Bill > S3589

This bill, known as the RISE Act (Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act), aims to improve access to higher education for students with disabilities by amending the Higher Education Act of 1965. Key provisions include requiring colleges and universities to accept various forms of documentation, such as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans from high school, as sufficient proof of a disability to qualify for accommodations, and to clearly communicate their accommodation policies to students, parents, and faculty. The bill also authorizes $10 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities, a resource that helps students with disabilities navigate college. Furthermore, institutions will be required to report data on students with disabilities to the federal government through systems like IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), a national data collection effort on postsecondary education, without revealing personally identifiable student information. Finally, the bill clarifies that these changes do not alter the definitions of "reasonable accommodation" or "record of impairment" under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3589/all-info