federal and state insured loan programs

federal and state insured loan programs Sec. 127. (a) Part B of title IV of the Act is amended to read as follows: “Part B—Federal, State, and Private Programs or Low-Interest Insured Loans to Students in Institutions of Higher Education “statement of purpose and appropriations authorized “Sec. 421. (a) The purpose of this part is to enable the Commissioner (1) to encourage States and nonprofit private institutions and organizations to establish adequate loan insurance programs for students in eligible institutions (as defined in section 435), (2) to provide a Federal program of student loan insurance for students or lender’s who do not nave reasonable access to a State or private non-profit program of student loan insurance covered by an agreement under section 428(b) (3) to pay a portion of the interest on loans to qualified students which are made by a State under a direct loan program meeting the requirements of section 428(a) (1) (B), or which are insured under this part or under a program of a State or of a non-profit private institution or organization which meets the requirements of section 428(c)(1)(A), and (4) to guarantee a portion of each loan insured under a program of a State or of a nonprofit private institution or organization which meets the requirements of section 428(a)(1)(C). “(b) For the purpose of carrying out this part— “(1) there are authorized to be appropriated to the student loan insurance fund (established by section 431) (A) the sum of $1,000,000, and (B) such further sums, if any, as may become necessary for the adequacy of the student loan insurance fund, “(2) there are authorized to be appropriated, for payments under section 428 with respect to interest on student loans and for payments under section 437, such sums for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1966, and succeeding fiscal years, as may be required therefor, “(3) there is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $17,500,000 for making advances pursuant to section 422 for the reserve funds of State and nonprofit private student loan insurance programs. “(4) there are authorized to be appropriated (A) the sum of $12,500,000 for making advances after June 30, 1968. pursuant to sections 422 (a) and (b),and (B) such sums as may be necessary for making advances pursuant to section 422(c), for the reserve funds of State and nonprofit private student loan insurance programs, and “(5) there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the purpose of paying an administrative cost allowance in accordance with section 428(f) to State and non-profit institutions and organizations with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(b). Sums appropriated under clauses (1), (2), (4), and (5) of this subsection shall remain available until expended, and sums appropriated under clause (3) of this subsection shall remain available for advances under section 422 until the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1968. 90 STAT. 2100 “(c) For purposes of currying out this part— “(1) the Commissioner shall develop and execute a plan designed to encourage the establishment of student loan insurance program by each State which does not have such a program covered by an agreement pursuant to section 428(b); “(2) the Commissioner shall make a report to the Congress within 180 days after the enactment of the Education Amendments of 1976. containing a description of the plan developed according to paragraph (1) accompanied by a timetable for the execution of such plan; and “(3) the Commissioner shall make a report to the Congress before June 30, 1977, which shall include— “(A) a description of the activities the Commissioner and his designees have undertaken pursuant to paragraph (1), “(B) a description of such State’s plans to establish a program meeting the requirements of section 428(b), and “(C) the Commissioner’s recommendations to the Congress as to what changes in law, or policy would encourage the establishment of such a program in all States without such programs. “advances for reserve funds of state and nonprofit private loan insurance programs “Sec. 422. (a) (1) From the sums appropriated pursuant to clauses (3) and (4) (A) of section 421(b). the Commissioner is authorized to make advances to any State with which he has made an agreement pursuant to section 428(b) for the purpose of helping to establish or strengthen the reserve fund of the student loan insurance program covered by that agreement. If for any fiscal year a State docs not have a student loan insurance program covered by an agreement made pursuant to section 428(b), and the Commissioner determines after consultation with the chief executive officer of that State that there is no reasonable likelihood that the State will have such a student loan insurance program for such year, the Commissioner may make advances for such year for the same purpose to one or more nonprofit private institutions or organizations with which he has made an agreement pursuant to section 428(b) in order to enable students in the State to participate in a program of student loan insurance covered by such an agreement. The Commissioner may make advances under this subsection both to a State program (with which he has such an agreement) and to one or more nonprofit private institutions or organizations (with which he has such an agreement) in that State if he determines that such advances are necessary in order that students in each eligible institution have access through such institution to a student loan insurance program which meets the requirement of section 428(b) (1). “(2) No advance shall me made, after June 30, 1968, unless matched by unequal amount from non-Federal sources. Such equal amount may include the unencumbered non-Federal portion of a reserve fund. As used in the preceding sentence, the term ‘unencumbered non-Federal portion’ means the amount (determined as of the time immediately preceding the making of the advance) of the reserve fund less the greater of (A) the sum of (i) advances made under this section prior to July 1, 1968, (ii) an amount equal to twice the amount of advances made under this section after June 30, 1968, and before the advance for purposes of which the determination is made, and (iii) the proceeds of earnings on advances made under this section, or (B) any amount which is required to he maintained in such fund pursuant 90 STAT. 2101to State law or regulation, or by agreement with lenders, as a reserve against the insurance of outstanding loans. “(3) Advances pursuant to this subsection shall lie upon such terms and conditions (including conditions relating to the time or times of payment) consistent with the requirements of section 428(b) as the Commissioner determines will best carry out the purposes of this section. Advances made by the Commissioner under this subsection shall be repaid within such period as the Commissioner may deem to be appropriate in each case in the light of the maturity and solvency of the reserve fund for which the advance was made. “(b) (1) The total of the advances to any State prior to July 1, 1968, pursuant to subsection (a) may not exceed an amount which bears the same ratio to 2½ per centum of $700,000,000 as the population of that State aged eighteen to twenty-two, inclusive, bears to the total population of all the States aged eighteen to twenty-two inclusive. The amount available, however, for advances to any State for each fiscal year ending prior to July 1, 1968, shall riot be less than $25,000, and any additional funds needed to meet this requirement shall be derived by proportionately reducing (but not below $25,000 per year) the amount available for advances to each of the remaining States. Advances to nonprofit private institutions and organizations prior to July 1, 1968, pursuant to subsection (a) may be in such amounts as the Commissioner determines will best achieve the purposes for which they are made, except that the sum of (1) advances to such institutions and organizations for the-benefit of students in any State plus (2) the amounts advanced to such State, may not exceed the maximum amount which may be advanced to that State pursuant to the first two sentences of this subsection. “(2) The total of the advances from the sums appropriated pursuant to clause (4) (A) of section 421(b) to nonprofit private institutions and organizations for the benefit of students in any State and (B) to such State may not exceed an amount which bears the same ratio to such sums as the population of such State aged eighteen to twenty-two, inclusive, bears to the population of all the States aged eighteen to twenty-two, inclusive, but such advances may otherwise be in such amounts as the Commissioner’ determines will best achieve the purposes for which they are made. The amount available, how-ever, for advances to any State shall not be less than $25,000, and any additional funds needed to meet this requirement shall be derived by proportionately reducing (but not below $25,000) the amount available for advances to each of the remaining States. “(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the population aged eighteen to twenty-two, inclusive, of each State and of all the States shall be determined by the Commissioner on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data available to him. “(c) (1) From sums appropriated pursuant to section 421(b)(4) (B), the Commissioner shall advance to each State which has an agreement with the Commissioner under section 428(c) with respect to a student loan insurance program, an amount determined in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection to be used for the purpose of making payments under the State’s insurance obligations under such program. “(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amount to be advanced to each such State shall be equal to the greater of (i) $50,000, or (ii) 10 per centum of the principal amount insured by such agency on those loans on which the first payment of principal became due during the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the advance is made. 90 STAT. 2102 “(B) The amount of any advance determined according to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be reduced by (i) the amount of any advance or advances made to such State pursuant to this subsection at an earlier date, and (ii) the amount or the unspent balance of the advances made to a State pursuant to subsection (a). “(C) For purposes of subparagraph (B) the unspent balance of the advances made to a State pursuant to subsection (a) shall be that portion of the balance of the State’s reserve fund (remaining at the time of the State’s first request for an advance pursuant to this subsection) which bears the same ratio to such balance as the Federal advances made and not returned by such State, pursuant to subsection (a), bears to the total of all past contributions to such reserve fund from all sources (other than interest on investment of any portion of the reserve fund) contributed since the date such State executed an agreement pursuant to section 428(b). “(3) The earnings, if any, on any investments of advances received pursuant to this subsection must be used for making payments under the State’s insurance obligations. “(4) (A) No repayment of any advances made pursuant to this subsection shall be required until such time as the sum of the advances under this subsection exceeds 20 per centum of the State’s outstanding insurance obligation determined in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this paragraph. “(B) For purposes of tills paragraph, a State’s outstanding insurance obligation shall be determined by subtracting from the total principal amount of loans insured by the State since it entered into an agreement pursuant to section 428 (b), the total principal amount of loans insured by such State which have been fully repaid by the borrower, the State itself, or the Commissioner, and loans which have been canceled. “(C) At such time as advances pursuant to this subsection reach the level indicated in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the amount of any excess shall be paid over to the Commissioner in a lump sum at the beginning of each fiscal year for deposit in the fund established by section 431. “(5) Advances pursuant to this subsection shall be made to a State— “(A) in the ease of a State which is actively carrying on a program under an agreement pursuant to section 428(b) which was entered into before the effective date of this subsection, upon such date as such State may request, but not before October 1, 1977, and on the same day of each of the two succeeding cal end a r years after the date so requested; and “(B) in the case of a State which enters into an agreement pursuant to section 428(b) on or after the effective date of this subsection, upon such date as such State may request, but not before October 1, 1977, and on the same day of each of the four succeeding calendar years after the date so requested of the advance. “(6) (A) If for any fiscal year a State does not have a student loan insurance program covered by an agreement made pursuant to section 428(b), and the Commissioner determines after consultation with the chief executive officer of that State that there is no reasonable likelihood that the State will have such a student loan insurance program for such year, the Commissioner may make advances pursuant to this subsection for such year for the same, purpose to one or more nonprofit private institutions or organizations with which lie has made an agreement pursuant to subsection (c), as well as subsection (b), of section 90 STAT. 2103428 and subparagraph (B) of this paragraph in order to enable students in that State to participate in a program of student loan insurance covered by such agreements. “(B) The Commissioner may enter into an agreement with a private nonprofit institution or organization for purposes of this paragraph under which such institution or organization— “(i) agrees to establish within such State at least one office with sufficient staff to handle written and telephone inquiries from students, eligible lenders, and other persons in the State, to encourage, maximum commercial lender participation within the State, and to conduct periodic visits to at least the major eligible lenders within the State, “(ii) agrees that its insurance will not be denied any student because of his choice of eligible institutions or the student’s lack of need, and “(iii) certifies that it is neither an institution, nor has any substantial affiliation with an institution. “effects of adequate non-federal programs “Sec. 423. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), the Commissioner shall not issue certificates of insurance under section 429 to lenders in a State if he determines that every eligible institution has reasonable access in that State to a State or private nonprofit student loan insurance program which is covered by an agreement under section 428(b). “(b) The Commissioner may issue certificates of insurance under section 429 to a lender in a State— “(1) for insurance of a loan made to a student borrower who does not, by reason of his residence, have access to loan insurance under the loan insurance program of such State (or under any private nonprofit loan insurance program which has received an advance under section 422 for the benefit of students in such State), or “(2) for insurance of all of the loans made to student borrowers by a lender who satisfies the Commissioner that, by reason of the residence of such borrowers, such lender will not nave access to any single State or nonprofit private loan insurance program which will insure substantially all of the loans such lender intends to make to such student borrowers. “(c) The Commissioner shall not deny, because of any provision of this section, a certificate, of insurance under section 429 to any eligible lender which is an eligible institution if such lender has previously executed an agreement with the Commissioner pursuant to section 433 of this part, unless the Commissioner determines, based upon studies and surveys satisfactory to him, that access to a loan by all eligible students who make an active, and diligent effort to obtain a loan under this part will be otherwise available. In order to carry out the provisions of the preceding sentence the Commissioner shall periodically assess the availability of loans to eligible, students through studies and surveys undertaken by him and through review of properly conducted studies and surveys made available to him. “scope and duration of federal loan insurance program “Sec. 424. (a) The total principal amount of new loans made and installments paid pursuant to lines of credit (as defined in section 435) to students covered by Federal loan insurance under this part 90 STAT. 2104shall not exceed $1,400,000,006 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, $1.600,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, $1,800,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, $2,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 1975, and 1976, and $2,000,000,000 for the period from July 1, 1976, to September 30, 1976, and for each of the succeeding fiscal years ending prior to October 1, 1981. Thereafter, Federal loan insurance pursuant to this part may be granted only for loans made (or for loan installments paid pursuant to lines of credit) to enable students, who have obtained prior loans insured under this part, to continue or complete their educational program; but no insurance may be granted for any loan made or installment paid after September 30, 1985. “(b) The Commissioner may, if he finds it necessary to do so in order to assure an equitable distribution of the benefits of this pa it, assign, within the maximum amounts specified in subsection (a), Federal loan insurance quotas applicable to eligible lenders, or to States or areas, and may from time to time reassign unused portions of these quotas. “limitations on individual federally insured loans and on federal loan insurance “Sec. 425. (a) (1) The total of loans made to a student in any academic year or its equivalent (as determined by the Commissioner) which may lie covered by Federal loan insurance under this part may not exceed $2,500 in the case of a student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, or $5,000 in the case of a graduate or professional student (as defined in regulations of the Commissioner), except— “(A) that in the case of a loan to a student who is or will be in his first year of a program of undergraduate education, and who has not previously enrolled in