82R15586 KEL-D
By: Lucio III, Raymond H.B. No. 452
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 452:
By: Gonzalez C.S.H.B. No. 452
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to temporary housing between academic terms for certain
postsecondary students who have been under the conservatorship of
the Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.976 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.976. TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR
CERTAIN STUDENTS FORMERLY UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF DEPARTMENT OF
FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. (a) In this section:
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Academic term" includes a summer session.
(b) To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an
institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student
must:
(1) have been under the conservatorship of the
Department of Family and Protective Services or its predecessor in
function on the day preceding:
(A) the student's 18th birthday; or
(B) the date the student's disabilities of
minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31, Family Code;
(2) be enrolled full-time at the institution during
the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the
student requests the housing assistance;
(3) be registered or otherwise have taken the actions
required by the institution to permit the student to enroll
full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately
following the period for which the student requests the housing
assistance; and
(4) lack other reasonable temporary housing
alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions
(2) and (3), as determined by the institution.
(c) On the student's request, each institution of higher
education shall assist an eligible student in locating temporary
housing for any period beginning on the last day of an academic term
and ending on the first day of the immediately following academic
term, according to the institution's academic calendar.
(d) For each eligible student under Subsection (b) who also
demonstrates financial need, the institution may:
(1) provide a stipend to cover any reasonable costs of
the temporary housing that are not covered by other financial aid
immediately available to the student for that purpose; or
(2) provide temporary housing directly to the student
for the applicable period.
(e) The receipt of a stipend under Subsection (d) does not
prohibit the student from receiving additional stipends under that
subsection in one or more subsequent periods, based on the
student's demonstrated financial need.
(f) An institution of higher education may use any available
revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may solicit and
accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
section. The institution shall use any gifts, grants, and
donations received for the purposes of this section before using
other revenue.
SECTION 2. 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, 2011.