H.R. 1490 — TRIO Access Act

This section establishes the short title of the Act as the “TRIO Access Act.”

This section expands the permitted use of certain tax return information disclosed to institutions of higher education under 26 U.S.C. § 6103(l)(13)(D) by allowing the institutions to use information received under clause (iii)(I) for the Federal TRIO programs authorized under sections 402D and 402E of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–14 and 1070a–15), namely Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. (Thus, colleges and universities that receive return information for financial aid purposes may also use it to administer these two TRIO programs.)

This section revises the disclosure and use rules for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information under the Higher Education Act of 1965. It (1) allows the Secretary to disclose FAFSA information to an institution for purposes of a program authorized under section 402D or 402E, and to disclose the information to an institution for other existing purposes; (2) requires institutions to use FAFSA information solely for the application, award, and administration of financial aid to the applicant and for purposes of a program authorized under section 402D or 402E; and (3) updates the notification and approval requirements for requesting tax return information by adding a reference to the inability of an institution of higher education to determine eligibility for a program authorized under section 402D or 402E.