By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 851
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a uniform deadline for student financial assistance for
public institutions of higher education other than public junior
colleges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.007. PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by
rule shall provide for a uniform priority application deadline for
applications for financial assistance for an academic year.
(b) The priority deadline may not serve as a determination
of eligibility for state financial assistance, but otherwise
eligible applicants who apply on or before the deadline shall be
given priority consideration for available state financial
assistance before other applicants.
(c) The coordinating board shall consult with financial aid
personnel at institutions of higher education in adopting rules
providing for the deadline required under this section.
(d) This section only applies to a general academic teaching
institution as defined by Section 61.003.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by Section 56.007,
Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with
student financial assistance awarded for the 2013-2014 academic
year. State student financial assistance awarded for an academic
period before that academic year is covered by the law in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2013.