Public Law 116-251 | Public Law 116–251: To explicitly make unauthorized access to Department of Education information technology systems and the misuse of identification devices issued by the Department of Education a criminal act.

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PUBLIC LAW 116–251—DEC. 22, 2020

134 STAT. 1129

Public Law

116–251

116th Congress

An Act

To explicitly make unauthorized access to Department of Education information technology systems and the misuse of identification devices issued by the Department of Education a criminal act.

Dec. 22, 2020

[S. 1153]

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

Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act

of 2019.

20 USC 1001 note.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019

”.

SEC. 2.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

(a)

In General.—

Section 490 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1097)

is amended

adding

at the end the following:

“(e)

Access to Department of Education Information Technology Systems for Fraud, Commercial Advantage, or Private Financial Gain.—

Any person who knowingly uses an access device, as defined in section 1029(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, issued to another person or obtained by fraud or false statement to access Department information technology systems for purposes of obtaining commercial advantage or private financial gain, or in furtherance of any criminal or tortious act in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States or of any State, shall be fined not more than $20,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.”

(b)

20 USC 1097 note.

Guidance.—

The Secretary shall issue guidance regarding the use of access devices in a manner that complies with this Act, and the amendments made by this Act.

(c)

20 USC 1097 note.

Effective Date of Penalties.—

Notwithstanding section 6, the penalties described in section 490(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1097), as added by subsection (a), shall take effect the day after the date on which the Secretary issues guidance regarding the use of access devices, as described in subsection (b).

SEC. 3.

LOAN COUNSELING.

Section 485(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(b))

is amended

—

(1)

in clause (viii), by

striking

“and” after the semicolon; and

(2)

adding

at the end the following:

“(x)

an explanation that—134 STAT. 1130

“(I)

the borrower may be contacted during the repayment period by third-party student debt relief companies;

“(II)

the borrower should use caution when dealing with those companies; and

“(III)

the services that those companies typically provide are already offered to borrowers free of charge through the Department or the borrower’s servicer; and”

SEC. 4.

PREVENTION OF IMPROPER ACCESS.

Section 485B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092b)

is amended

—

(1)

redesignating

subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively;

(2)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (5)(C), by

striking

“and” after the semicolon;

(B)

in paragraph (6)(C), by

striking

the period at the end and

inserting

“; and”; and

(C)

adding

at the end the following:

“(7)

preventing access to the data system and any other system used to administer a program under this title by any person or entity for the purpose of assisting a student in managing loan repayment or applying for any repayment plan, consolidation loan, or other benefit authorized by this title, unless such access meets the requirements described in subsection (e).”

;

(3)

inserting

after subsection (d) the following:

“(e)

Requirements for Third-Party Data System Access.—

“(1)

In general.—

As provided in paragraph (7) of subsection (d), an authorized person or entity described in paragraph (2) may access the data system and any other system used to administer a program under this title if that access—

“(A)

Federal Register, publication.

is in compliance with terms of service, information security standards, and a code of conduct which shall be established by the Secretary and published in the Federal Register;

“(B)

is obtained using an access device (as defined in section 1029(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code) issued by the Secretary to the authorized person or entity; and

“(C)

is obtained without using any access device (as defined in section 1029(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code) issued by the Secretary to a student, borrower, or parent.

“(2)

Definition.

Authorized person or entity.—

An authorized person or entity described in this paragraph means—

“(A)

a guaranty agency, eligible lender, or eligible institution, or a third-party organization acting on behalf of a guaranty agency, eligible lender, or eligible institution, that is in compliance with applicable Federal law (including regulations and guidance); or

“(B)

Determinations.

a licensed attorney representing a student, borrower, or parent, or another individual who works for a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government or agency, or for a nonprofit organization, providing financial or student loan repayment counseling to a student, borrower, or parent, if—

134 STAT. 1131

“(i)

that attorney or other individual has never engaged in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices, as determined by the Secretary;

“(ii)

that attorney or other individual does not work for an entity that has engaged in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices (including an entity that is owned or operated by a person or entity that engaged in such practices), as determined by the Secretary;

“(iii)

system access is provided only through a separate point of entry; and

“(iv)

the attorney or other individual has consent from the relevant student, borrower, or parent to access the system.”

; and

(4)

in subsection (f)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by

striking

“student and parent” and

inserting

“student, borrower, and parent”;

(B)

redesignating

subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;

(C)

inserting

after subparagraph (B) the following:

“(C)

the reduction in improper data system access as described in subsection (d)(7);”

; and

(D)

striking

subparagraph (E), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), and

inserting

the following:

“(E)

any protocols, codes of conduct, terms of service, or information security standards developed under paragraphs (6) or (7) of subsection (d) during the preceding fiscal year.”

SEC. 5.

AGENCY PREVENTION AND DETECTION.

Section 141(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1018(b)(2))

is amended

adding

at the end the following:

“(C)

Taking action to prevent and address the improper use of access devices, as described in section 485B(d)(7), including by—

“(i)

detecting common patterns of improper use of any system that processes payments on Federal Direct Loans or other Department information technology systems;

“(ii)

maintaining a reporting system for contractors involved in the processing of payments on Federal Direct Loans in order to allow those contractors to alert the Secretary of potentially improper use of Department information technology systems;

“(iii)

proactively contacting Federal student loan borrowers whose Federal student loan accounts demonstrate a likelihood of improper use in order to warn those borrowers of suspicious activity or potential fraud regarding their Federal student loan accounts; and

“(iv)

providing clear and simple disclosures in communications with borrowers who are applying for or requesting assistance with Federal Direct Loan programs (including assistance or applications regarding income-driven repayment, forbearance, deferment, consolidation, rehabilitation, cancellation, and forgiveness) to ensure that borrowers are aware that the Department will never require borrowers to pay for such assistance or applications.”

.134 STAT. 1132

SEC. 6.

20 USC 1018 note.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Approved December 22, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1153:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):

Dec. 1, considered and passed Senate.

Dec. 7, considered and passed House.

○

Public Law 116–251: To explicitly make unauthorized access to Department of Education information technology systems and the misuse of identification devices issued by the Department of Education a criminal act.

SHORT TITLE.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

In General.—

Access to Department of Education Information Technology Systems for Fraud, Commercial Advantage, or Private Financial Gain.—

Guidance.—

Effective Date of Penalties.—

LOAN COUNSELING.

PREVENTION OF IMPROPER ACCESS.

Requirements for Third-Party Data System Access.—

In general.—

Authorized person or entity.—

AGENCY PREVENTION AND DETECTION.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1153:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):

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