such a program which is made by an eligible lender as described in section 435(g)(1)(D) or which is made or originated (as defined in section 433(b) ) by an eligible institution, the loan may not exceed the lesser of $2,500 or 50 per centum of the estimated cost of attendance (calculated in accordance with the provisions of section 428(a) (2)(C)(i)), “(B) that in the case of a loan made or originated (as defined in section 433(b)) by an eligible institution which is made to a student for his first academic year of postsecondary education, the loan may exceed $1,500 only if it is to be, disbursed in two or more installments none of which exceeds one-half of the loan, with the interval between the first and second of such installments being not less than one-third of the period of enrollment for which the student received the loan, and “(C) in cases where the Commissioner determines, pursuant to regulations prescribed by him, that, a higher amount is warranted in order to carry out the purposes of this part with respect to students engaged in specialized training requiring exceptionally high cost of education. The annual insurable limit per student shall not be deemed to be exceeded by a line of credit under which actual payments by the lender to the borrower will not be made, in any year in excess of the annual limit. “(2) The aggregate insured unpaid principal amount for all such insured loans made to any student shall not at any time exceed $7,500, in the case of any student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, and $15,000 in the case of any 90 STAT. 2105graduate or professional student (as defined by regulations of the Commissioner and including any loans which are insured by the Commissioner under this part, or by a State or nonprofit institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(b), made to such person before he became a graduate or professional student). “(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the insurance liability on any loan insured by the (Commissioner under this part shall be 100 per centum of the unpaid balance of the principal amount of the loan plus interest, except that— “(i) if, for any fiscal year, the total amount of payments under section 430 by the Commissioner to any eligible lender as described in section 435(g) (1) (D) exceeds 5 per centum of the sum of the loans made by such lender which are insured by the Commissioner and which were in repayment at the end of the preceding fiscal year, the insurance liability under this subsection for that portion of such excess which represents loans insured after the applicable date with respect to such loans, as determined under subparagraph (C), shall be equal to 90 per centum of the amount of such portion : “(ii) if, for any fiscal year, the total amount of such payments to such a lender exceeds 9 per centum of such sum, the insurance liability under this subsection for that portion of such excess which represents loans insured after the applicable date with respect to such loans, as determined under subparagraph (c), shall be equal to 80 per centum of the amount of such portion. “(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to an eligible lender as described in section 435(g) (1) (D) for the fiscal year in which such lender begins to carry on a loan program insured by the Commissioner, or for any of the four succeeding fiscal years. “(C) The applicable date with respect to a loan made by an eligible lender as described in section 435(g) (1) (D) shall be— “(i) the 90th day after the adjournment of the next regular session of the appropriate State legislature which convenes after the date of enactment of the Education Amendments of 1976, or “(ii) if the primary source of lending capital for such lender is derived from the sale of bonds, and the constitution of the appropriate State prohibits a pledge of such State’s credit as security against such bonds, the day which is one year after such 90th day. “(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the sum of the loans made by a lender which are insured by the Commissioner and which are in repayment shall be the original principal amount of loans made by such lender which are insured by the Commissioner reduced by (A) the amount the Commissioner has been required to pay to discharge his insurance obligations under this part, (B) the original principal amount of loans insured by the Commissioner which have been fully repaid, (C) the original principal amount insured on those loans for which payment of first installment of principal has not become due pursuant to section 427(a) (2) (B) or such first installment need not be paid pursuant to section 427 (a) (2) (C), and (D) the original principal amount of loans repaid by the Commissioner under section 437. “(3) For the purposes of this subsection, payments by the Commissioner under section 430 to an assignee of the lender with respect to a loan shall be deemed payments made to such lender. “(4) The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts which may be required to be paid under the provisions of section 430 or 437 of this part.” 90 STAT. 2106 “sources of funds “Sec. 426. Loans made by eligible lenders in accordance with this part shall be insurable by the Commissioner whether made from funds fully owned by the lender or from funds held by the lender in a trust or similar capacity and available for such loans. “eligibility of student borrowers and terms of federally insured student loans “Sec. 427. (a) A loan by an eligible lender shall be insurable by the Commissioner under the provisions of this part only if— “(1) made to a student who (A) has been accepted for enrollment at an eligible institution or, in the case of a student already attending such institution, is in good standing there as determined by the institution, (B) is carrying at least one-half of the normal fulltime workload as determined by the institution, and (C) has agreed to notify promptly the holder of the loan concerning any change of address; and “(2) evidenced by a note or other written agreement which— “(A) is made without security and without endorsement, except that if the borrower is a minor and such note or other written agreement executed by him would not, under the applicable law, create a binding obligation, endorsement may be required, “(B) provides for repayment (except as provided in subsection (c)) of the principal amount of the loan in installments over a period of not less than live years (unless sooner repaid or unless the student, during the nine- to twelve-month period preceding the start of the repayment period, specifically requests that repayment be made over a shorter period) nor more than ten years beginning not earlier than nine months nor later than one year after the date on which the student ceases to carry at an eligible institution at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload as determined by the institution, except— “(i) as provided in clause (C) below, “(ii) that the period of the loan may not exceed fifteen years from the execution of the note or written agreement evidencing it, “(iii) that the note or other written instrument may contain such provisions relating to repayment in the event of default in the payment of interest or in the payment of the cost of insurance premiums, or other default by the borrower, as may be authorized by regulations of the Commissioner in effect at the time the loan is made, and “(iv) that the lender and the student, after the student ceases to carry at an eligible institution at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload as determined by the institution, may agree to a repayment schedule which begins earlier, or is of shorter duration, than required by this subparagraph, except that in the event a student has requested and obtained a repayment period of less than five years, he may at any tune prior to the total re-payment of the loan, have the repayment period extended so that the total repayment period is not less than five ye are, 90 STAT. 2107 “(C) provides that periodic installments of principal need not be paid, but interest shall accrue and be paid, during any period (i) during which the borrower is pursuing a full-time course of study at an ‘eligible institution’, or is pursuing a course of study pursuant to a graduate fellowship program approved by the Commissioner, (ii) not in excess of three years during which the borrower is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, (iii) not in excess of three years during which the borrower is in service as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act, (iv) not in excess of three years during which the borrower is in service as a full-time volunteer under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or (v) during a single period, not in excess of twelve months, at the request of the borrower, during which the borrower is seeking and unable to find full-time employment, and any such period shall not be included in determining the ten-year period or the fifteen-year period provided in clause (B) above, “(D) provides for interest, on the unpaid principal balance of the loan at a yearly rate, not exceeding the applicable maximum rate prescribed and defined by the Secretary (within the limits set forth in subsection (b)) on a national, regional, or other appropriate basis, which interest shall lie payable in installments over the period of the loan except that, if provided in the note or other written agreement, any interest payable by the student may be deferred until not later than the date upon which repayment of the first installment of principal falls due, in which case interest that has so accrued during that period may be added on that date to the principal, “(E) provides that the lender will not collect or attempt to collect from the borrower any portion of the interest on the note which is payable by the Commissioner under this part, and that the lender will enter into such agreements with the Commissioner as may be necessary for the purposes of section 437, “(F) entitles the student borrower to accelerate without penalty repayment of the whole or any part of the loan, “(G) provides that, in the case of each loan insured by the program, the eligible institution attended by the borrower at the time of the loan will be notified of such insurance and the name of the lender making the loan, and such notification will be made either by (i) the prompt transmittal of such information to the institution by the insurer or the lender, or (ii) a requirement of the insurer, as a condition of its insurance, that the lender shall transmit any checks for the proceeds of such loan directly to the eligible institution for delivery to the borrower; “(H) the funds borrowed by a student are disbursed by check payable to the order and requiring the endorsement of such student, and “(I) contains such other terms and conditions, consistent with the provisions of this part and with the regulations issued by the Commissioner pursuant to this part , as may be agreed upon by the parties to such loan, including, if agreed upon, a provision requiring the borrower to pay the lender, in addition to principal and interest, amounts equal to the insurance premiums payable by the lender to the Commissioner with respect to such loan. 90 STAT. 2108 “(b) No maximum rate of interest prescribed and defined by the Secretary for the purposes of clause (2) (D) of subsection (a) may exceed 7 per centum per annum on the unpaid principal balance of the loan. “(c) The total of the payments by a borrower during any year of any repayment period with respect to the aggregate amount of all loans to that borrower which are insured under this part shall not unless the borrower and the lender otherwise, agree, be less than $360 or the balance of all of such loans (together with interest thereon), whichever amount is less, except that in the case of a husband and wife, both of whom have such loans outstanding, the total of the combined payments for such a couple during any year shall not be less than $360 or the balance of all such loans, whichever is less. “federal payments to reduce student interest costs “Sec. 428. (a) (1) Each student who has received a loan for study at an eligible institution— “(A) which is insured by the Commissioner under this part; “(B) which was made under a State student loan program (meeting criteria prescribed by the Commissioner), and which was contracted for, and paid to the student, within the period specified by paragraph (5): or “(C) which is insured under a program of a State or of a non-profit private institution or organization which was contracted for, and paid to the student, within the period specified in paragraph (5), and which— “(i) in the case of a loan insured prior to July 1, 1967, was made by an eligible lender and is insured under a program which meets the requirements of subparagraph (E) of subsection (b) (1) and provides that repayment of such loan shall be in installments beginning not earlier than sixty days after the student ceases to pursue a course of study (as described in subparagraph (D) of subsection (b) (1)) at an eligible institution, or “(ii) in the case of a loan insured after June 30, 1967, is insured under a program covered by an agreement made pursuant to subsection (b), shall be entitled to have paid on his behalf and for his account to the holder of the loan a portion of the interest on such loan under circumstances described in paragraph (2). “(2) (A) Each student qualifying for a portion of an interest payment under paragraph (1) shall— “(i) have provided to the lender a statement from the eligible institution, at which the student has been accepted for enrollment, or at which he is in attendance in good standing (as determined by such institution), which— “(I) sets forth such student’s estimated costs of attendance and “(II) sets forth such student’s estimated financial assistance; and “(ii) meet the requirements of subparagraph (B), “(B) For the purposes of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), a student shall qualify for a portion of an interest payment under paragraph (1) if such student’s adjusted family income at the time of execution of the note or written agreement evidencing such loan— “ (i) is less than $25,000; or 90 STAT. 2109 “(ii) is equal to or greater than $25,000 and the eligible institution has provided the lender with a statement evidencing a determination of need and recommending a loan in the amount of such need. “(C) For the purposes of paragraph (1) and this paragraph— “(i) a student’s estimated cost of attendance means, for the period for which the loan is sought, the tuition and fees applicable to such student together with the institution’s estimate of other expenses reasonably related to attendance at such institution, including, but not limited to, the cost of room and board, reasonable commuting costs, and costs for books; “(ii) a student’s estimated financial assistance means, for the period for which the loan is sought, the amount of assistance such student will receive under parts A, C, and E of this title, plus other scholarship, grant, or loan assistance; “(iii) the term ‘eligible institution’ when used with respect to a student is the eligible institution at which the student has been accepted for enrollment or, in the ease of a student who is in attendance at such an institution, at which the student is in good standing (as determined by such institution); “(iv) the determination of need and the amount of a loan recommended by an eligible institution under subparagraph (B) (ii) with respect to a student shall be determined by subtracting from the estimated cost of attendance at such institution the total of the expected family contribution with respect to such student (as determined by means other than one formulated by the Commissioner under subpart 1 of part A of this title) plus any other resources or student financial assistance reasonably available to such student “(D) For the purposes of this paragraph, the adjusted family income of a student shall be determined pursuant to regulations of the Commissioner in effect at the time of the execution of the note, or written agreement evidencing the loan. Such regulations shall provide for taking into account such factors, including family size, as the Commissioner deems appropriate. In the absence of fraud by the lender, such determination of the need of a student under this paragraph shall be final insofar as it concerns the obligation of the Commissioner to pay the holder of a loan a portion of the interest on the loan. “(3) (A) Except as provided in paragraph (8), the portion of the interest on a loan which a student is entitled to have paid on his behalf and for his account to the holder of the loan pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be equal to the total amount of the interest on the unpaid principal amount of the loan which accrues prior to the beginning of the repayment period of the loan, or which accrues during a period in which principal need not be paid (whether or not such principal is in fact paid) by reason of a provision described in subsection (b) (1) (M) of this section or in section 427(a)(2) (C); but, except as provided in paragraph (8) of this subsection, such portion of the interest on a loan shall not exceed, for any period, the amount of the interest on that, loan which is payable by the student after taking into consideration the amount of any interest on that loan which the student is entitled to have paid on his behalf for that period under any State or private loan insurance program. The holder of a loan with respect to which payments are required to be made under this section shall he deemed to have a contractual right, as against the United States, to receive from the Commissioner the portion of interest which has been so determined. The Commissioner shall pay this portion of the interest to the holder of the loan on behalf of and for 90 STAT. 2110the account of the borrower at such times as may be specified in regulations in force when the applicable agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (b) was made, or, if the loan was made by a State or is insured under a program which is not covered by such an agreement, at such times as may be specified in regulations in force at the time the loan was paid to the student. “(B) If (i) a. State student loan insurance program is covered by an agreement under subsection (b), (ii) a statute of such State limits the interest rate on loans insured by such program to a rate which is less than 7 per centum per annum on the unpaid principal balance, and (iii) the Commissioner determines that section 428(d) does not