Federal and state policy and legislative updates

NIRSA’s Government Affairs Committee stays up-to-date on the latest federal and state policy and legislative news through a variety of scanning tools. One particular resource they use is the bi-weekly Policy Pages provided by Active Policy Solutions. (For more on this partnership, along with other SAHEC associations, have with Active Policy Solutions, see below.)

The policy issues included in the Policy Pages document are highlights of a point in time. They are by no means exhaustive and change continually – so matters discussed in the last issue normally will not carry over to the next unless there is some updated action to be discussed.

The Committee encourages NIRSA members to keep themselves informed on federal and state policy issues affecting their work as professionals on campuses. These issues could be specific to higher education, physical activity, or NIRSA’s strategic value areas. If you have an issue that is of concern to your campus, reach out the Government Affairs Committee.

Policy Page documents will be stored, as a resource for NIRSA members, in the NIRSA Connect Community library. You can find them within the “Member Benefits” folder in a subfolder titled “Federal and State Policy Pages.”

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Budget

• Students and colleges need help according to several trade associations in letter to Congress

Federal Education

• Student loan repayment deferrals extended to the end of the year by President Trump’s Executive Order
• Title IX protects transgender students according to a federal appeals court
• Religious liberty at educational institutions guidance released by U.S. Department of Education
• College wants the Supreme Court to review ruling mandating release of sexual assault sanctions
• President Trump says college football should be played in the fall

Federal Health

• Youths are dying of suicide and overdoes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the CDC
• SAMHSA releases publication on youth and young adult vaping

Federal Legislation

• Telehealth Act (HR 7992) introduced
• College emergency grant aid program bill (S 4465) introduced
• Campus Free Speech Restoration Act (S 4483) introduced
• The Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act (S 4421) introduced
• The COVID-19 Youth Sports and Working Families Relief Act (HR 7562) adds 7 new cosponsors
• The RESTART Act (HR 7481) adds 19 new cosponsors

Funding

• PPP changes announced by the Small Business Administration
• PPP applications close after COVID-19 legislative package talks stall
• Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program grants now available out of the Office of Postsecondary Education

State & Local Government

California

• California homeless college student financial aid leniency bill passed by committee
• California college education bill passed by committee
• California college housing development bill amended and passed by committee

Florida

• State Supreme Court rejects appeals in hazing death case

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts background checks of school sports officials bill effectively dead

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire children of disabled veterans tuition bill signed into law

New Jersey

• New Jersey college athlete royalties bill passed by both houses of state legislature

Education

• Return to college updates
• Colleges being pressured by housing developers for fall semester plans

Other News

• NCAA Board of Governors announce specific requirements to conduct fall sports
• College football players advocate for COVID-19 changes in college sports
• College sports looking to turn to private equity due to COVID-19 pandemic budget effects, according to Sportico
• Heart condition linked to COVID-19 raised as concern in holding a college football season
• College student opinion piece says gyms should not be open during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Depression risks in young adults raised due to COVID-19 turmoil, according to the Wall Street Journal
• College student ends hunger strike over school’s handling of sexual misconduct claims
• College student files appeal brief on college’s allegedly biased sexual assault hearing
• College sued over handling of sexual assault case

About NIRSA’s partnership with Active Policy Solutions

As an association, NIRSA strives to monitor and track policy and legislative issues with the potential to impact our members or the campus communities they serve. These issues are wide ranging and may pertain to higher education, employment law, physical fitness, or our strategic values areas.

NIRSA has joined with a subset of SAHEC members (ACUHO-I, ACPA, ASCA, NASPA, and NIRSA) in hiring Active Policy Solutions to assist with monitoring, tracking, analyzing, and determining appropriate action on issues relevant to our associations. Through our partnership with SAHEC, NIRSA continues to monitor policy, legislation, and advocacy work that affects both the higher education and physical activity space. Active Policy Solutions provides government relations and advocacy support to NIRSA and the Association’s SAHEC partners.