Katie Meyer's Adviser Access on Campus

Full Title:
Katie Meyer’s Law

Summary#

This bill, called "Katie Meyer's Law," would require colleges and universities that get certain federal funds to adopt a policy offering students an adviser when they are notified of an alleged violation of the institution’s code of conduct. It also adds incidents of suicide reported to campus security or local police to the list of things that must be included in campus crime statistics disclosures. The broad goal is to give accused students access to advisers during campus disciplinary processes and to expand reporting on campus suicides.

  • Main change: Schools must let a student choose an outside adviser or request an independent adviser provided by the school when the student is notified of an alleged conduct violation.
  • Who may provide independent advisers: a confidential respondent services coordinator, a student-based peer support program, or an alumni-based support program under agreement with the school.
  • Adviser duties and limits: Advisers (outside or provided) must be trained by the school on the school’s adjudication procedures, may receive bi-weekly updates with the student’s written permission, and may participate as an advocate or as allowed by state law and Title IX.
  • Reporting change: Campus crime statistics must include incidents of suicide that were reported to campus security authorities or local police.

What it means for you#

  • Students notified of an alleged violation

    • You would be given the option to pick an outside adviser or ask the school to provide an independent adviser.
    • If you choose an adviser, the adviser must be trained on the school’s procedures.
    • With your written permission, the adviser can get bi-weekly updates during the adjudication process and can act as your advocate (within limits set by state law and Title IX).

  • Students who might serve as peer advisers

    • Peer support programs could be used by schools to provide advisers under agreement with the institution.

  • Institutions of higher education

    • To keep eligibility for certain federal funds, your school must adopt a written policy that offers this adviser option and sets rules to meet the bill’s requirements.
    • Your school must set up training for advisers, track adviser permissions, and establish agreements with peer or alumni programs or hire/assign a confidential respondent services coordinator if it chooses to provide advisers.
    • Your school must add suicides reported to campus security or local police to the campus crime disclosures it already provides.

  • Advisers (outside or provided)

    • Must receive training from the school on that school’s adjudication procedures.
    • Can receive updates only if the student gives written permission.
    • May participate in proceedings either as an advocate or in whatever role state law and Title IX allow.

Expenses#

The bill may increase administrative costs, but no estimate is available.

  • Training costs for advisers and staff who coordinate adviser services.
  • Possible staffing costs for a confidential respondent services coordinator or costs to set up agreements with peer and alumni programs.
  • Time and systems needed to provide bi-weekly updates and to track written permissions and adviser participation.
  • Additional reporting and record-keeping to include suicide incidents in campus crime statistics.
  • Potential legal or compliance costs if schools adjust adjudication procedures to accommodate adviser participation or to align with state law and Title IX.

(No fiscal note or cost estimate is included in the provided material.)

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to ensure students facing campus disciplinary allegations have access to help and representation during adjudication.
  • Supporters may argue this could make campus proceedings fairer by allowing students to be advised and to have an advocate who understands the process.
  • The bill would allow schools to offer advisers in several ways (confidential coordinator, student peer programs, alumni programs), which could increase access without requiring students to hire private lawyers.
  • Adding reported suicides to campus crime disclosures appears aimed at improving transparency about serious incidents on campus.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is added administrative and financial burden on colleges and universities to create policies, train advisers, run coordinator programs, and keep new records.
  • The bill does not set clear, uniform standards for adviser training or qualifications, so adviser quality and independence could vary between schools.
  • It is unclear how adviser participation will work in practice where state law or Title IX limits roles; this could create inconsistent rights across states and campuses.
  • Requiring bi-weekly updates from schools to advisers (even with written permission) may raise privacy or logistical questions about what can be shared and how to protect sensitive information.
  • Including reported suicides in crime statistics could raise questions about classification, reporting thresholds, and the potential for misleading comparisons; the bill does not define reporting standards for those incidents.

What is unclear: The bill does not specify training standards, minimum qualifications for advisers, who pays for adviser programs, or detailed procedures for balancing adviser participation with existing Title IX or state law limits.