make such statutory limitation inapplicable and that such statutory limitation threatens to impede the carrying out of the purposes of this part, then he may pay an administrative cost allowance to the holder of each loan which is insured under such program and which is made during the period beginning on the sixtieth day after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1968 and ending 120 days after the adjournment of such State’s first regular legislative session which adjourns after January 1, 1969. Such administrative cost allowance, shall be paid over the term of the loan in an amount per annum (determined by the Commissioner) which shall not exceed 1 per centum of the unpaid principal balance of the loan. “(4) Each bolder of a loan with respect to which payments of interest are required to be made by the Commissioner shall submit to the Commissioner, at such time or times and in such manner as he may prescribe, statements containing such information as may be required by or pursuant to regulation for the purpose of enabling the Commissioner to determine the amount of the payment which he must make with respect to that loan, “(5) The period referred to in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (I) of this subsection shall begin on the date of enactment of this Act and end at the close of September 30, 1981, except that, in the case of a loan made or insured under a student loan or loan insurance program to enable a student who has obtained a prior loan made or insured under such program to continue his educational program, such period shall end at the close of September 30, 1985. “(6) No payment may be made under this section with respect to the interest on a loan made from a student loan fund established under title II of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 or part E of this title. “(7) Nothing in this or any other Act shall be construed to prohibit or require, unless otherwise specifically provided by law, a lender to evaluate the total financial situation of a student making application for a loan under this part, or to counsel a student with respect to any such loan, or to make a decision based on such evaluation and counseling with respect to the dollar amount of any such Joan, , “(8) (A) In the case of any eligible lender (other than an eligible institution or an agency or’instrumentality of a State), which is approved by the Commissioner pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for the purpose of authorizing multiple disbursements and which enters into a binding agreement with a student to make a loan— “(i) for which the student is entitled to have a portion of the interest paid on his behalf under this section, and “(ii) the proceeds of which loan are to be paid to the student in multiple disbursements over the period of enrollment for which the loan is made, but not to exceed twelve months, 90 STAT. 2111the amount of the interest payment and the amount of any special allowance payment to be paid under section 438 shall be determined as if the entire amount to be made available for that period of enrollment had been disbursed on the date on which the first installment thereof was disbursed, and any increase in the rate of interest on the loan attributable to such multiple disbursements shall not be deemed to violate any provision of this part relating to the maximum rate of interest on such loan. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply only in the case of loans paid in multiple disbursements, in accordance with regulations of the Commissioner, based on the need of the student for the proceeds of such loan over the course of the academic year. “(B) The Commissioner may approve an eligible lender for the purposes of this paragraph if he determines— “(i) that such lender is making or will be mailing a substantial volume of loans on which an interest subsidy is payable under this section, and “(ii) that such lender has sufficient experience and administrative capability in processing such loans to enable the lender to make such multiple disbursements in accordance with regulations issued by the Commissioner under this subparagraph. “(9) With respect to any loan for which a portion of the interest is payable under this section, in the case of a student attending an eligible institution which is located in other than a State, the determinations to be made (except determinations of good standing) and the statement to be provided by such institution under paragraph (2) (A) (i) and (2) (B) (ii) of this subsection shall be made and provided by (A) the Commissioner in the case of a loan described by paragraph (1) (A), (B) the State in the case of a loan described by paragraph (1) (B), or (C) the State or a nonprofit private institution or organization as the case may be, in the case of a loan described by paragraph (i)(C). “(b) (1) Any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization may enter into an agreement with the Commissioner for the purpose of entitling students who receive loans which are insured under a student loan insurance program of that State, institution, or organization to have made on their behalf the payments provided for in subsection (a) if the Commissioner determines that the student loan insurance program— “(A) authorizes the insurance of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500 in the ease of a student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, or $5,000 in the case of a graduate or professional student (as defined in regulations of the Commissioner), except— “(i) that the program may not authorize the insurance of a loan which is made by an eligible lender as described in section 435(g)(1)(D) or which is made or originated (as defined in section 433(b)) by an eligible institution to a student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education in an amount in excess of $2,500 or 50 per centum of the estimated cost of attendance (calculated in accordance with section 428(a) (2)(C)(i)), “(ii) that the program may not authorize the insurance of a loan in excess of $1,500 for an academic year which is made or originated (as defined in section 433(b)) by an eligible institution, and is made to a student for his first academic year of post secondary education, unless the loan is to be disbursed in two or more installments, none of which exceeds 90 STAT. 2112one-half of the loan, with the interval between the first and second of such installments being not less than one-third of the period of enrollment for which the student received the loan, and “(iii) in cases where the Commissioner determines, pursuant to regulations prescribed by him, that a higher amount is warranted in order to carry out the purposes of this part with respect to students engaged in specialized training requiring exceptionally high costs of education, but the annual insurable limit per student shall not be deemed to be exceeded by a line of credit under which actual payments by the lender to the borrower will not be made in any years in excess of the annual limit: “(B) provides that the aggregate insured unpaid principal amount for all such insured loans made to any student shall not at any time exceed $7,500, in the case of any student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, and $15,000 in the ease of any graduate or professional student (as defined by regulations of the Commissioner and including any loans which are insured by the Commissioner under this part, or by a State or nonprofit institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(b), made to such person before he became a graduate or professional student); “(C) authorizes the insurance of loans to any individual student for at least six academic years of study or their equivalent (as determined under regulations of the Commissioner); “(D) provides that (i) the student borrower shall be entitled to accelerate without penalty the whole or any part, of an insured loan, (ii) except as provided in subparagraph (M) of this paragraph, the period of any insured loan may not exceed fifteen years from the date of execution of the note or other written evidence of the loan, and (iii) the note or other written evidence of any loan, may contain such provisions relating to repayment in the event of default by the borrower as may be authorized by regulations of the Commissioner in effect at the time such note or written evidence was executed; “(E) subject to subparagraphs (D) and (L) of this paragraph and except as provided by subparagraph (M) of this paragraph, provides that repayment of loans shall be in installments over a period of not less than five years (unless the student, during the nine- to twelve-month period preceding the start of the repayment period, specifically requests that repayment be made over a shorter period) nor more than ten years beginning not earlier than nine months nor later than one year after the student ceases to pursue a full-time course of study at an eligible institution, except— “(i) that, if the program provides for the insurance of loans for part-time study at eligible institutions, the program shall provide that such repayment period shall begin not earlier than nine months nor later than one year after the student ceases to carry at an eligible institution at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload as determined by the institution; “(ii) that the lender and the student, after the student ceases to carry at an eligible institution at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload, as determined by the institution, may agree to a repayment schedule which begins earlier, or is of shorter duration, than required by this sub-90 STAT. 2113paragraph, except that in the event a student has requested and obtained a repayment period of less than five years, he may at any time prior to the total repayment of the loan have the repayment period extended so that the total repayment period is not less than five years; “(F) authorizes interest on the unpaid balance of the loan at a yearly rate not in excess of 7 per centum per annum on the unpaid principal balance of the loan (exclusive of any premium for insurance which may be passed on to the borrower); “(G) insures not less than 80 per centum of the unpaid principal of loans insured under the program; “(H) does not provide for collection of an excessive insurance premium; “(I) provides that the benefits of the loan insurance program will not be denied any student who is eligible for interest benefits under section 428(a) (1) and (2) except in the case of loans made by an instrumentality of a State or eligible institution; “(J) provides that a student may obtain insurance under the program for a loan for any year of study at an eligible institution; “(K) in the case of a State program, provides that such State program is administered by a single State agency, or by one or more nonprofit private institutions or organizations under supervision of a single State agency; “(L) provides that the total of the payments by a borrower during any year of any repayment period with respect to the aggregate amount of all loans to that borrower which are insured under this part shall not be less than $360 or the balance of all such loans (together with interest thereon), whichever amount is less, unless the borrower and the lender otherwise agree, except that, in the case of a husband and wife, both of whom have such loans outstanding, the total of the combined payments for such a couple during any year shall not be less than $360 or the balance of all such loans, whichever is less; “(M) provides that, periodic installments of principal need not be paid, but interest shall accrue and be paid during any period (i) during which the borrower is pursuing a full-time course of study at an eligible institution, or is pursuing a course of study pursuant to a graduate fellowship program approved by the Commissioner, (ii) not in excess of three years during which the borrower is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, (iii) not in excess of thi’ee years during which the borrower is in service as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act, (iv) not in excess of three years during which the borrower is in service as a full-time volunteer under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or (v) during a single period, not in excess of twelve months, at the request of the borrower, during which the borrower is seeking and unable to find full-time employment; “(N) provides that in the case of each loan insured by the program that the eligible institution attended by the borrower at the time of the loan will be notified of such insurance and the name of the lender making the loan, and such notification will be made either by (i) the prompt transmittal of such information to the institution by the insurer or the lender, or (ii) a requirement of the insurer, as a condition of its insurance, that the lender shall transmit any checks for the proceeds of such loan directly to the eligible institution for delivery to the borrower; 90 STAT. 2114 “(O) provides that funds borrowed by a student are disbursed by check payable to the order and requiring the endorsement of such student; “(P) provides that the borrower shall, within four months after ceasing to carry at an eligible institution at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload as determined by the institution, contact the holder of his loan to negotiate the terms of his repayment obligations, and “(Q) requires the borrower to promptly notify the holder of the loan concerning any change of address. “(2) Such an agreement shall— “(A) provide that the holder of any such loan will be required to submit to the Commissioner, at such time or times and in such manner as he. may prescribe, statements containing such information as may be required by or pursuant to regulation for the purpose of enabling the Commissioner to determine the amount of the payment which he must make with respect to that loan; “(B) include such other provisions as may lie necessary to protect the financial interests of the United States and promote the purposes of this part, including such provisions as may be necessary for the purpose of section 437, and as are agreed to by the Commissioner and the State or nonprofit private organization or institution, as the case may be; and “(C) provide for making such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Commissioner may reasonably require to carry out his function under this part, and for keeping such records and for affording such access thereto as the Commissioner may find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports. “(c) (1) (A) The Commissioner may enter into a guaranty agreement with any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization with which he has an agreement pursuant to subsection (b), whereby the Commissioner shall undertake to reimburse it, under such terms and conditions as he may establish, with respect, to losses (resulting from the default of the student borrower) on the unpaid balance of the principal and accrued interest of any insured loan with respect to which a portion of the interest is payable by the Commissioner under subsection (a), or would be payable under such subsection but for the borrower’s lack of need. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph and in paragraph (7), the amount to be paid a State, or nonprofit private institution or organization as reimbursement under this subsection shall be equal to 80 per centum of the amount expended by it in discharge of its insurance obligation incurred under its loan insurance program. “(B) Any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization which has entered into a supplementary agreement under section 428A of this Act whereby the Commissioner agrees to reimburse the State or nonprofit private institution or organization, under such terms and conditions as he may establish, with respect to losses (resulting from the default of the student borrower) on the unpaid balance of the principal and accrued interest of any such insured loan in an amount equal to 100 per centum of the amount expended by it in the discharge of its insurance obligation incurred under its loan insurance program, except that— “(i) if, for any fiscal year, the amount of such reimbursement payments by the Commissioner under this subsection exceeds 5 per centum of the loans which are insured by such institution or organization under such program and which were in repayment at the 90 STAT. 2115end of the preceding fiscal year, the amount to be paid as reimbursement under this subsection for such excess shall be equal to 90 per centum of the amount of such excess; and “(ii) if, for any fiscal year, the amount of such reimbursement payments, exceed 9 per centum of such loans, the amount to be paid as reimbursement under this subsection for such excess shall be equal to 80 per centum of the amount of such excess. “(C) For purposes of this subsection, the amount of loans of a State or nonprofit private institution or organization which are in repayment shall be the original principal amount of loans insured by it reduced by (i) the amount the insurer has been required to pay to discharge its insurance obligations under this part, (ii) the original principal amount of loans insured by it which have been fully repaid, (iii) the original principal amount insured on those loans for which payment of the first installment of principal has not become due pursuant to section 428(b) (1) (E) or such first installment need not be paid pursuant to section 428(b) (1) (M), and (iv) the original principal amount of loans repaid by the Commissioner under section 437. “(2) The guaranty agreement— “(A) shall set forth such administrative and fiscal procedures as may be necessary to protect the United States from the risk of unreasonable loss thereunder, to insure proper and efficient administration of the loan insurance program, and to assure that due diligence will be exercised in the collection of loans insured under the program; “(B) shall provide for making such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Commissioner may reasonably require to carry out his functions under this subsection, and for keeping such records and for affording such access thereto as the Commissioner may find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; “(C) shall set forth adequate assurance that, with respect to so much of any loan insured under the loan insurance program as may be guaranteed by the Commissioner pursuant to this subsection, the undertaking of the Commissioner under the guaranty agreement is acceptable in full satisfaction of State law or regulation requiring