81R907 CAS-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 929
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to rebates of tuition paid by certain freshman students
who maintain satisfactory grades at public institutions of higher
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.0061 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.0061. TEXAS FIRST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: TUITION
REBATES FOR RESIDENT FRESHMAN STUDENTS MAINTAINING SATISFACTORY
GRADES. (a) In this section, "coordinating board" means the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(b) A student who enrolls as a first-time freshman at an
institution of higher education and who completes the first two
semesters or summer terms for which the student is enrolled at an
institution of higher education is entitled to a rebate of the
tuition paid by the student under this chapter for those semesters
or terms if the student:
(1) graduated from:
(A) a public high school in this state;
(B) a private high school in this state,
including a home school; or
(C) a high school operated by the United States
Department of Defense;
(2) is a resident of this state for purposes of this
title or is entitled under Section 54.058 to pay tuition at the rate
charged to residents of this state;
(3) in each of those semesters or terms completes a
full course load for a student in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program;
(4) earns a cumulative grade point average of at least
2.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all courses
attempted during those semesters or terms; and
(5) meets other eligibility requirements, including
financial need requirements, that are established by coordinating
board rule and are substantially similar to the eligibility
requirements for receiving a federal Pell grant.
(c) To receive a rebate under Subsection (b), not later than
the first anniversary of the last class day of the second semester
or term for which the rebate is sought, the student must apply to
the institution of higher education to which the student paid the
tuition, in the manner required by the institution. A student who
attended different institutions for each of those semesters or
terms must apply separately to each institution.
(d) An institution of higher education shall pay costs of
rebates under this section using appropriated money available for
the purpose. For the purposes of this section, the institution also
may solicit, receive, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from
any public or private source.
(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section, including rules establishing:
(1) the requirements for completing a full course load
for purposes of Subsection (b)(3); and
(2) additional eligibility requirements in accordance
with Subsection (b)(5).
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
may adopt initial rules under Section 54.0061, Education Code, as
added by this Act, in the manner provided by law for emergency
rules.
SECTION 3. Section 54.0061, Education Code, as added by
this Act, does not apply to a student who first enrolled in an
institution of higher education before the 2009 fall semester.
SECTION 4. 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.