By: Zaffirini, Ogden S.B. No. 31
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to financial assistance 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. Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter Z to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER Z. OTHER STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Sec. 56.901. GRANTS 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 financial
assistance in the form of a grant to be applied toward the payment
of tuition and fees at a general academic teaching institution.
(c) A student is eligible to receive a grant under this
section if the student:
(1) is a resident of this state;
(2) graduates from a public or accredited private high
school in this state;
(3) 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;
(4) before the third fall semester following the
student's graduation from high school, and with a cumulative grade
point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent, completes the core curriculum at or receives an
associate degree from a public junior college, public state
college, or public technical institute, 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;
(5) after completing the core curriculum or receiving
an associate degree as described by Subdivision (4), enrolls at a
general academic teaching institution not later than the third fall
semester following the student's graduation from high school;
(6) maintains a cumulative grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent while enrolled at
a general academic teaching institution;
(7) meets financial need requirements prescribed by
coordinating board rule; and
(8) complies with any additional eligibility
requirements prescribed by coordinating board rule.
(d) Except as provided by Subsections (e) and (f), the
amount of a grant under this section is $700 for each semester or
other academic term in which the student is enrolled at a general
academic teaching institution.
(e) Subject to the limitation provided by Subsection (f), if
after the application of any other state or federal grant aid a
student owes to a general academic teaching institution for a
semester or other academic term an amount of tuition and fees that
is less than the amount of a grant otherwise provided by this
section for that semester or other term, the amount of the grant is
equal to the amount of tuition and fees owed by the student that is
not covered by that other grant aid.
(f) The total amount of grants under this section for an
academic year may not exceed $1,400.
(g) Except as provided by Subsection (k), a student is not
eligible for a grant under this section for a semester or other
academic term that begins after the second anniversary of the date
the student first enrolled at a general academic teaching
institution.
(h) If a student fails to meet any of the requirements of
Subsection (c) after the completion of any semester or other
academic term, the student may not receive a grant under this
section for the next semester or term in which the student enrolls.
A student may become eligible to receive a grant under this section
in a subsequent semester or term if the student:
(1) completes a semester or term during which the
student is not eligible for a grant under this section; and
(2) meets all of the requirements of Subsection (c).
(i) 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.
(j) The Texas Education Agency and the coordinating board
jointly shall prepare a publication that includes the information
required to be provided under Subsection (i) and shall post that
publication on the website of each agency 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.
(k) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to administer
this section, including rules requiring an eligible student to
apply for a grant under this section and to submit 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 grants under this section if the
student shows hardship or other good cause that prevented the
student from successfully completing the core curriculum,
receiving an associate degree, or enrolling in an institution
within the applicable period prescribed by this section or from
maintaining a cumulative grade point average as required 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.
(l) A student may not receive a grant under this section for
a semester or term before the 2011 fall semester and may not
establish eligibility for a grant 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 56.901, 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 does not make an appropriation. This
Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the
implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations
act of the 81st Legislature.
SECTION 4. A provision in this Act that creates a new
governmental program, creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new
duty on a governmental entity is not mandatory during a fiscal
period for which the legislature has not made a specific
appropriation to implement the provision.
SECTION 5. 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.