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 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 NRISA 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

• Suicide assistance criminalization bill, “Stop Online Suicide Assistance Forums Act,” (HR 9260) introduced
• Illegal immigrating as a child not considered a deportable offense bill, “Exception for Certain Bars to Admissibility Relating to Previous Unlawful Entry as Children Act,” (HR 9261) introduced

State and Local Government

Delaware

• Delaware college criminal record inquiry of applicant prohibiting bill signed into law

New York

• New York public colleges opioid antagonists in on-campus housing facilities requiring bills signed into law

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania college campus police officer direct hiring process allowing bill signed into law

Funding

• Pennsylvania college campus hunger prevention program funding available

Education

• College financial aid from states declined in 2020-21 according to a new study by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs
• College students with Pell Grants found to have fewer affordable education options according to new analysis
• College students with disabilities at the University of Texas struggles to navigate campus and attend classes subject to article in The Daily Texan

Activities

• College football players’ NCAA concussion lawsuit could be the first to reach jury reports ESPN

Civil Rights

• Inclusion of transgender high school and college student-athletes did not reduce participation in female sports despite predictions to the contrary reports The 74
• Penn State cancels an event due to ‘threat of escalating violence’ according to local news
• Free speech group FIRE sends letter to medical school regarding white coat ceremony oath according to Campus Reform
• Free speech within higher education topic of new survey according to FIRE
• Free speech group FIRE announces launch of new civil liberties learning platform

Civil Rights

• Undocumented college students being permitted to be hired by the University of California system focus of new campaign according to The Daily Californian
• College students prevented from displaying signs at a football game to sue the college for suppressing free speech under California law according to sports blog The Comeback
• College Title IX due process report by FIRE showing “improved protections for college students” subject of op-ed article in The Wall Street Journal
• Female college professor gender bias in student ratings topic of two newly released studies

Health & Wellness

• Excessive alcohol use cited as cause of death for one-fifth of young adults according to JAMA study
• College reproductive health care resources guide released by Her Campus in response to survey results
• Collision sports have a causal link to brain damage according to new study
• Minority young people encouraged to talk about mental health video released by The Jed Foundation as part of “Seize the Awkward” campaign

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.