2018 US Code
Title 20 - Education
Chapter 28 - Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance
Subchapter IV - Student Assistance
Part G - General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs
Sec. 1091a - Statute of limitations, and State court judgments

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Citation 20 U.S.C. § 1091a (2018)
Section Name §1091a. Statute of limitations, and State court judgments
Section Text (a) In general

(1) It is the purpose of this subsection to ensure that obligations to repay loans and grant overpayments are enforced without regard to any Federal or State statutory, regulatory, or administrative limitation on the period within which debts may be enforced.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of statute, regulation, or administrative limitation, no limitation shall terminate the period within which suit may be filed, a judgment may be enforced, or an offset, garnishment, or other action initiated or taken by—

(A) an institution that receives funds under this subchapter that is seeking to collect a refund due from a student on a grant made, or work assistance awarded, under this subchapter;

(B) a guaranty agency that has an agreement with the Secretary under section 1078(c) of this title that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part B of this subchapter after such guaranty agency reimburses the previous holder of the loan for its loss on account of the default of the borrower;

(C) an institution that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 1087c or 1087cc(a) of this title that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part D or E of this subchapter after the default of the borrower on such loan; or

(D) the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the administrative head of another Federal agency, as the case may be, for payment of a refund due from a student on a grant made under this subchapter, or for the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under this subchapter that has been assigned to the Secretary under this subchapter.

(b) Assessment of costs and other charges

Notwithstanding any provision of State law to the contrary—

(1) a borrower who has defaulted on a loan made under this subchapter shall be required to pay, in addition to other charges specified in this subchapter reasonable collection costs;

(2) in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part B of this subchapter, a guaranty agency or the Secretary shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy; and

(3) in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part E, an institution of higher education that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 1087cc(a) of this title shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy.

(c) State court judgments

A judgment of a State court for the recovery of money provided as grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter that has been assigned or transferred to the Secretary under this subchapter may be registered in any district court of the United States by filing a certified copy of the judgment and a copy of the assignment or transfer. A judgment so registered shall have the same force and effect, and may be enforced in the same manner, as a judgment of the district court of the district in which the judgment is registered.

(d) Special rule

This section shall not apply in the case of a student who is deceased, or to a deceased student's estate or the estate of such student's family. If a student is deceased, then the student's estate or the estate of the student's family shall not be required to repay any financial assistance under this subchapter, including interest paid on the student's behalf, collection costs, or other charges specified in this subchapter.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, §484A, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, §407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1482; amended Pub. L. 102–26, §3(a), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, §484, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1737; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, §486, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3290.)

Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior section 1091a, Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, §484A, as added Pub. L. 99–272, title XVI, §16033, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 355, related to statute of limitations, collection costs, and defense of infancy, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 99–498.

Another prior section 1091a, Pub. L. 89–329, title V, §502, as added Pub. L. 90–35, §2(c), June 29, 1967, 81 Stat. 82; amended Pub. L. 91–230, title IV, §401(h)(4), title VIII, §802, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 174, 190; Pub. L. 92–318, title I, §141(c)(1)(A), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 285, established the National Advisory Council on Education Professions Development and set forth functions, composition, etc., of the Council, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–482, title I, §151(a)(2), (b), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2151, effective Sept. 30, 1976.

AMENDMENTS

2008—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 110–315, §486(1), added par. (3).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–315, §486(2), added subsec. (d).

1998—Pub. L. 105–244, §484(1), inserted ", and State court judgments" after "limitations" in section catchline.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–244, §484(2), added subsec. (c).

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–26 amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting provisions eliminating statute of limitations for student loan collections for provisions establishing six year limitations period for collection of such loans.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1991 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 102–26, §3(c), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 125, as amended by Pub. L. 102–325, title XV, §1551, July 23, 1992, 105 Stat. 838, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall be effective as if enacted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–272), and shall apply to any actions pending on or after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991 [Apr. 9, 1991]."

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 20 - EDUCATION
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 20 - EDUCATION
CHAPTER 28 - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE
SUBCHAPTER IV - STUDENT ASSISTANCE
Part G - General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs
Sec. 1091a - Statute of limitations, and State court judgments
Contains section 1091a
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 81 Stat. 82
84 Stat. 174
86 Stat. 285
90 Stat. 2151
100 Stat. 1482, 355
105 Stat. 124, 125, 838
112 Stat. 1737
122 Stat. 3290
Public Law References Public Law 89-329, Public Law 90-35, Public Law 91-230, Public Law 92-318, Public Law 94-482, Public Law 99-272, Public Law 99-498, Public Law 102-26, Public Law 102-325, Public Law 105-244, Public Law 110-315
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