81R1226 KEL-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 31
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition rebates for students who complete certain
coursework at two-year 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 54.0066 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.0066. TUITION REBATES FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING
CERTAIN COURSEWORK AT TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "General academic teaching institution," "public
junior college," "public state college," and "public technical
institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) The coordinating board shall establish a program under
which an eligible student is entitled to receive a rebate of a
portion of the tuition paid to a general academic teaching
institution by the student during the student's enrollment at that
institution.
(c) A student is eligible to receive a tuition rebate under
this section if the student:
(1) is a resident of this state;
(2) enrolls at a public junior college, public state
college, or public technical institute not later than the first
fall semester following the student's graduation from high school;
(3) subject to Subsection (i), successfully completes
the core curriculum at or receives an associate degree from a public
junior college, public state college, or public technical institute
before the third fall semester following the student's graduation
from high school, regardless of whether the student:
(A) remains continuously enrolled at the same
college or institute during that period; or
(B) completes through concurrent enrollment any
portion of the coursework required to complete the core curriculum
or to receive an associate degree;
(4) after completing the core curriculum or receiving
an associate degree as described by Subdivision (3), enrolls at a
general academic teaching institution not later than the third fall
semester following the student's graduation from high school;
(5) successfully completes one or more courses in the
semester or other academic term for which the student receives the
rebate;
(6) meets financial need requirements prescribed by
coordinating board rule; and
(7) complies with any additional eligibility
requirements prescribed by coordinating board rule.
(d) Except as provided by Subsections (e) and (f), the
amount of the tuition rebate for each semester or other academic
term in which the student is enrolled at the general academic
teaching institution is:
(1) $1,000 for a student who received an associate
degree; and
(2) $500 for a student who completed the core
curriculum without receiving an associate degree.
(e) If for a semester or other academic term a student pays
to a general academic teaching institution an amount of tuition
that is less than the amount of a rebate otherwise required by this
section for that semester or other term, the amount of the rebate is
equal to the amount of tuition paid by the student.
(f) The amount of a rebate under this section for a semester
or other academic term may not exceed the amount of tuition paid by
the student for courses the student enrolls in and successfully
completes in that semester or other term.
(g) Except as provided by Subsection (m), a student is not
eligible for a tuition rebate under this section for a semester or
other academic term that begins after the second anniversary of the
date the student first enrolled at the general academic teaching
institution.
(h) As soon as practicable after the applicable semester or
other term, the general academic teaching institution shall refund
to the student the amount of the tuition rebate to which the student
is entitled. The student may direct that the rebate be applied to
any other charges owed to the institution by the student,
including:
(1) an outstanding student loan; and
(2) tuition and fee charges for a subsequent semester
or other term.
(i) A student who after enrollment at a general academic
teaching institution is eligible under this section to receive a
tuition rebate based only on the student's completion of the core
curriculum and who subsequently transfers credits to a public
junior college, public state college, or public technical institute
to earn an associate degree is eligible, for each semester or other
term beginning after the associate degree is received, to receive
from the general academic teaching institution a tuition rebate in
the amount provided by this section for a student who received an
associate degree before enrolling at a general academic teaching
institution.
(j) A general academic teaching institution is entitled to
reimbursement for the cost of providing a tuition rebate to an
eligible student under this section. The coordinating board shall
reimburse the institution in the appropriate amount from
appropriations available for that purpose.
(k) At the beginning of each school year, each public high
school in this state shall provide information regarding the
requirements of the program under this section to each senior
student enrolled at the high school and to a parent, conservator, or
guardian of the student. Each public junior college, public state
college, or public technical institute shall notify each entering
undergraduate student of the program requirements not later than
the sixth week of the student's first semester or term.
(l) The Texas Education Agency and the coordinating board
jointly shall prepare a publication that includes the information
required to be provided under Subsection (k) and shall post that
publication on the website of each in a form that enables a public
high school, public junior college, public state college, or public
technical institute to reproduce the information for distribution
to students, parents, and other persons as required by this
section.
(m) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to administer
this section, including rules requiring an eligible student to
apply for a tuition rebate under this section and to provide the
information required to verify the student's eligibility. The
rules must provide procedures by which an otherwise eligible
student may be granted additional time to receive tuition rebates
under this section if the student shows hardship or other good cause
that prevented the student from successfully completing the core
curriculum or receiving an associate degree, earning the tuition
rebates, or enrolling in an institution within the applicable
period prescribed by this section. For purposes of this
subsection, hardship or other good cause includes:
(1) a severe illness or other debilitating condition;
(2) responsibility for the care of a sick or injured
person or person otherwise in need of assistance; or
(3) active duty or other service in the United States
armed forces.
(n) A student who receives one or more rebates under this
section is not eligible to receive a rebate under Section 54.0065.
(o) A student may not receive a tuition rebate under this
section for a semester or term before the 2011 fall semester, and
may not establish eligibility for a rebate based in any part on
higher education coursework completed before the 2009 fall
semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules for the administration of Section 54.0066, Education
Code, as added by this Act. The coordinating board may adopt the
initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
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.