Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB351 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R822 JRJ-D
2	2	By: Dutton H.B. No. 351
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to an exemption from or refund of tuition and fees for
8	8	lower-division students enrolled in a general academic teaching
9	9	institution who maintain a high grade-point average.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
12	12	amended by adding Section 54.220 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 54.220. EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENT LOWER-DIVISION
14	14	STUDENTS AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS FOR MAINTAINING
15	15	HIGH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. (a) In this section, "general academic
16	16	teaching institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
17	17	(b) An entering freshman student enrolled in a general
18	18	academic teaching institution is entitled to a refund of the
19	19	tuition and required fees paid by the student under this chapter for
20	20	the first semester or term for which the student enrolls at that
21	21	institution if the student:
22	22	(1) graduated from a private high school, including a
23	23	home school, or a public high school in this state;
24	24	(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
25	25	B; and
26	26	(3) for all courses attempted that initial semester or
27	27	term earns a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
28	28	scale or the equivalent.
29	29	(c) To receive a refund under Subsection (b), the student
30	30	must apply to the institution for the refund in the manner required
31	31	by the institution not later than the first anniversary of the last
32	32	class day of the semester or term.
33	33	(d) A student enrolled in a general academic teaching
34	34	institution is exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees
35	35	authorized by this chapter for a semester or term of the student's
36	36	first two academic years, other than a semester or term covered by
37	37	Subsection (b), at that institution if the student:
38	38	(1) graduated from a private high school, including a
39	39	home school, or a public high school in this state;
40	40	(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
41	41	B; and
42	42	(3) maintains an overall grade-point average of at
43	43	least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all prior
44	44	coursework attempted at the institution.
45	45	(e) A student receiving an exemption under this section for
46	46	one or more semesters or terms may not enroll for the student's
47	47	third academic year at the institution until the student passes an
48	48	examination to be selected and administered by the institution.
49	49	(f) An institution to which this section applies shall fund
50	50	tuition and fee refunds and exemptions under this section from
51	51	available institutional funds or from available local funds or
52	52	other amounts appropriated to the institution, without regard to
53	53	whether those appropriations are specifically designated for this
54	54	purpose.
55	55	(g) A person may not receive a refund or exemption under
56	56	this section for a semester or term that begins after the 2028-2029
57	57	academic year. This section expires September 1, 2030.
58	58	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
59	59	charged for the 2009 fall semester.
60	60	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
61	61	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
62	62	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
63	63	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
64	64	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.