the maintenance of a reserve; “(D) shall provide that if, after the Commissioner has made payment under the guaranty agreement pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect to any loan, any payments are made in discharge of the obligation incurred by the borrower with respect to such loan (including any payments of interest accruing on such loan after such payment by the Commissioner), there shall be paid over to the Commissioner ( for deposit in the fund established by section 431) such proportion of the amounts of such payments as is determined (in accordance with paragraph (6)) to represent his equitable share thereof, but shall not otherwise provide for subrogation of the United States to rights of any insurance beneficiary: Provided, That, except as the Commissioner may otherwise by or pursuant to regulation provide, amounts so paid by a borrower on such a loan shall be first applied in reduction of principal owing on such loan; “(E) shall set forth adequate assurance that an amount equal to each payment made under paragraph (1) will be promptly deposited in or credited to the accounts maintained for purposes of section 422(c); and “(F) may include such other provisions as may be necessary to promote the purposes of this part. 90 STAT. 2116 “(3) To the extent provided in regulations of the Commissioner, a guaranty agreement under this subsection may contain provisions which permit such forebearance for the benefit of the student borrower as may be agreed upon by the parties to an insured loan and approved by the insurer. “(4) For purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘insurance beneficiary’ and ‘default’ shall have the meanings assigned to them by section 430(e). “(5) In the ease of any guaranty agreement entered into prior to September 1, 1969, with a State or nonprofit private institution or organization with which the Commissioner has in effect on that date an agreement pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or section 9(b) of the National Vocational Student Loan Insurance Act of 1965, made prior to the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commissioner may, in accordance with the terms of this subsection, undertake to guarantee loans described in paragraph (1) which are insured by such State, institution, or organization and are outstanding on the date of execution of the guaranty agreement, but only with respect to defaults occurring after the execution of such guaranty agreement or, if later, after its effective dale. “(6) (A) For the purpose of paragraph (2) (D) the Commissioner’s equitable share of payments made by the borrower pursuant to such paragraph shall be that portion of the payments remaining after the State or the nonprofit private institution or organization with which t he Commissioner has an agreement under this subsection has deducted from such payments (i) a percentage amount equal to the complement of the reinsurance percentage in effect when payment under the guaranty agreement was made with respect to the loan and (ii) an amount equal to the administrative costs of collection of the loan and Hie administrative costs of preclaims assistance for default prevention (us such terms are defined in subparagraph (B) of this subsection) reimbursed pursuant to subsection (f), to the extent such costs do not exceed 30 per centum of such payments. “(B) For the purpose of this paragraph, the term— “(i) ‘administrative costs of collection of the loan’ means any administrative costs incurred by a guaranty agency which are directly related to the collection of the loan on which a default claim has been paid to the participating lender, including the attributable compensation of collection personnel (and in the case of personnel who perform several functions for such an agency only the portion of compensation attributable to the collection activity), attorney’s fees, fees paid to collection agencies, postage, equipment, supplies, telephone and similar charges, but does not include the overhead costs of such agency whether or not attributable and “(ii) ‘administrative costs of proclaim assistance for default prevention’ means any administrative costs incurred by a guaranty agency which are directly related to providing collection assistance to the lender on a delinquent loan, prior to the loan’s being legally in a default status, including the attributable compensation of appropriate personnel (and in the case of personnel who perform several functions for such an agency only the portion of compensation attributable to the collection activity), fees paid to locate a missing borrower, postage, equipment, supplies, telephone and similar charges, but does not include the overhead costs of such agency whether or not attributable, subject to such additional criteria as the Commissioner may by regulation prescribe. 90 STAT. 2117 “(7) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), the amount to be paid a State or a nonprofit private institution or organization for any fiscal year— “(i) which begins on or after the effective date of this paragraph; and “(ii) which is either the fiscal year in which such State, institution, or organization begins to actively carry on a student loan insurance program which is subject to a guarantee agreement under this subsection, or is one of the four succeeding fiscal years, shall be 100 per centum of the amount expended by such State, organization, or institution in discharge of its insurance obligation insured under such program. “(B) The Commissioner shall continuously monitor the operations of those States and nonprofit private institutions or organizations to which the provisions of subparagraph (A) are applicable and revoke the, application of such subparagraph to any such State or nonprofit private institution or organization which he determines has not exercised reasonable prudence in the administration of such program. “(d) No provision of any law of the United States (other than sections 427 (a) (2) (D) and 427 (b) of this Act) or of any State (other than a statute applicable principally to such State’s student loan insurance program) which limits the rate or amount of interest payable on loans shall apply to a loan— “(1) which bears interest (exclusive of any premium for insurance) on the unpaid principal balance at a rate not in excess of 7 per centum per annum, and “(2) which is insured (A) by the United States under this part, or ( B ) by a State or nonprofit private institution or organization under a program covered by an agreement made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. “(e) (1) Each eligible institution shall be eligible to receive from the Commissioner the payment of $10 per academic year for each student enrolled in that institution who is in receipt of a loan described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section, for that year. Payments received by an institution under this subsection shall be used first by the institution to carry out the provisions of section 493A of this Act and then for such additional administrative costs as that institution determines necessary. “(2) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. If the sums appropriated for any fiscal year for making payments under this subsection are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts provided for in paragraph (1), then such amount will be ratably’ reduced. In case additional funds become available for making payments for any fiscal year during which the preceding sentence has been applied, such reduced amounts shall be increased on the same basis as they were reduced. “(f) (1) (A) The Commissioner is authorized to make payments in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph to any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization with which he has an agreement under subsection (b) of this section, for the purposes of— “(i) the administrative costs of promotion of commercial lender participation; “(ii) the administrative costs of collection of loans; “(iii) the administrative costs of preclaims assistance for default prevention; or “(iv) other such costs related to the student loan insurance program subject to such agreement. 90 STAT. 2118 The total amount of payments for any fiscal year made under this paragraph shall not exceed one-half of 1 per centum of the total principal amount, of the loans upon which insurance was issued under this part during such fiscal year by such State, or institution or organization. If the sums appropriated for any fiscal year for making payments under this paragraph are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts provided for which such States, institutions, and organizations are, eligible, then such amount will be ratably reduced. In case additional funds become available for making payments for any fiscal year during which the preceding sentence has been applied, such reduced amounts shall be increased on the same basis as they were reduced. “(B) Each State or nonprofit, private institution or organization to which subparagraph (A) of this paragraph applies shall spend not less than % of the payments received pursuant to this paragraph on the purposes described in clause (i) or subparagraph (A), not less than % of such payments on the purposes described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), and the remaining amount, of such payments on the purpose described in clause (iv) of such subparagraph. “(2) (A) The Commissioner is authorized to make payments in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph to any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization with which he has a supplemental guaranty agreement under section 428A(a) (2) of this Act for the purposes of— “(i) the administrative costs of promotion of commercial lender participation; “(ii) the administrative costs of collection of loans; “(iii) the administrative costs of preclaims assistance for default prevention; or “(iv) other such costs related to the student loan insurance program subject to such agreement. The total amount of payments for any fiscal year made under this paragraph shall not exceed an additional one-half of 1 per centum of the total principal amount of the loans upon which insurance was issued under this part during such fiscal year by such State, or institution or organization. If the sums appropriated for any fiscal year for making payments under this paragraph are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts provided for which such States, institutions, and organizations are eligible, then such amount, will be ratably reduced. In case additional funds become available for making payments for any fiscal year during which the preceding sentence has been applied, such reduced amounts shall be increased on the same basis as they were reduced. “(B) The provisions of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall apply to any payments made under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. “(3) For the purpose of this subsection, the term— “(A) ‘administrative costs of promotion of commercial lender participation’ means any administrative costs incurred by an insurer which are directly related to supervising, training, or informing eligible lenders or prospective eligible lenders or inducing such lenders to improve or expand their program participation, and such costs may include (i) the, costs of planning and executing instructional seminars and the costs of attending other meetings with lenders, (ii) the costs of obtaining or producing instructional or promotional materials or equipment for distribution to, or use with, lenders, (iii) postage costs associated with the distribution of instructional or promotional materials to lenders, (iv) an appropriate share of the costs of 90 STAT. 2119establishing branch offices to serve the needs of lenders which are geographically distant from such insurer’s primary business location, and (v) an appropriate share of the compensation of personnel whose primary responsibility is the training, supervising, or recruiting of lenders, but not including personnel whose primary responsibilities are the performing or supervising such duties as relate to the routine processing of borrower applications for loans or the maintenance of supporting records but in no case shall any such costs include any overhead expenses of such insurer associated with the insurer’s primary business location. “(B) ‘administrative, costs of collection or loans’ means any administrative costs incurred by a guaranty agency which are directly related to the collection of loans on which default claims have been paid to participating lenders, including the compensation of collection personnel (and in the case of personnel who perform several functions for such an agency only the portion of compensation attributable to collection activities), attorney’s fees, fees paid to collection agencies, postage, equipment, supplies, telephone and similar charges, but does not include the overhead costs of such agency, and “(C) ‘administrative costs of preclaim assistance for default prevention’ means any administrative costs incurred by a guaranty agency which are directly related to providing collection assistance to lenders on delinquent loans, prior to the loans being legally in a default status, including the compensation of appropriate personnel (and in the case of personnel who perform several functions for such an agency only the portion of compensation attributable to collection activities) fees paid to locate missing borrowers, postage, equipment, supplies, telephone and similar charges, but does not include the overhead costs of such agency, subject to such additional criteria as the Commissioner may by regulation prescribe. “(4) (A) No payment may be made under paragraph (1) of this subsection unless the State or the nonprofit private institution or organization submits to the Commissioner an application at Such time, at least annually, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information, as the Commissioner may reasonably require. Each such application shall— “(i) contain provisions designed to demonstrate the capability of carrying out a necessary and successful program of collection of and preclaim assistance for the loan program subject to that agreement; “(ii) set forth an estimate of the costs which are eligible, for payment under the provisions of this subsection; “(iii) provide for such administrative and fiscal procedures, including an audit, as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection; and “(iv) set forth assurances that the State, or the nonprofit private institution or organization will furnish such data and information, including where necessary estimates, as the Commissioner may reasonably require to carry out the provisions of this subsection. “(B) No payment may be made under paragraph (2) of this subsection unless the State or the nonprofit private institution or organization submits to the Commissioner an application, at such time, at least annually, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Commissioner may reasonably require. Each such application shall— 90 STAT. 2120 “(i) set forth assurances that the student loan insurance program subject to the supplemental guaranty agreement complies with clauses (A) through (F) of paragraph (2) of section 428A “(ii) contain provisions designed to demonstrate the capability of carrying out a necessary and successful program of collection of and preclaim assistance for the loan program subject to that agreement; “(iii) set forth an estimate of the costs which are eligible for payment under the provisions of this subsection; “(iv) provide for such administrative and fiscal procedures, including an audit, as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection; and “(v) set forth assurances that the State or the nonprofit private institution or organization will furnish such data and information, including where necessary estimates, as the Commissioner may reasonably require to carry out the provisions of this subsection. “(g) If a nonprofit private institution or organization (1) applies to enter into an agreement with the Commissioner under subsections (b) and (c) with respect to a student loan insurance program to be carried on in a State with which the Commissioner does not have an agreement under subsection (b), and (2) as provided in the application, undertakes to meet the requirements of section 422(c) (6) (B) (i), (ii), and (iii), the Commissioner shall consider and act upon such application within 180 days, and shall forthwith notify the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives of bis actions. “loan insurance supplemental guaranty agreement “Sec. 428A. (a) (1) The Commissioner may enter into a supplemental guaranty agreement, annually, with any State or any non-profit private institution or organization having a guaranty agreement under section 428(c) (I) whereby the Commissioner shall undertake to reimburse the State or nonprofit private institution or organization, under such terms and conditions as he may establish, in an amount determined in accordance with section 428(c) (1) (B), if the Commissioner determines that the student, loan insurance program— “(A) authorizes the insurance of loans in any amount up to a maximum of $2,500 (in the case of a student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education) or $5,000 (in the ease of a graduate or professional student) to any individual student in any academic year or its equivalent (as determined under regulations of the Commissioner), which limit shall not be deemed exceeded by a line of credit under which actual payments by the lender to the borrower will not be made in any such year in excess of such annual limit; and provides that the aggregate insured unpaid principal amount of all such insured loans made to any student snail be any amount up to a maximum of $7,500 in the case of any student who has successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, and $15,000 in the case of any graduate or professional student (as defined by regulations of the Commissioner and including any loans which are insured by the Commissioner under this part, or by a State or nonprofit institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under this part, made to such person before he became a graduate or professional student); 90 STAT. 2121 “(B) insures not less than 100 per centum of the unpaid principal of the loans insured under the program, whether or not such loans are eligible for interest subsidies under this part; “(C) provides for the insurance of loans for part-time study at an eligible institution in the same manner as is provided under the Federal student