No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act
The No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act would bar individuals who are convicted of offenses related to conduct during campus protests from receiving federal student loans and from having certain federal student loans forgiven, canceled, waived, or modified. The prohibition applies to loans made under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (and related programs) as well as the Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) program. The restriction would apply to loans made before, on, or after the date of enactment, and would be implemented through the Department of Education, superseding other laws or policy to the extent of the prohibition. In short, if a person is convicted for a crime tied to a protest at a college or university, they would be ineligible for new federal student loans and for any potential loan forgiveness or other modification of federal loans as provided by law.
Key Points
- 1Prohibited actions: The bill prohibits both receipt of new federal student loans and the forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of existing federal student loans for individuals convicted of protest-related offenses at an institution of higher education.
- 2Scope of loans: The restriction covers “covered loans,” defined as federal loans under parts B, D, or E of Title IV of the Higher Education Act and the Health Education Assistance Loan Program (HEAL).
- 3Trigger for ineligibility: The ineligibility applies to individuals convicted of any offense under federal or state law related to conduct during a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education.
- 4Retroactive language: The statute applies to loans made before, on, or after the date of enactment, meaning it could affect existing loans and forgiveness determinations.
- 5Enforcement and authority: The provisions are stated to override other laws and actions of the Department of Education, implying DOE or loan servicers would enforce the denial of loans or forgiveness for affected individuals.