The TRIO Access Act would expand how certain personal tax return information can be used by colleges and universities. Specifically, it would allow information disclosed to institutions for financial aid purposes (via FAFSA processes) to also be used for Federal TRIO programs, notably the Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, as those programs exist on the date of enactment. To implement this, the bill makes conforming amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize and govern such disclosures and uses, and it updates the approval notifications required when tax return information is requested. The changes are designed to streamline the data available to institutions serving TRIO-eligible students in order to provide targeted support. In practical terms, if enacted, FAFSA-related tax information could be used not only for financial aid decisions but also to identify and assist students through TRIO programs, potentially improving access to higher education for low-income, first-generation, and other underserved students served by TRIO.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new authorized use of return information (IRS 6103(l)(13)(D)) for TRIO programs: institutions may use FAFSA-related return data for the purposes of the Student Support Services program (402D) and the McNair Program (402E).
- 2Makes conforming amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize disclosure of FAFSA information to institutions for TRIO program purposes and to permit use of that information for both financial aid administration and TRIO program purposes.
- 3Updates notification and approval language for requests of tax return information, explicitly including TRIO program purposes as an approved avenue for disclosure.
- 4Specifies the TRIO programs affected are those authorized under sections 402D and 402E of the Higher Education Act (Student Support Services and McNair), as they exist on the enactment date.
- 5The changes apply as of the date of enactment, retaining the programs in effect at that time.