Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1765 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R8740 KEL-D
2	2	By: Watson S.B. No. 1765
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to financial assistance funded from the amounts of certain
8	8	fees charged to students enrolled at public institutions of higher
9	9	education.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
12	12	amended to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER B. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDED
14	14	FROM DESIGNATED TUITION AND STUDENT FEES
15	15	Sec. 56.0105. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "student
16	16	fee" means a fee authorized by Section 54.504 or a fee or other
17	17	charge authorized by Section 55.16(a). The term does not include an
18	18	application fee or a fee for participation in a study abroad program
19	19	or a field trip or other organized off-campus activity.
20	20	Sec. 56.011. RESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE.
21	21	(a) The governing board of each institution of higher education
22	22	shall cause to be set aside not less than 20 percent of the total
23	23	amount of:
24	24	(1) any amount of tuition charged to a resident
25	25	undergraduate student under Section 54.0513 in excess of $46 per
26	26	semester credit hour;
27	27	(2) any student fee first imposed in the 2009 fall
28	28	semester or a subsequent semester or term; and
29	29	(3) any student fee increase that takes effect in the
30	30	2009 fall semester or a subsequent semester or term.
31	31	(b) The funds set aside under this section by an institution
32	32	shall be used to provide financial assistance for resident
33	33	undergraduate students enrolled in the institution.
34	34	(c) [(b)] To be eligible for assistance under this section,
35	35	a student must establish financial need in accordance with rules
36	36	and procedures established by the Texas Higher Education
37	37	Coordinating Board. Priority shall be given to students who meet
38	38	the coordinating board definition of financial need and whose cost
39	39	for tuition and required fees is not met through other non-loan
40	40	financial assistance programs.
41	41	(d) [(c)] The financial assistance provided under this
42	42	section:
43	43	(1) may include grants, scholarships, or work-study
44	44	programs; and
45	45	(2) may not include[,] student loans or[, and] student
46	46	loan repayment assistance.
47	47	Sec. 56.012. RESIDENT GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE. (a)
48	48	The governing board of each institution of higher education shall
49	49	cause to be set aside not less than 15 percent of the total amount
50	50	of:
51	51	(1) any amount of tuition charged to a resident
52	52	student enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program under
53	53	Section 54.0513 in excess of $46 per semester credit hour;
54	54	(2) any student fee first imposed in the 2009 fall
55	55	semester or a subsequent semester or term; and
56	56	(3) any student fee increase that takes effect in the
57	57	2009 fall semester or a subsequent semester or term.
58	58	(b) The funds set aside under this section by an institution
59	59	shall be used to provide financial assistance for resident students
60	60	enrolled in graduate and professional degree programs at the
61	61	institution.
62	62	(c) [(b)] To be eligible for assistance under this section,
63	63	a student must establish financial need in accordance with rules
64	64	and procedures established by the Texas Higher Education
65	65	Coordinating Board. Priority shall be given to students who meet
66	66	the coordinating board definition of financial need and whose cost
67	67	for tuition and required fees is not met through other non-loan
68	68	financial assistance programs.
69	69	(d) [(c)] The financial assistance provided under this
70	70	section:
71	71	(1) may include grants, scholarships, or work-study
72	72	programs; and
73	73	(2) may not include[,] student loans or[, and] student
74	74	loan repayment assistance.
75	75	Sec. 56.013. INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
76	76	FUNDED FROM DESIGNATED TUITION AND STUDENT FEES. The Texas Higher
77	77	Education Coordinating Board shall disseminate to each public or
78	78	accredited private high school in this state information regarding
79	79	the financial assistance available under this subchapter and shall
80	80	include information designed to educate high school students and
81	81	the parents of those students on available opportunities and
82	82	required preparation with respect to institutions of higher
83	83	education. The coordinating board shall recommend a method of
84	84	delivery of the information to parents and students under this
85	85	section.
86	86	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to
87	87	student fees and charges charged beginning with the 2009 fall
88	88	semester.
89	89	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
90	90	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
91	91	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
92	92	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
93	93	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.