S. 3589 would specify the documentation that a person may submit to an institution of higher education that participates in the federal student aid programs to document a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The bill would require institutions to adopt and publicize their policies to determine eligibility for accommodations. S. 3589 would authorize the appropriation of $10 million over the 2027-2031 period (but does not specify any particular year for that authorization) for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities. That center provides technical assistance to institutions and helps students with disabilities to understand their rights and responsibilities to receive assistance. Finally, the bill would require institutions to submit data to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and other federal databases pertaining to enrolled students with disabilities.
Assuming appropriation of the specified amount and based on spending patterns for similar programs, CBO estimates that spending for the national center would total $10 million over the 2026-2031 period. CBO also estimates that any additional federal costs to implement S. 3589, including the data reporting requirements, would be insignificant.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Garrett Quenneville. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
