[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3306 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3306

 To establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to 
  implement patient-centered academic counseling services for student 
            survivors of sexual assault and other violence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 2023

  Mr. Kaine (for himself and Mr. Fetterman) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to 
  implement patient-centered academic counseling services for student 
            survivors of sexual assault and other violence.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Support for Universities and 
Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors Act of 2023'' 
or the ``SUCCESS Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Campus sexual assault remains a pervasive issue on the 
        campuses of institutions of higher education across the United 
        States and negatively impacts student survivors' academic 
        outcomes.
            (2) Sexual assault is one of the biggest risk factors for 
        developing post-traumatic stress disorder, which is associated 
        with decreased neurocognitive functioning that makes learning 
        and retaining information difficult.
            (3) Individuals impacted by trauma can often experience 
        residual effects such as substance use disorders, suicidal 
        ideation, personality disorders, depression, and anxiety, as 
        well as other possible mental health challenges that can 
        significantly impact academic performance or success and 
        overall well-being.
            (4) Studies have shown that student survivors are more 
        likely to have lower grade point averages, have difficulty with 
        self-regulated learning, and are ultimately more likely to drop 
        out of their institution of higher education.
            (5) Considering the relationship between sexual assault and 
        negative academic outcomes, institutions of higher education 
        should provide these students not only with mental health 
        services, but also with targeted academic support to counter 
        their increased risk for negative academic outcomes.
            (6) Patient-centered academic counseling and tutoring 
        programs can be powerful tools to better support student 
        survivors, improve their higher education retention rates, and 
        ultimately support their educational success.

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC COUNSELING SERVICES 
              FOR STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER 
              VIOLENCE.

    Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 124. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT-CENTERED ACADEMIC COUNSELING 
              SERVICES FOR STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND 
              OTHER VIOLENCE.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means an institution of higher education as 
        defined in section 101(a).
            ``(2) Patient-centered.--The term `patient-centered', when 
        used with respect to services provided to student survivors of 
        sexual assault or other violence, means--
                    ``(A) recognizing the widespread emotional, 
                behavioral, developmental, and legal impact of trauma 
                and understanding potential paths for recovery;
                    ``(B) recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma 
                in individuals, families, and staff;
                    ``(C) integrating the knowledge about trauma into 
                policies, procedures, and practices; and
                    ``(D) actively resisting re-traumatizing by 
                avoiding creating environments that inadvertently 
                remind survivors of their traumatic experiences and 
                cause them to experience psychological and biological 
                stress.
            ``(3) Sexual assault.--The term `sexual assault' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 485(f)(6)(A).
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
        this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible institutions to enable the 
        eligible institutions to implement patient-centered academic 
        counseling services and other services for student survivors of 
        sexual assault and other violence.
            ``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
        be for a term of 5 years.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible institution desiring a grant 
        under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) a description of how the eligible institution 
                will inform students enrolled in the institution of the 
                patient-centered academic counseling services for 
                student survivors of sexual assault and other violence;
                    ``(B) a description of how the eligible institution 
                will provide training for faculty and staff to support 
                and connect student survivors of sexual assault and 
                other violence with patient-centered care; and
                    ``(C) a description of the protocols the eligible 
                institution will follow for coordinating patient-
                centered academic counseling and tutoring programs for 
                survivors.
    ``(d) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to--
            ``(1) institutions of higher education with a history of 
        violations of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;
            ``(2) community colleges (defined as `junior or community 
        colleges' under section 502(a)(6));
            ``(3) historically Black colleges and universities (defined 
        as `part B institutions' under section 322);
            ``(4) Tribal Colleges or Universities (as defined under 
        section 316(b)); and
            ``(5) other minority-serving institutions (defined as 
        institutions eligible under section 371(a)).
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution receiving a grant 
under this section shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the 
following:
            ``(1) Providing higher education re-entry assistance for 
        student survivors of sexual assault and other violence who had 
        to take leaves of absence or withdraw from the eligible 
        institution.
            ``(2) Increasing training for faculty and administrators on 
        patient-centered care, on recognizing signs of trauma, and on 
        connecting survivors of sexual assault and other violence to 
        appropriate support services.
            ``(3) Providing professional development focused on 
        patient-centered practices for academic advisors and academic 
        counselors.
            ``(4) Providing academic accommodation for students 
        experiencing trauma, such as patient-centered training for 
        tutors or the establishment of a confidential tutoring program 
        specifically designed to assist student survivors of sexual 
        assault and other violence.
            ``(5) Increasing mental health services for student 
        survivors of sexual assault and other violence.
            ``(6) Creating or enhancing a fund for survivors of sexual 
        assault and other violence to be used for wrap-around services.
    ``(f) Reports.--
            ``(1) Eligible institution reports.--
                    ``(A) In general.--At the end of the grant period, 
                each eligible institution receiving a grant under this 
                section shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
                report on the program carried out under the grant.
                    ``(B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            ``(i)(I) the kinds of accommodations the 
                        student survivors who reported sexual assault 
                        or instances of other violence during the 
                        period described in subparagraph (A) requested; 
                        and
                            ``(II) the accommodations that such 
                        students were given;
                            ``(ii) the graduation and re-enrollment 
                        rates of student survivors of sexual assault 
                        and other violence who were enrolled in the 
                        eligible institution during the grant period; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) such other information as the 
                        Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Secretary reports.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than one year after 
                the grant program has concluded, the Secretary shall 
                submit a report to the authorizing committees regarding 
                the grant program carried out under this section.
                    ``(B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the graduation and re-
                enrollment rates of student survivors of sexual assault 
                and other violence who were enrolled in the eligible 
                institutions during the grant period, in order to 
                determine the effectiveness of the grant program.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for 2024 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
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