I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7810 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 22, 2024 Mr. Smucker (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania , Mr. Meuser , Mr. Van Orden , and Mr. Lawler ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the clock hour requirements for certain eligible programs under title IV of such Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act . 2. Clock hour requirements for certain programs of training Section 481(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1088(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) An otherwise eligible program that provides a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized profession in a State, and for which the number of clock hours of instruction exceeds the minimum number of clock hours of instruction required by such State for training in the recognized profession for which the otherwise eligible program prepares students, shall be determined to be an eligible program under this subsection if the number of clock hours of instruction provided by such otherwise eligible program does not exceed the greater of— (A) 150 percent of the minimum number of clock hours required by such State for training in the recognized profession for which the otherwise eligible program prepares students; or (B) 150 percent of the minimum number of clock hours required by a Federal agency for such training. . 3. Effective date The amendment made by this section shall take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply with respect to award year 2024–2025 and each subsequent award year.