By: Turner of Tarrant, Leibowitz, Moody H.B. No. 3951
(Senate Sponsor - Davis)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2009;
May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 13, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 13, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to
designate or employ a person trained in student financial
assistance programs for military veterans and their families.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.006. EMPLOYEE TRAINED IN STUDENT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES. (a) Each
institution of higher education shall ensure that one or more
persons employed by the institution is trained:
(1) in understanding state and federal student
financial assistance programs available to military veterans or
their family members, especially programs specifically applicable
to military veterans or their family members; and
(2) in assisting military veterans and eligible family
members in understanding and obtaining the benefits available under
those programs.
(b) A person described by Subsection (a) must be available
to assist persons as described by Subsection (a)(2) during regular
business hours at the financial aid or other office to which the
person is assigned.
(c) The legislature shall ensure that each institution
receives adequate funding to cover the additional costs
attributable to the requirements of this section and may
appropriate money for that purpose.
SECTION 2. A public institution of higher education shall
comply with Section 56.006, Education Code, as added by this Act,
concerning employment of a person to provide student financial
assistance for military veterans and their families not later than
January 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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