loan insurance program; “(D) provides no restrictions with respect to the insurance of loans for students who are otherwise eligible for loans under such program if such a student is a legal resident of the State mid if such a student is accepted for enrollment in or is attending an eligible institution outside that State; “(E) provides no restrictions with respect to eligible institutions that are residential institutions which are more onerous than eligibility requirements for institutions under the Federal student, loan insurance program, unless (i) that institution is ineligible under regulations for the limitation, suspension, or termination of eligible institutions under the Federal student loan insurance program or is ineligible pursuant to criteria issued under the student loan insurance program which are substantially the same as regulations with respect to such eligibility issued under the Federal student loan insurance program, or (ii) there is a State constitutional prohibition affecting the eligibility of such an institution; and “(F) provides (i) for the eligibility of the eligible institutions as lenders under reasonable criteria, unless (I) that eligible institution is eliminated as the lender under regulations for the limitation, suspension, or termination of eligible institutions under the Federal student loan insurance program or is eliminated as a lender pursuant to criteria issued under the student loan insurance program which are substantially the same as regulations with respect to such eligibility as a lender issued under the Federal student loan insurance program, or (II) there is a State constitutional prohibition affecting the eligibility of such an institution as a lender, and (ii) assurances that the State or nonprofit private institution or organization will report to the Commissioner not later than July 1, 1977, and annually thereafter, concerning such criteria, including any special requirements for the eligibility of such lenders, procedures in effect under such program to limit, suspend, or terminate such lenders, a list of applications of such lenders, a summary of actions taken on such applications, and a list of the names of all such lenders within the State. “(2) The Commissioner may enter into a supplemental guaranty agreement, annually, with any State or any nonprofit private institution or organization having a guaranty agreement under section 428(c) (1) for the purpose of qualifying such State or nonprofit private. institution or organization for payment of administrative cost allowances under section 428(f)(2) if the Commissioner determines that the student loan insurance program— “(A) authorizes the insurance of loans in any amount up to a maximum of $2,500 (in the case of a student who has not successfully completed a program of undergraduate education) or $5,000 (in the case of a graduate or professional student) to any individual student in any academic year or its equivalent (as determined under regulations of the Commissioner), which limit shall not be deemed exceeded by a line of credit, under which actual payments by the lender to the borrower will not be made in any such year in excess of such annual limit; and provides that the 90 STAT. 2122aggregate insured unpaid principal amount of all such insured loans made to any student shall be any amount up to a maximum of $7,500 in the ease of any student who has successfully completed a program of undergraduate education, and $15,000 in the case of any graduate or professional student (as defined by regulations of the Commissioner and including any loans which are insured by the Commissioner under this part, or by a State or nonprofit institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under this part, made to such person before he became a graduate or professional student); “(B) insures not less than 100 per centum of the unpaid principal of the loans insured under the program, whether or not such loans are eligible for interest subsidies under this part; “(C) provides for the insurance of loans for part-time study at an eligible institution in the same manner as is provided tinder the Federal student loan insurance program; “(D) provides no restrictions with respect to the insurance of loans for students who are otherwise eligible for loans under such program if such a student is a legal resident of the State, or if such a student is accepted for enrollment in or is attending an eligible institution within that State; “(E) provides no restrictions with respect to eligible institutions that are residential institutions which are more onerous than eligibility requirements for eligible institutions under the Federal student loan insurance program, unless (i) that eligible institution is ineligible under regulations for the limitation, suspension, or termination of eligible institutions under the Federal student loan insurance program or is ineligible pursuant to criteria issued under the, student loan insurance program which are substantially the same as regulations with respect to such eligibility issued under (he Federal student loan insurance program, or (ii) there is a State constitutional prohibition affecting the eligibility of such an institution; “(F) provides (i) for the eligibility of the eligible institutions as lenders under reasonable criteria, unless (1) that eligible institution is eliminated as a lender under regulations for the limitation, suspension, or termination of eligible institutions under the Federal student loan insurance program or is eliminated as a lender pursuant to criteria issued under the student loan insurance program which are substantially the same as regulations with respect to such eligibility as a lender issued under the Federal student loan insurance program, or (II) there is a State constitutional prohibition affecting the eligibility of such an institution as a lender, and (ii) assurances that the State or nonprofit private institution or organization will report to the Commissioner not later than July 1, 1977, and annually thereafter, concerning such criteria, including any special requirements for the eligibility of such lenders, procedures in effect under such program to limit, suspend, or terminate such lenders, a list of applications of such lenders, a summary of actions taken on such applications, and a list of the names of all such lenders within the State. “(b) Each supplemental guaranty agreement entered into under subsection (a)— “(1) shall set forth such administrative and fiscal procedures as may be necessary to protect the United States from the risk of unreasonable loss thereunder, to insure proper and efficient administration of the loan insurance program, and to insure that due 90 STAT. 2123diligence will be exercised in the collection of loans insured under the program; “(2) shall set forth adequate assurance that the requirements of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this section, as the case may be, are met; “(3) shall provide for the making of such reports, in such form, and containing such information as the Commissioner may reasonably require to carry out his functions under this section, and for keeping such records and for affording such access thereto as the Commissioner may find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; “(4) shall set forth adequate assurance that, with respect to so much of any loan insured under the loan insurance program as may be guaranteed by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the undertaking of the Commissioner under the supplemental guaranty agreement is acceptable in full satisfaction of State law or regulation requiring the maintenance of a reserve; “(6) shall provide that if, after the Commissioner has made payment under the supplemental guaranty agreement pursuant to this section with respect to any loan, any payments are made in discharge of the obligation incurred by the borrower with respect to such loan (including any payments of interest accruing on such loan after such payment by the Commissioner), there shall be paid over to the Commissioner (for deposit in the fund established by section 431) such portion of the amount of such payments as is determined (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner) to represent his equitable share thereof, but shall not otherwise provide for subrogation of the United States to the rights of any insurance beneficiary: Provided, That, except as the Commissioner may otherwise by or pursuant to regulation provide, amounts so paid by a borrower on such a loan shall be first applied in reduction of principal owing on such loan; and “(6) may include such other provisions as may be necessary to promote the purposes of this part. “(c) (1) To the extent provided in regulations of the Commissioner, a supplemental guaranty agreement under this section may contain provisions which permit such forbearance for the benefit of the student borrower as may be agreed upon by the parties to an insured loan and approved by the insurer. “(2) For purposes of this section, the terms ‘insurance beneficiary’ and ‘default’ shall have the meanings assigned to them by section 430(e). “certificate of federal wan insurance—effective date of insurance “Sec. 429. (a) (1) If, upon application by an eligible lender, made upon such form, containing such information, and supported by such evidence as the Commissioner may require, and otherwise in conformity with this section, the Commissioner finds that the applicant has made a loan to an eligible student which is insurable under the provisions of this part, he may issue to the applicant a certificate of insurance covering the loan and setting forth the amount and terms of the insurance. “(2) Insurance evidenced by a certificate of insurance pursuant to subsection (a) (1) shall become effective upon the date of issuance of the certificate, except that the Commissioner is authorized, in accord-90 STAT. 2124ance with regulations, to issue commitments with respect to proposed loans, or with respect to lines (or proposed lines) of credit, submitted by eligible lenders, and in that event, upon compliance with subsection (a) (1) by the lender, the certificate of insurance may be issued elf active as of the date when any loan, or any payment by the lender pursuant to a line of credit, to be covered by such insurance was made. Such insurance shall cease to be effective upon sixty days’ default by the lender in the payment of any installment of the premiums payable pursuant to subsection (c). “(3) An application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) (1) shall contain (A) an agreement by the applicant to pay, in accordance with regulations, the premiums fixed by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (c), and (B) an agreement by the applicant that if the loan is covered by insurance the applicant, will submit such supplementary reports and statements during the effective period of the loan agreement, upon such forms, at such times, and containing such information as the Commissioner may prescribe by or pursuant to regulation. “(b) (1) In lieu of requiring a separate insurance application and issuing a separate certificate of insurance for each student loan made by an eligible lender as provided in subsection (a), the Commissioner may, in accordance with regulations consistent with section 424, issue to any eligible lender applying therefor a certificate of comprehensive insurance coverage winch shall, without further action by the Commissioner, insure all insurable, loans made by that lender, on or after the date of the certificate and before a specified cutoff date, within the limits of an aggregate maximum amount stated in the certificate. Such regulations may provide for conditioning such insurance, with respect to any loan, upon compliance by the lender with such requirements (to be stated or incorporated by reference in the certificate) as in the Commissioner’s judgment will best achieve the purpose of this subsection while protecting the financial interest of the United States and promoting the objectives of this part, including (but not limited to) provisions as to the reporting of such loans and information relevant thereto to the Commissioner and as to the payment of initial and other premiums and the effect of default therein, and including provision for confirmation by the Commissioner from time to time (through endorsement, of the certificate) of the coverage of specific new loans by such certificate, which confirmation shall be incontestable by the Commissioner in the absence of fraud or misrepresentation of fact or patent error. “(2) If the holder of a certificate of comprehensive insurance coverage issued under this subsection grants to a student a line of credit extending beyond the cutoff date specified in that certificate, loans or payments thereon made by the holder after that date pursuant to the line of credit shall not be deemed to lie included in the coverage of that certificate except as may be specifically provided therein; but, subject to the limitations of section 424, the Commissioner may, in accordance with regulations, make commitments to insure such future loans or payments, and such commitments may be honored either as provided in subsection (a) or by inclusion of such insurance on comprehensive coverage under this subsection for the period or periods in which such future loans or payments are made, “(c) The Commissioner shall, pursuant to regulations, charge for insurance on each loan under this part a premium in an amount not to exceed one-fourth of 1 per centum per year of the unpaid principal amount of such loan (excluding interest added to principal), payable in advance, at such times and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner. Such regulations may provide that such premium 90 STAT. 2125shall not be payable, or if paid shall be refundable, with respect to any period after default in the payment of principal or interest or after the borrower has died or becomes totally and permanently disabled, if (1) notice of such default or other event has been duly given, and (2) requests for payment of the loss insured against has been made or the Commissioner has made such payment on his own motion pursuant to section 430(a). “(d) The rights of an eligible lender arising under insurance evidenced by a certificate of insurance issued to it under this section may be assigned as security by such lender only to another eligible lender, and subject to regulation by the Commissioner. “(e) The consolidation of the obligations of two or more federally insured loans obtained by a student borrower in any fiscal year into a single obligation evidenced by a single instrument of indebtedness shall not affect the insurance by the United States. If the loans thus consolidated are covered by separate certificates of insurance issued under subsection (a), the Commissioner may upon surrender of the original certificates issue a new certificate of insurance in accordance with that, subsection upon the consolidated obligation; if they are, covered by a single comprehensive certificate issued under subsection (b), the Commissioner may amend that certificate accordingly. “default of student under federal loan insurance program “Sec. 430. (a) Upon default by the student borrower on any loan covered by Federal loan insurance pursuant to this part, and prior to the commencement, of suit or other enforcement proceedings upon security for that loan, the insurance beneficiary shall promptly notify the Commissioner, and the Commissioner shall if requested (at that time or after further collection efforts) by the beneficiary, or may on his own motion, if the insurance is still in effect, pay to the beneficiary the amount of the loss sustained by the insured upon that, loan as soon as that amount has been determined. The ‘amount of the loss’ on any loan shall, for the purposes of this subsection and subsection (b), be deemed to be an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the principal amount and interest accrued from the dale of submission of a valid default claim (as determined by the Commissioner) to the date on which payment is authorized by the Commissioner, reduced to the extent required by section 425(b). Such beneficiary shall be required to meet the standards of due diligence in the collection of the loan. “(b) Upon payment of the amount of the loss pursuant to subsection (a), the United States shall be subrogated for all of the rights of the holder of the obligation upon the insured loan and shall lie entitled to an assignment of the note or other evidence of the insured loan by the insurance beneficiary. If the net recovery made by the Commissioner on a loan after deduction of the cost of that recovery (including reasonable administrative costs) exceeds the amount of the loss, the excess shall be paid over to the insured. The Commissioner may, in attempting to make recovery on such loans, contract with private business concerns. State student loan insurance agencies, or State guaranty agencies, for payment for services rendered by such concerns or agencies in assisting the Commissioner in making such recovery. Any contract under this subsection entered into by the Commissioner shall provide that attempts to make recovery on such loans shall be fair and reasonable, and do not involve harassment, intimidation, false or misleading representations, or unnecessary communications concerning the existence of any such loan to persons other than the student borrower. 