way. ##

Important Definitions

- "Eligible student" means a student receiving work-study assistance. - "SNAP" means the supplemental nutrition assistance program (a federal food assistance program). ##

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 309 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide notice to students receiving work-study assist- ance about potential eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutri- tion assistance program, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 12, 2023 Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. JACOBS, Mrs. PELTOLA, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. STANSBURY, Mr. EVANS, Mr. POCAN, Ms. MENG, Ms. TITUS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. KEATING, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. TRONE, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ, Ms. BARRAGA´N, and Mrs. HAYES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Work- force A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide notice to stu- dents receiving work-study assistance about potential eli- gibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:20 Jan 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H309.IH H309 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 309 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Opportunity To Ad- 2 dress College Hunger Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. NOTIFICATION REGARDING SNAP FOR STUDENTS 4 RECEIVING FEDERAL WORK-STUDY ASSIST- 5 ANCE. 6 Section 443 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 7 U.S.C. 1087–53) is amended by adding at the end the fol- 8 lowing: 9 ‘‘(f) NOTIFICATION REGARDING SNAP.— 10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An institution receiving a 11 grant under this part shall send a notification (by 12 email or other electronic means) to each eligible stu- 13 dent informing the student of their potential eligi- 14 bility for participation in SNAP and the process for 15 obtaining more information, confirming eligibility, 16 and accessing benefits under that program. The no- 17 tification shall be developed by the Secretary of Edu- 18 cation in consultation with the Secretary of Agri- 19 culture, and shall include details on eligibility re- 20 quirements for participation in SNAP that a student 21 must satisfy. The notification shall be, to the extent 22 practicable, specific to the student’s State of resi- 23 dence and shall provide contact information for the 24 local office where an application for SNAP may be 25 made. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:20 Jan 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H309.IH H309 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 309 IH ‘‘(2) EVIDENCE OF PARTICIPATION IN FEDER- 1 ALLY FINANCED WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.—The noti- 2 fication under paragraph (1) shall include an official 3 document confirming that the recipient is an eligible 4 student sufficient for purposes of demonstrating that 5 the exclusion from ineligibility for participation in 6 SNAP under section 6(e)(4) of the Food and Nutri- 7 tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)(4)) applies to 8 the student. 9 ‘‘(3) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of Education, 10 in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, 11 shall provide guidance to States and institutions of 12 higher education on how to identify and commu- 13 nicate with students who are likely to be eligible for 14 SNAP, including those eligible for a State or feder- 15 ally financed work-study program. 16 ‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub- 17 section: 18 ‘‘(A) The term ‘eligible student’ means a 19 student receiving work-study assistance under 20 this part. 21 ‘‘(B) The term ‘SNAP’ means the supple- 22 mental nutrition assistance program (as defined 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:20 Jan 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H309.IH H309 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 309 IH in section 3(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act 1 of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(t))).’’. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:20 Jan 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H309.IH H309 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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