Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Officially: “Pregnant Students’ Rights Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would give the Act the short title "Pregnant Students' Rights Act."
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act .
2Notice of pregnant student rights, accommodations, and resources
This section would amend Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) by adding a new subsection (n). Each institution of higher education that takes part in any program under title IV of that Act would have to carry out information dissemination activities for prospective and enrolled students, including students attending or planning to attend less than full time, about the rights to, and resources for, pregnant students to carry a baby to term, and about the same rights and resources for students who may become pregnant while enrolled. The information the institution must share would have to include: a list of resources on campus and in the community that help a pregnant student carry the baby to term and care for the baby after birth; information about the accommodations available to help a pregnant student carry the baby to term and parent the baby after birth; and information on how to file a complaint. A student who believes the institution violated title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) because of the student's decision to carry a baby to term could file a complaint with the Department of Education. A student who believes the student has been discriminated against in violation of title IX because of that same decision could file a complaint with the institution. The institution would have to share this information by emailing every enrolled student at least once each academic year, and by providing the information in student handbooks if the institution has them, at every orientation for enrolled students, at student health or counseling centers if the institution has them, and on the institution's publicly available website. Nothing in this new subsection would authorize the Secretary of Education to require the institution to disseminate additional information or would establish additional rights beyond the information and rights listed in this subsection.
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2. Notice of pregnant student rights, accommodations, and resources Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (n) Pregnant Students’ Rights, Accommodations, and Resources (1) In general Each institution of higher education participating in any program under this title shall carry out the information dissemination activities described in paragraph (3) for prospective and enrolled students (including those attending or planning to attend less than full time) regarding the information described in paragraph (2) on the rights to, and resources (including protections and accommodations) for, pregnant students to carry a baby to term and students who may become pregnant while enrolled at such institution of higher education to carry a baby to term. (2) Information content The information described in this paragraph is the following: (A) A list of resources on campus and in the community that exist to help a pregnant student in carrying the baby to term and caring for the baby after birth. (B) Information about the accommodations available to help a pregnant student carry the baby to term and parent the baby after birth. (C) Information on how to file a complaint with— (i) the Department of Education, if a student believes there was a violation by the institution of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) on account of such student’s determination to carry a baby to term; and (ii) the institution, if a student believes the student has been discriminated against in violation of such title IX on account of the student’s determination to carry a baby to term. (3) Information dissemination activities The information dissemination activities described in this paragraph shall include— (A) an email to each enrolled student at least once each academic year; and (B) the provision of information— (i) in student handbooks, if any; (ii) at each orientation for enrolled students; (iii) at student health or counseling centers, if any; and (iv) on the publicly available website of the institution of higher education. (4) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to require the dissemination of additional information, or establish additional rights, beyond the information and rights included in this subsection. .
Where it is
In the House.