90 STAT. 2126 “(c) Nothing in this section or in this part shall be construed to preclude any forebearance for the benefit of the student borrower which may be agreed upon by the parties to the insured loan and approved by the Commissioner, or to preclude forebearance by the Commissioner in the enforcement of the insured obligation after payment on that insurance, “(d) Nothing in this section or in this part shall be construed to excuse the holder of a federally insured loan from exercising reasonable care and diligence in the making and collection of loans under the provisions of this part. If the Commissioner, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to an eligible lender, finds that it has substantially failed to exercise such care and diligence or to make the reports and statements required under section 428(a) (4) and section 429(a)(3), or to pay the required Federal loan insurance premiums, he shall disqualify that lender for further Federal insurance on loans granted pursuant, to this part until he is satisfied that its failure has ceased and finds that there is reasonable assurance that the lender will in the future exercise necessary care and diligence or comply with such requirements, us the case may be. (e) As used in this section— “(1) the term ‘insurance beneficiary’ means the insured or its authorized assignee in accordance with section 429(d); and “(2) the term ‘default’ includes only such defaults as have existed for (A) one hundred and twenty days in the case of a loan which is repayable hi monthly installments, or (B) one hundred and eighty days in the case of a loan which is repayable in less frequent installments. “insurance fund “Sec. 431. (a) There is hereby established a student loan insurance fund (hereinafter in tins section called the ‘fund’) which shall be available without fiscal year limitation to the Commissioner for making payments in connection with the default of loans insured by him under this part, or in connection with payments under a guaranty agreement under section 428 (c). Al I amounts received by the Commissioner as premium charges for insurance and as receipts, earnings, or proceeds derived from any claim or other assets acquired by the Commissioner in connection with his operations under this part, any excess advances under section 422(c) (4) (C), and any other moneys, property, or assets derived by the Commissioner from his operations in connection with this section, shall be deposited in the fund. All payments in connection with the default of loans insured by the Commissioner under this part, or hi connection with such guaranty agreements shall be paid from the fund. Moneys in the fund not needed for current operations under this section may be invested in bonds or other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States. “(b) If at any time the moneys in the fund are. insufficient to make payments in connection with the default of any loan insured by the Commissioner under this part, or hi connection with any guaranty agreement made under section 428(c) or 428A (a)(1), the Commissioner is authorized, to the extent provided in advance by appropriations Acts, to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations in such forms and denominations, bearing such maturities, and subject to such terms and conditions as may fie prescribed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such notes or other obligations shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into considera-90 STAT. 2127tion the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities during the month preceding the issuance of the notes or other obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any notes and other obligations issued hereunder and for that purpose he is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as amended, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under that Act, as amended, are extended to include any purchase of such notes and obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury may at any time sell any of the notes or other obligations acquired by him under this subsection. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of such notes or other obligations shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States. Sums borrowed under this subsection shall be deposited in the fund and redemption of such notes and obligations shall be made by the Commissioner from such fund. “legal towers and responsibilities “Sec. 432. (a) In the performance of, and with respect, to, the functions, powers, and duties vested in him by this part, the Commissioner may— “(1) prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.; “(2) sue and be sued in any court of record of a State having general jurisdiction or in any district court of the United States, and such district courts shall have jurisdiction of civil actions arising under this part without regard to the amount in controversy, and action instituted under this subsection by or against the Commissioner shall survive notwithstanding any change in the person occupying the office of Commissioner or any vacancy in that office; but no attachment, injunction, garnishment, or other similar process, mesne or final, shall be issued against the Commissioner or property under his control, and nothing herein shall be construed to except litigation arising out. of activities under this part from the application of sections 509,517, 547, and 2679 of title 28 of the United States Code; “(3) include in any contract for Federal loan insurance such terms, conditions, and covenants relating to repayment of principal and payment of interest, relating to his obligations and rights and to those of eligible lenders, arid borrowers in case of default, and relating to such other matters as the Commissioner determines to be necessary to assure that the purposes of this part will be achieved; and any term, condition, and covenant made pursuant to this clause or any other provisions of this part may be modified by the Commissioner if he determines that modification is necessary to protect the financial interest of the United States; “(4) subject to the specific limitations in this part, consent to the modification, with respect to rate of interest, time of payment of any installment of principal and interest or any portion thereof,, or any other provision of any note or other instrument evidencing a loan which has been insured by him under this part; “(5) enforce, pay, or compromise, any claim on, or arising because of, any such insurance or any guarantee agreement under section 428(c); and “(6) enforce, pay, compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand, however acquired, including any equity or any right of redemption. 90 STAT. 2128 “(b) The Commissioner shall, with respect to the financial operations arising by reason of this part— “(1) prepare annually and submit a budget program as provided for wholly owned Government corporations by the Government Corporation Control Act; and “(2) maintain with respect to insurance wider this part an integral set of accounts, which shall be audited annually by the General Accounting Office in accordance with principles and procedures applicable to commercial corporate transactions, as provided by section 105 of the Government Corporation Control Act, except that the transactions of the Commissioner, including the settlement of insurance claims and of claims for payments pursuant to section 428, and transactions related thereto and vouchers approved by the Commissioner in connection with such transactions, shall be final and conclusive upon all accounting and other officers of the Government. “(c) (1) (A) For loans insured after December 31, 1976, or in the case of each insurer after such earlier date where the data required by this subsection are available, the Commissioner and all other insurers under this part shall collect and accumulate all data relating to (i) loan volume insured and (ii) defaults reimbursed or default rates according to the categories of loans listed in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph. “(B) The data indicated in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be accumulated according to the category of lender making the loan and shall be accumulated separately for lenders who are (i) eligible institutions, (ii) State or private, nonprofit direct lenders, (iii) commercial financial institutions who are banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions, and (iv) all other types of institutions or agencies. “(C) The Commissioner may designate such additional subcategories within the categories specified in subparagraph (B) as he deems appropriate. “(D) The category or designation of a loan shall not be changed for any reason, including its purchase or acquisition by a lender of another category. “(2) (A) The Commissioner shall collect data under this subsection from all insurers under this part and shall publish not less often than once every fiscal year a report showing loan volume guaranteed and default data for each category specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection and for the total of all lenders. “(B) The reports specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall include a separate report for each insurer under this part including the Commissioner, and where an insurer insures loans for lenders in more than one State, such insurer’s import shall list all data separately for each State, “(3) For purposes of clarity in communications, the Commissioner shall separately identify loans made by the lenders referred to in clause (i) and loans made by the lenders referred to in clause (ii) of paragraph (1) (B) of this subsection. “(d) (1) The functions of the Commissioner under this part listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection may be delegated to employees in the regional offices of the Office of Education established pursuant to section 403(c)(2) of the General Education Provisions Act. “(2) The functions which may be delegated pursuant, to this subsection are— “(A) reviewing applications for loan insurance under section 429 and issuing contracts for Federal loan insurance, certificates 90 STAT. 2129of insurance, and certificates of comprehensive insurance coverage to eligible lenders which are financial or credit institutions subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or of any State; “(B) receiving claims for payments under section 430(a), examining those claims, and pursuant to regulations of the Commissioner, approving claims for payment, or requiring lenders to take additional collection action as a condition for payment of claims; and “(C) certifying to the central office when collection of defaulted loans has been completed, compromising or agreeing to the modification of any Federal claim against a borrower (pursuant to regulations of the Commissioner issued under section 432(a)), and recommending litigation with respect to any such claim. “institutional lenders “Sec. 433. (a) (1) An eligible institution may not act as an eligible lender or originate loans under this part, unless it has in effect an agreement with the Commissioner under which it agrees (A) to make such loans to no more than 50 per centum of the students in attendance at the institution who are not graduate or professional students (as defined in regulations of the Commissioner), and (B) that it will not make such a loan under this part to a student, other than a graduate or professional student (as defined in regulations of the Commissioner), who has not previously received a loan from such institution until such student has provided the institution with either (i) a statement from an eligible lender (other than an eligible institution or a State or an agency of a State or a private nonprofit agency designated by a State) that the borrower sought a loan from it and was denied such loan, or (ii) a sworn statement by the borrower that the lender from which he sought, such a loan declined to provide the statement described in clause (i). “(2) Whenever the Commissioner determines that the termination of the eligible institution’s status as a lender under paragraph (1) would be a hardship to the present or prospective students of the eligible institution after considering the management of that institution, the opportunities that institution provides to economically disadvantaged students, and related factors, the Commissioner shall waive the provisions of such paragraph with respect to that institution. “(b) (1) An eligible institution shall be deemed to have originated a loan for purposes of this section if it has had delegated to it by an eligible lender a substantial portion of the functions and responsibilities normally performed by a lender prior to the making of a loan, such as interviewing the applicant for the loan, explaining the applicant’s responsibilities under the loan, obtaining completion of necessary forms, obtaining necessary documentation, or verifying that the student is eligible for the loan. “(2) For purposes of this section, a loan is made or originated on the date of the first disbursement of any proceeds of the loan. “participation by federal credit unions in federal, state, and private student loan insurance programs “Sec. 434. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Federal credit unions shall, pursuant to regulations of the Director of the Bureau of Federal Credit Unions, have power to make insured loans to student members in accordance with the provisions of this part90 STAT. 2130relating to federally insured loans, or in accordance with the provisions of any State or nonprofit private student loan insurance program which meets the requirements of section 428 (a) (1) (C). “definitions for student loan insurance program “Sec. 435. As used in this part: “(a) The term ‘eligible institution’ means (1) an institution of higher education, (2) a vocational school, or (3) with respect to students who are nationals of the United States, an institution outside the United States which is comparable to an institution of higher education or to a vocational school and which has been approved by the Commissioner for purposes of this part, except that such term does not include any such institution or school which employs or uses commissioned salesmen to promote the availability of any loan program described in section 428(a) (1) at that institution or school. “(b) The term ‘institution of higher education’ means an educational institution in any State which (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, or who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance. (2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education, (3) provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a two-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution, and (5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association approved by the Commissioner for this purpose or, if not so accredited, (A) is an institution with respect to which the Commissioner has determined that there is satisfactory assurance, considering the resources available to the institution, the period of time, if any, chiring which it has operated, the effort, it is making to meet accreditation standards, and the purpose for which this determination is being made, that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time or, (B) is an institution whose credits are accepted on transfer by not less than three institutions which are so accredited, for credit on the same basis as if transferred from an institution so accredited. Such term includes any public or other nonprofit collegiate or associate degree school of nursing and any school which provides not less than a one-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation and which meets the provisions of clauses (1), (2), (4), and (5). If the Commissioner determines that a particular category of such schools does not meet the requirements of clause (5) because there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit schools in such category, he shall, pending the establishment of such an accrediting agency or association, appoint an advisory committee, composed of persons specially qualified to evaluate training provided by schools in such category, which shall (i) prescribe the standards of content, scope, and quality which must be met in order to qualify schools in such category to participate in the program pursuant to this part, and (ii) determine whether particular schools not meeting the requirements of clause (5) meet those standards. For purposes of this subsection the Commissioner shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations which he determines to he reliable authority as to the quality of training offered. 90 STAT. 2131 “(c) The term ‘vocational school’ means a business or trade school, or technical institution or other technical or vocational school, in any State, which (1) admits as regular students only persons who have completed or left elementary or secondary school and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered by such institution; (2) is legally authorized to provide, and provides within that State, a program of post-secondary vocational or technical education designed to fit individuals for useful employment in recognized occupations; (3) has been in existence for two years or has been specially accredited by the Commissioner as an institution meeting the other requirements of this subsection; and (4) is accredited (A) by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association listed by the Commissioner pursuant to this clause, (B) if the Commissioner determines that there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit schools of a particular category, by a State agency listed by the Commissioner pursuant to this clause, and (C) if the Commissioner determines there is no nationally recognized or State agency or association qualified to accredit schools of a particular category, by an advisory committee appointed by him and composed of persons specially qualified to evaluate training provided by schools of that category, which committee shall prescribe the standards of content, scope, and quality which must be met by those schools in order for loans to students attending them to be insurable under this part and shall also determine whether particular schools meet those standards. For the purpose of this subsection, the Commissioner shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations and State agencies which he determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of education or training afforded. “(d) The term ‘collegiate school of nursing’ means a department, division, or other administrative unit in a college or university which provides primarily or exclusively an accredited program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to the degree of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of nursing, or to an equivalent degree, or to a graduate degree in nursing. “(e) The term ‘associate degree school of nursing’ means a department, division, or other administrative unit in a junior college, community college, college, or university which provides primarily or exclusively an accredited two-year program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to an associate degree in nursing or to an equivalent degree. “(f) The term ‘accredited’ when applied to any program of nurse education means a program accredited by a recognized body or bodies approved for such purpose by the Commissioner of Education. “(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the term ‘eligible lender’ means— “(A) a National or State chartered bank, a mutual savings bank, a savings and loan association, or a credit union which— “(i) is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or of the State in which its principal place of operation is established, and “(ii) does not have as its primary consumer credit function the making or holding of loans made to students under this part unless it is a bank which is wholly owned by a State; “(B) a pension fund as defined in the Employees Retirement Income Security Act; “(C) an insurance company which is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or a State; 90 STAT. 2132 “(D) in any State, a single agency of the State or a single nonprofit private agency designated by the State; “(E) an eligible institution which meets the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection and which has signed an agreement pursuant to section 433;and “(F) for purposes only of purchasing and holding loans made by other lenders under this part, the Student Loan Marketing Association or an agency of any State functioning as a secondary market. “(2) To be an eligible lender under this part, an eligible institution— “(A) shall employ at least one person whose full-time responsibilities are limited to the administration of programs of financial aid for students attending such institution; and “(B) shall not be a home study school. “(3) The term eligible lender does not include any eligible institution in any fiscal year immediately after the fiscal year in which the Commissioner determines, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that for each of two consecutive years 15 per centum or more of the amount of the loan described in section 428(a)(1) made with respect to students at that institution and repayable in each such year is in default, as defined in section 430(e) (2). “(4) Whenever the Commissioner determines that— “(A) there is reasonable possibility that an eligible institution may, within one year after a determination is made under paragraph (3), improve the collection of loans described in section 428 (a)(1), so that the application of paragraph (3) would be a hardship to that institution, or “(B) the termination of the lender’s status under paragraph (3) would be a hardship to the present or for prospective students of the eligible institution, after considering the management of that institution, the ability of that institution to improve the collection of loans, the opportunities that institution offers to economically disadvantaged students, and other related factors, the Commissioner shall waive the provisions of paragraph (3) with respect to that institution. Any determination required under this paragraph shall he made by the Commissioner prior to the termination of an eligible institution as a lender under the exception of paragraph (3). Whenever the Commissioner grants a waiver pursuant to this paragraph he shall provide technical assistance to the institution concerned in order to improve the collection rate of such loans. “(h) The term dine of credit’ means an arrangement or agreement between the lender and the borrower whereby a loan is paid out by the lender to the borrower in annual installments, or whereby the lender agrees to make, in addition to the initial loan, additional loans in subsequent years. “(i) The term ‘due diligence’ requires the utilization by a lender, in the servicing and collection of loans insured under this part, of collection practices at least as extensive and forceful as those generally practiced by financial institutions for the collection of consumer loans. “district of columbia student loan insurance program “Sec. 436. (a) The government of the District of Columbia is authorized (1) to establish a student loan insurance program which meets the requirements of this part for a State loan insurance program in order to enter into agreements with the Commissioner for the purposes of this title, (2) to enter into such agreements with the Commis-90 STAT. 2133sioner, (3) to use amounts appropriated for the purposes of this section to establish a fund for such purposes and for expenses in connection therewith, and (4) to accept and use donations for the purposes of this section. “(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any applicable law, if the borrower, on any loan insured under the program established pursuant to this section, is a minor, any otherwise valid note or other written agreement executed by him for the purposes of such loan shall create a binding obligation. “(c) There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary for the purposes of this section. “repayment by the commissioner of loans of bankrupt, deceased, or disabled borrowers “Sec. 437. (a) If a student borrower who has received a loan described in clause (A), (B), or (C) of section 428(a)(1) dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled (as determined in accordance with regulations of the Commissioner), then the Commissioner shall discharge the borrower’s liability on the loan by repaying the amount owed on the loan. “(b) If a student borrower who has received a loan described in clause (A), (B), or (C) of section 428(a) (1) is relieved of his obligation to repay such loan, in whole or in part, through a discharge in bankruptcy, the Commissioner shall repay the amount of the loan so discharged. “special allowances “Sec. 438. (a) In order to assure (1) that the limitation on interest payments or other conditions (or both) on loans made or insured under this part, do not impede or threaten to impede the carrying out of the purposes of this part or do not cause the return to holders of loans to be less than equitable, (2) that incentive payments on such loans are paid promptly to eligible lenders, (3) that appropriate consideration of relative administrative costs and money market conditions is made in setting the quarterly rate of such payments, and (4) that participating lenders will have a better and more accurate way of assessing the rate of such payments for current and prospective quarters, the Congress finds it necessary to establish an improved method for the determination of the quarterly rate of the special allowance on such loans, and to provide for a thorough, expeditious and objective examination of alternative methods for the determination of the quarterly rate of such allowance. “(b) (1) A special allowance shall be paid for each of the three-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of every year and the amount of such allowance paid to any holder with respect to any three-month period shall be a percentage of the unpaid balance of disbursed principal (not including unearned interest added to principal) of ail eligible loans held by such holder during such period. “(2) (A) Subject, to subparagraphs (B) and (C) and paragraph (4), the special allowance paid pursuant to this subsection shall be computed (i) by determining the average of the bond equivalent rates of the ninety-one-day Treasury bills auctioned for such three-month period, (ii) by subtracting 3.5 per centum from such average, and (iii) by rounding the resultant per centum upward to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum. 90 STAT. 2134 “(B) Except as provided in paragraph (4), if the special allowance computed according to subparagraph (A) would (i) cause the special allowance for any twelve-month period during the period ending September 30, 1977, to exceed 3 per centum, the special allowance rate to be paid for such period shall be reduced to the highest one-eighth of 1 per centum rate interval which would not cause such excess, “(C) Except as provided in subparagraph (4), if the special allowance computed according to subparagraph (A) would (i) cause the special allowance for any twelve-month period after October 1, 1977, to exceed 5 per centum, the special allowance rate to be paid for such period shall be reduced to the highest one-eighth of 1 per centum rate which would not cause such excess. “(3) Subject to paragraph (4) the special allowance determined for any such three-month period shall be payable at such time, after the close of such period, as may be specified by or pursuant to regulations promulgated under (his section. The holder of a loan with respect to which any such allowance is to be paid shall be deemed to have a contractual right, as against the United States, to receive such allowance from the Commissioner. “(4) (A) If payment of the special allowance payable under this section or of interest payments under section 428(a) with respect to a loan have not been made within thirty days after the Commissioner has received an accurate, timely, and complete request for payment thereof, the special allowance payable to such holder shall be increased by an amount equal to the daily interest accruing on the special allowance and interest benefits payments due the holder. “(B) Such daily interest shall be computed at the daily equivalent rate of the special allowance rate computed pursuant to paragraph (3) plus 7 per centum and shall be paid for the later of (i) the thirty-first day after the receipt of such request for payment from the holder, or (ii) the thirty-first day after the, final day of the period or periods covered by such request, and shall be paid for each succeeding day until, and including, the date on which the Commissioner authorizes payment. “(C) For purposes of reporting to the Congress the amounts of special allowances paid under this section, amounts of special allowances paid pursuant to this subparagraph shall be segregated and reported separately. “(5) As used in this section, the term ‘eligible loan’ means a loan which is insured under this part, or made under a program covered by an agreement under section 428(b) of this Act. “(b) The Commissioner shall pay the holder of an eligible loan, at such time or times as are specified in regulations, a special allowance prescribed pursuant to subsection (a), subject to the condition that such holder shall submit to the Commissioner, at such time or times and in such manner as he may deem proper, such information as may be required by regulation for the purpose of enabling the Secretary and the Commissioner to carry out their functions under this section and to carry out the purposes of this section. “(c) The, Commissioner shall adopt or amend appropriate, regulations pertaining to programs carried on under this part to prevent, where practicable, any practices which he finds have denied loans to a substantial number of students. Regulations issued under section 2(a) (6) (B) (ii) of the Emergency Insured Student Loan Act of1969 shall remain in effect until superseded or amended under this subsection, but no payments shall be made under such Act after the effective date of this section. 90 STAT. 2135 “(d) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for special allowances authorized by this section. “(e) In order to assure (i) that the limitation on interest payments or other conditions (or both) on loans made or insured under this part, do not impede or threaten to impede the carrying out of the purposes of this part or do not cause the return to holders of loans to be less than equitable, (ii) that incentive payments on such loans are paid promptly to eligible lenders, (iii) that appropriate consideration of relative administrative costs and money market conditions is made in setting the quarterly rate of such payments, and (iv) that participating lenders will have a better and more accurate way of assessing the rate of such payments for current and prospective quarters, there is established a Committee on the Process of Determining Student Loan Special Allowances (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’). The Committee shall be composed of— “(1) the Commissioner of Education; “(2) the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; “(3) the Secretary of Treasury; “(4) a representative of State and nonprofit private institutions and organizations participating under an agreement under section 428(b); “(5) a student financial aid administrator of an eligible institution (as defined in section 435(g) (2)); “(6) a business officer of an eligible institution (as defined in section 435(g) (2)); “(7) a representative of participating eligible lenders other than one defined in section 435(g)(1) (E); “(8) a student at an eligible institution (as defined in section 435 g)(2)); and “(9) a representative of the Student Loan Marketing Association, designated by the Board of Directors of the Association. “(f) The Commissioner shall appoint the members of the Committee described in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of subsection (e) of this section, after consultation in the case of those members appointed under each such paragraph, with nationally-recognized organizations of such persons or agencies. “(g) (1) No later than October 1, 1977, the Committee shall prepare and submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report of their findings and recommendations for an improved method or methods for the determination of the quarterly rate of the special allowance paid under this Act which they believe will carry out the objectives set forth in subsection (a) of this section. “(2) The Committee shall make every effort to reach a unanimous decision with respect to the method for the determination of the quarterly rate of the special allowance established under this section. “(3) In developing the method for the determination of the quarterly rate of the special allowance under this section, the Committee shall consider— “(A) the experiences of students, and eligible lenders under the method prescribed in this section, and under the method in operation prior to the enactment of this section, “(B) the administrative costs of various types of eligible lenders under this part, “(C) relevant and widely available financial indicators which accurately reflect the costs of capital invested in programs under this part, or substitute financial indicators which equitably represent the cost of such capital, 90 STAT. 2136 “(D) an administrative mechanism necessary to produce a prompt and rapidly disseminated determination of the quarterly rate of the special allowance, in order to avoid delays in the determination and dissemination of that rate and in the actual payment of the special allowance to eligible lenders, and “(E) such other factors as the Committee considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. “(4) In carrying out its responsibilities under this section, the Committee shall be given the full cooperation and assistance of the official in the Office of Education directly responsible for the administration of this part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and such other appropriate officials of the Office of Education as the Committee deems appropriate. “(5) In order to assist the Committee to carry out its functions under this section, the Commissioner of Education is authorized to hire consultants, and to enter into contracts, and pay the costs of such contracts from funds regularly appropriated for the purpose of administering programs authorized by this part. “(6) The Commissioner of Education shall convene the first session of the Committee within sixty days after the date of enactment of the Education Amendments of 1976. The Chairman of the Committee shall be selected by those members who are not officials of the Federal Government from among themselves. “(7) The Committee is not authorized to employ permanent employees or to lease or obtain the use of permanent offices or to take, other steps to extend its period of service beyond the time necessary to complete its responsibilities under this section. “(8) The Committee shall cease to exist, ten days after the submission of the report prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection. “student loan marketing association “Sec. 439. (a) The Congress hereby declared that it is the purpose of this section (1) to establish a Government-sponsored private corporation which will be financed by private capital and which will serve as a secondary market and warehousing facility for insured student loans, insured’ by the Commissioner under this part or by a State or nonprofit private institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(b), and which will provide liquidity for student loan investments; and (2) in order to facilitate secured transactions involving insured student loans, to provide for perfection of security interests in insured student loans either through the taking of possession or by notice filing. “(b) (1) There is hereby created a body corporate to be known as the Student Loan Marketing Association (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Association’). The Association shall have succession until dissolved. It shall maintain its principal office in the District of Columbia and shall be deemed, for purposes of venue and jurisdiction in civil actions, to be a resident thereof. Offices may be established by the Association in such other place or places as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of its business. “(2) The Association, including its franchise, capital, reserves, surplus, mortgages, or other security holdings, and income shall lie exempt from all taxation now or hereafter imposed by any State, territory, possession, Commonwealth, or dependency of the United States, or by the District of Columbia, or by any county, municipality, or local taxing authority, except that any real property of the Associa-90 STAT. 2137tion shall be subject to State, territorial, county, municipal, or local taxation to the same extent according to its value as other real property is taxed. “(3) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare $5,000,000 for making advances for the purpose of helping to establish the Association. Such advances shall be repaid within such period as the Secretary may deem to be appropriate in light of the maturity and solvency of the Association. Such advances shall bear interest at a rate not less than (A) a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining period to maturity comparable to the maturity of such advances, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, plus (B) an allowance adequate in the judgment of the Secretary to cover administrative costs and probable losses. Repayments of such advances shall be deposited into miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. “(c) (1) The Association shall have a Board of Directors which shall consist of twenty-one persons, one of whom shall be designated Chairman by the President. “(2) An interim Board of Directors shall be appointed by the President, one of whom he shall designate as interim Chairman. The interim Board shall consist of twenty-one members, seven of whom shall be representative of banks or other financial institutions which are insured lenders pursuant to this section, seven of whom shall be