January 12, 2026
Ms. Leger Fernandez (for herself, Mrs. McBath, and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prevent certain alcohol and substance misuse.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Alcohol and substance misuse prevention
Section 120 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011i) is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by striking Drug and alcohol abuse prevention
and inserting Alcohol and substance misuse
;
(2)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees that,
and inserting an evidence-based or evidence-informed program to prevent alcohol and substance misuse by students and employees that,
;
(B)
in paragraph (1)(C), by striking the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol
and inserting alcohol and substance misuse
;
(C)
by amending paragraph (1)(D) to read as follows:
(D)
a description of any alcohol or substance misuse counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, reentry, or recovery support programs provided by the institution (including in partnership with a community-based organization) that are available to employees or students; and;
(D)
in paragraph (1)(E), by striking that the institution will impose
and inserting of the policies of the institution regarding
; and
(E)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting , overdoses,
after violations
;
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking and
at the end and inserting or
; and
(iii)
in subparagraph (C), by inserting , overdoses,
after violations
;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by striking and
at the end of subparagraph (A);
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
assistance to institutions to comply with the requirements of this section.;
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) Interagency agreement
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an interagency agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to—
(A)
develop best practices that inform criteria which satisfy the requirement under subsection (a) that an institution of higher education has adopted and has implemented an evidence-based or evidence-informed program described in such subsection;
(B)
establish a process for disseminating the best practices for adopting and implementing such an evidence-based or evidence-informed program; and
(C)
establish a process that promotes coordination and collaboration between institutions of higher education and the respective State agencies that administer the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants pursuant to subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–21).
(3) Guidance
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, issue guidance with respect to the criteria described in paragraph (2)(A).; and
(4)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
in the subsection heading, by striking drug abuse
in the heading and inserting substance misuse
;
(B)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by striking , and enter into contracts with such institutions, consortia, and
and or contracts
;
(ii)
by striking other organizations
and inserting community-based organizations that partner with institutions of higher education, including with a collegiate recovery program of an institution,
;
(iii)
by striking programs of prevention, and education (including treatment-referral) to reduce and eliminate the illegal use of drugs and alcohol and the violence associated with such use
and inserting evidence-based or evidence-informed programs of alcohol and substance misuse prevention and education (including programs to improve access to treatment, recovery support services, referral for treatment services, or crisis intervention services) to eliminate illegal substance use, decrease substance misuse, and improve public health and safety
; and
(iv)
by striking alcohol and drug abuse
and inserting substance use disorder
;
(C)
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively;
(D)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) Additional uses
In addition to the activities described in paragraph (1), a grant or contract awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out one or more of the following evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or activities:
(A)
Providing programs for recovery support services, peer support services, and counseling for students with a substance use disorder.
(B)
Promoting integration and collaboration in campus-based health services between primary care, substance use disorder services, and mental health services.
(C)
Promoting integrated care services for students related to screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.
(D)
Providing re-entry assistance for students on academic probation due to their substance use disorder.
(E)
Preventing fatal and nonfatal overdoses, including restoring existing mental health and substance use disorder services after a natural disaster or public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
(F)
Providing education to students, faculty, or other personnel on—
(i)
recognizing the signs and symptoms of substance use disorder and how to engage and support a person in a crisis;
(ii)
resources available in the community, within the institution of higher education, and other relevant resources for individuals with a substance use disorder; and
(iii)
safely de-escalating crises involving individuals with a substance use disorder.;
(E)
in paragraph (3), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking and contracts
;
(F)
in paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking or contract
;
(G)
in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking and contracts
each place it appears; and
(H)
by amending paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), to read as follows:
(6) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
Sec. 3. Program participation agreements
Section 487(a)(10) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(10)) is amended to read as follows:
(10)
(A)
The institution certifies that it has in operation an alcohol and substance misuse prevention program in accordance with section 120 that is determined by the institution to be accessible to any officer, employee, or student at the institution.
(B)
The institution shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (A) unless there is a showing that the institution knowingly and willfully did not implement a prevention program described in such subparagraph.
Sec. 4. Report
The Secretary of Education shall report to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the efforts of the Secretary carried out under the amendments made by this Act, and best practices from institutions receiving a grant under section 120(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011i(e)), as amended by section 2 of this Act—
(1)
not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2)
three years after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 5. Applicability
The amendments made by paragraph (2) of section 2 and the amendments made by section 3 shall apply to institutions of higher education beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.