[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3589 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3589
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with
disabilities and their families with access to critical information
needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 7, 2026
Mr. Banks (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Young, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with
disabilities and their families with access to critical information
needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and
Empower Act'' or the ``RISE Act''.
SEC. 2. PERFECTING AMENDMENT TO THE DEFINITION OF DISABILITY.
Section 103(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1003(6)) is amended by striking ``section 3(2)'' and inserting
``section 3''.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO SUCCEED ONCE ENROLLED
IN COLLEGE.
Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(30)(A) The institution will carry out the following:
``(i) Adopt policies that make any of the following
documentation submitted by an individual sufficient to
establish that such individual is an individual with a
disability:
``(I) Documentation that the individual has
had an individualized education program
(referred to in this paragraph as an `IEP') in
accordance with section 614(d) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, if
the IEP for the student was utilized in high
school.
``(II) Documentation describing services or
accommodations provided to the individual
pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) (referred to in
this paragraph as a `Section 504 plan'), if the
Section 504 plan for the student was utilized
in high school.
``(III) A plan or record of service for the
individual from a private high school, a local
educational agency, a State educational agency,
or an institution of higher education provided
in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et
seq.).
``(IV) A record or evaluation from a
relevant licensed professional finding that the
individual has a disability.
``(V) A plan or record of disability from
another institution of higher education.
``(VI) Documentation of a disability due to
service in the uniformed services, as defined
in section 484C(a).
``(ii) Adopt policies that are transparent and
explicit regarding information about the process by
which the institution determines eligibility for
accommodations.
``(iii) Disseminate such information to students,
parents, and faculty in an accessible format, including
during any student orientation and making such
information readily available on a public website of
the institution.
``(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
preclude an institution from establishing less burdensome
criteria than that described in subparagraph (A) to establish
an individual as an individual with a disability and therefore
eligible for accommodations.''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION
AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES.
Section 777(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1140q(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``From amounts
appropriated under section 778,'' and inserting ``From amounts
appropriated under paragraph (5),''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection a total of
$10,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''.
SEC. 5. INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1094(a)), as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(31)(A) The institution will submit, for inclusion in the
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or any
other Federal postsecondary institution data collection effort,
key data related to undergraduate students enrolled in the
institution who are formally registered as students with
disabilities with the institution's office of disability
services (which, for purposes of this paragraph, includes an
equivalent office), including--
``(i) the total number of students registered with
the institution's office of disability services;
``(ii) the number of students accessing or
receiving accommodations, as voluntarily reported to
the institution's office of disability services;
``(iii) the percentage of undergraduate students
enrolled in the institution who are registered with the
institution's office of disability services; and
``(iv) the total number of undergraduate
certificates or degrees awarded to students registered
with the institution's office of disability services.
``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an institution
shall not be required to submit information under this
paragraph if the number of such students would reveal
personally identifiable information about an individual
student.''.
SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
None of the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to
affect the meaning of the terms ``reasonable accommodation'' or
``record of impairment'' under the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) or the rights or remedies provided under
such Act.
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