representative of educational institutions, and seven of whom shall be representative of the general public. The interim Board shall arrange for an initial offering of common and preferred stocks and take what-ever other actions are necessary to proceed with the operations of the Association. “(3) When, in the judgment of the President, sufficient common stock of the Association has been purchased by educational institutions and banks or other financial institutions, the holders of common stock which are educational institutions shall elect seven members of the Board of Directors and the holders of common stock which are banks or other financial institutions shall elect seven members of the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint the remaining seven directors, who shall be representative of the general public. “(4) At the time the events described in paragraph (3) have occurred, the interim Board shall turn over the affairs of the Association to the regular Board so chosen or appointed. “(5) The directors appointed by the President shall serve at the pleasure of the President and until their successors have been appointed and have qualified. The remaining directors shall each be elected for a term ending on the date of the next, annual meeting of the common stockholders of the Association, and shall serve until their successors have been elected and have qualified. Any appointive seat on the Board which becomes vacant shall be filled by appointment of the President, Any elective seat on the Board which becomes vacant after the annual election of the directors shall be filled by the Board, but only for the unexpired portion of the term. “(6) The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of its Chairman, but at least semiannually. The Board shall determine the general policies which shall govern the operations of the Association. The Chairman of the Board shall, with the approval of the Board, select, appoint, and compensate qualified persona to fill the offices as may be provided for in the bylaws, with such executive functions, powers, and 90 STAT. 2138duties as may be prescribed by the bylaws or by the Board of Directors, and such persons shall be the executive officers of the Association and shall discharge all such executive functions, powers, and duties. “(d) (1) The Association is authorized, subject to the provisions of this section, pursuant to commitments or otherwise, to make advances on the security of, purchase, service, sell, or otherwise deal in, at prices and on terms and conditions determined by the Association, student loans which are insured by the Commission under this part or by a State or nonprofit private institution or organization with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(b). “(2) Any warehousing advance made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not exceed 80 per centum of the face amount on an insured loan. The proceeds from any such advance shall be invested in additional insured student loans. “(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any State law to the contrary, including the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any State, a security interest in insured student loans created on behalf of the Association or any eligible lender as defined in section 435(a) may be perfected either through the taking of possession of such loans or by the filing of notice of such security interest in such loans in the manner provided by said State law for perfection of security interests in accounts. “(e) The Association, pursuant to such criteria as the Board of Directors may prescribe, shall make advances on security or purchase student loans pursuant to subsection (d) only after the Association is assured that the lender (A) does not discriminate by pattern or practice against any particular class or category of students by requiring that, as a condition to the receipt of a loan, the student or his family maintain a business relationship with the lender, except that this clause shall not apply in the ease of a loan made by a credit union, savings and loan association, mutual savings bank, institution of higher education, or any other lender with less than $50,006,000 in deposits, and (B) does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, or national origin. “(f) (1) The Association shall have common stock having a par value of $100 per share which may be issued only to lenders under this part, pertaining to guaranteed student loans, who are qualified as insured lenders under this part or who are eligible institutions as defined in section 435(a) (other than an institution outside the United States), “(2) Each share of common stock shall be entitled to one vote with rights of cumulative voting at all elections of directors. Voting shall be by classes as described in subsection (c) (3). “(3) The common stock of the Association shall be transferable only as may be prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and, as to the Association, only on the books of the Association. The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall prescribe the maximum number of shares of common stock the Association may issue and have outstanding at any one time. “(4) To the extent that net income is earned and realized, subject to subsection (g) (2), dividends may be declared on common stock by the Board of Directors. Such dividends as may be declared by the Board shall be paid to the holders of outstanding shares of common stock, except that no such dividends shall be payable with respect to any share which has been called for redemption past the effective date of such call. 90 STAT. 2139 “(g) (1) The Association is authorized, with the approval of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to issue nonvoting preferred stock with a par value of $100 per share. Any preferred share issued shall he freely transferable, except that, as to the Association, it shall be transferred only on the books of the Association. “(2) The holders of the preferred shares shall he entitled to such rate of cumulative dividends and such shares shall be subject to such redemption or other conversion provisions as may be provided for at the time of issuance. No dividends shall be payable on any share of common stock at any time when any dividend is due on any share of preferred stock and has not been paid. “(3) Tn the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Association’s business, the holders of the preferred shares shall be paid in full at par value thereof, plus all accrued dividends, before the holders of the common shares receive any payment. “(h) (1) The Association is authorized with the approval of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of the Treasury to issue and have outstanding obligations having such maturities and bearing such rate or rates of interest as may be determined by the Association. Such obligations may be redeemable at the option of the Association before maturity in such manner as may be stipulated therein. “(2) The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is authorized, prior to July 1, 1982, to guarantee payment when due of principal and interest on obligations issued by the Association in an aggregate amount determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. “(3) To enable the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to discharge his responsibilities under guarantees issued by him, he is authorized to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations in such forms and denominations, bearing such maturities, and subject to such terms and conditions, as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such notes or other obligations shall bear interest, at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration tile current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities during the months preceding the issuance of the notes or other obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any notes and other obligations issued hereunder and for that purpose he is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as amended, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under that Act, as amended, are extended to include any purchase of such notes and obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury may at any time sell any of the notes or other obligations acquired by him under this subsection. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of such notes or other obligations shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare such sums as may be necessary to pay the principal and interest on the notes or obligations issued by him to the Secretary of the Treasury. “(i) The Association shall have power— “(1) to sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate name and through its own counsel; “(2) to adopt, alter, and use the corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed; 90 STAT. 2140 “(3) to adopt, amend, and repeal by its Board of Directors, bylaws, rules, and regulations as may be necessary for the conduct of its business; “(4) to conduct its business, carry on its operations, and have officers and exercise the power granted by this section in any State without regard to any qualification or similar statute in any State; “(5) to lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use, or otherwise deal bi and with any property, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein, wherever situated; “(6) to accept gifts or donations of services, or of property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, in aid of any of the purposes of the Association; “(7) to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, and otherwise dispose of its property and assets; “(8) to appoint such officers, attorneys, employees, and agents as may be required, to determine their qualifications, to define their duties, to fix their salaries, require bonds for them and fix tile penalty thereof; and “(9) to enter into contracts, to execute instruments, to incur liabilities, and to do all things as are necessary or incidental to the proper management of its affairs and the proper conduct of its business. “(j) The accounts of the Association shall be audited annually. Such audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by independent certified public accountants or by independent licensed public accountants, licensed on or before December 31, 1970, who are certified or licensed by a regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of the United States, except that independent public accountants licensed to practice by such regulatory authority after December 31, 1970, and persons who, although not so certified or licensed, meet, in the opinion of the Secretary, standards of education and experience representative of the highest standards prescribed by the licensing authorities of the several States which provide for the continuing licensing of public accountants and which are prescribed by the Secretary in appropriate regulations may perform such audits until December 31, 1975. A report of each such audit shall be furnished to the Secretary of the Treasury. The audit shall be conducted at the place or places where the accounts are normally kept. The representatives of the Secretary shall have access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Association and necessary to facilitate the audit, and they shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositaries, fiscal agents, and custodians. “(k) A report of each such audit for a fiscal year shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury to the President and to the Congress not later than six months following the close of such fiscal year. The report shall set forth the scope of the audit, and shall include a statement (showing intercorporate relations) of assets and liabilities, capital and surplus or deficit; a statement of surplus or deficit analysis; a statement of income and expense; a statement of sources and application of funds; and such comments and information as may be deemed necessary to keep the President and the Congress informed of the operations and financial condition of the Association, together with such recommendations with respect thereto as the Secretary may deem advisable, including a report of any impairment of capital or lack of 90 STAT. 2141sufficient capital noted in the audit. A copy of each report shall be furnished to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and to the Association. “(l) All obligations issued by the Association shall be lawful investments, and may be accepted as security for all fiduciary, trust, and public funds, the investment or deposit of which shall be under authority or control of the United States or of any officer or officers thereof. All stock and obligations issued by the Association pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be exempt securities within the meaning of laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, to the same extent as securities which are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. The Association shall, for the purposes of section 14(b) (2) of the Federal Reserve Act, be deemed to be an agency of the United States. “(m) In order to furnish obligations for delivery by the Association, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to prepare such obligations in such form as the Board of Directors may approve, such obligations when prepared to lie held in the Treasury subject to delivery upon order by the Association. The engraved plates, dies, bed pieces, and so forth, executed in connection therewith shall remain in the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury. The Association shall reimburse the Secretary of the Treasury for any expenditures made in the preparation, custody, and delivery of such obligations. “(n) The Association shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, transmit to the President and the Congress a report of its operations and activities during each year, “five-year nondischargeability of certain loan debts “Sec. 439A. (a) A debt which is a loan insured or guaranteed under the, authority of this part, may be released by a discharge in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Act only if such discharge is granted after the five-year period (exclusive of any applicable suspension of the repayment period) beginning on the date of commencement of the repayment period of such loan, except that prior to the expiration of that five-year period, such loan may be released only if the court in which the proceeding is pending determines that payment from future income or other wealth will impose an undue hardship on the debtor or his dependents. “(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall be effective with respect to any proceedings begun under the Bankruptcy Act on or after September 30, 1977. “criminal penalties “Sec. 440. (a) Any person who knowingly and willfully embezzles, misapplies, steals, or obtains by fraud, false statement, or forgery any funds, assets or property provided or insured under this part shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both; but if the amount so embezzled, misapplied, stolen or obtained by fraud, false statement, or forgery does not exceed $200, the fine shall be not more than $1,000 and imprisonment shall not exceed one year, or both. “(h) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any false statement, furnishes any false information, or conceals any material information in connection with an application for a finding by the Commissioner under section 435(b) (4) (A) or (B), for the purpose of 90 STAT. 2142qualifying an educational institution as an eligible institution under this part shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. “(c) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes any false statement to, furnishes any false information to, or conceals any material information in connection with the assignment of a loan, which is insured under this part, to another eligible lender, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. “(d) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes an unlawful payment to an eligible lender as an inducement to make, or to acquire by assignment, a loan insured under this part shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. “(e) Any person who knowingly and willfully destroys any application for a loan which is insured under this part, any application for insurance of a loan under this part, or destroys or conceals any other record relating to the making or insuring of loans under this part with intent to defraud the United States or to prevent the United States from enforcing any right obtained by subrogation under this part, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $10,00(1 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”. (b) The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section of this Act shall become effective October 1, 1976, except as otherwise provided therein, and to the extent such amendment makes changes in such part B which affect student loans, such changes shall apply to outstanding loans as well as to loans made after the amendment becomes effective, except that— (1) the changes made in sections 425(a), 427(a)(1)(C), 427 (a) (2) (G) and 428(b) (1) (A), (B),and (P) shall become applicable with respect to loans to cover the costs of education for periods of enrollments beginning on or after October 1, 1976; (2) section 422(c) shall become effective October 1, 1977; (3) section 428(f) shall become effective October 1, 1976; (4) the changes made in section 428(a) (2) shall become applicable with respect to the determination of interest subsidies on loans to cover the costs of education for periods of enrollment beginning on or after 36 days after the date of enactment of this Act; (5) the new section 433 shall become effective with respect to loans made to cover the costs of education for periods of enrollment beginning on or after October 1, 1976; (6) the changes in section 428(c) with respect to the amount of Federal guarantee payments shall become effective with respect to payments to reimburse States and nonprofit private institutions and organizations with which the Commissioner has an agreement under section 428(c) of such part which are made on or after October 1, 1976; and (7) section 438, shall become effective with respect to fiscal quarters beginning after December 31, 1976. (c) (1) Section 2(a)(7) of the Emergency Insured Student Loan Act of 1969 is amended by striking out “October 1, 1976” and inserting in lieu thereof “January 1, 1977.” (2) Effective October 1, 1977, the Emergency Insured Student Loan Act of 1969 is repealed.