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

  • NCAA athlete pay expected to play significant role in 2020 elections
  • Federal government carrying over $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, report indicates
  • HIPAA and FERPA compliance guidance for student health records revamped by U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education
  • Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (S 3095/HR 5312) introduced

State & Local Government

Connecticut

  • Connecticut task force to recommend college mental health policies

Georgia

  • Georgia ban on transgender athletes on public youth sports teams bill pre-filed for 2020

Hawaii

  • Hawaii college free expression bill carried over to 2020
  • Hawaii advisory commission on gender equity in sports bill carried over to 2020
  • Hawaii athletic agents bill carried over to 2020
  • Hawaii allowing out of state medical staff treat their team bill carried over to 2020
  • Hawaii automated external defibrillators schools and colleges mandate and college athletic trainer mandate bill carried over to 2020

Iowa

  • Iowa college students now permitted to carry stun guns on campus

New Jersey

  • New Jersey bill prohibiting discrimination on basis of hair signed into law
  • New Jersey anti-hazing bills with tougher penalties head to full state senate

New York

  • Number of New York students with disabilities in higher education released in data report

Texas

  • Texas college employees could face charges for not reporting sexual assault under new state law

Virginia

  • Virginia legislature to address higher education concerns in 2020 session

Washington

  • Washington state draft bill could require college professors to disclose involvement in ongoing Title IX investigations when applying for new jobs

Wyoming

  • Wyoming lawmaker introduces bill to protect in-state tuition rates for military families

Education News

  • College education not seen as important by adults, report shows
  • Higher education funding by states reviewed by Inside Higher Ed, finding 5% overall increase

Civil Rights News

  • Title IX lawsuits have skyrocketed in recent years, analysis shows
  • Arizona State University should not have expelled student accused of sexual misconduct, court says
  • Opinion article: Iowa lawsuit claims university policies chill free speech

Other News

  • Article explores positive and negative impacts football teams have had on college campuses

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.

  • For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships Erin O’Sullivan.
  • Want to share with your colleagues how this proposed legislation might impact your campus? Pitch us your ideas.
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at | NIRSA Profile

Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.