83R4899 AED-F
By: Gonzales H.B. No. 1004
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an electronic system adopted and maintained by public
institutions of higher education to employ a person to track the
academic progress of military veterans or their family members
receiving student financial assistance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 56.006, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.006. FACILITATING [EMPLOYEE TRAINED IN STUDENT
FINANCIAL] ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES; TRACKING
ACADEMIC PROGRESS.
SECTION 2. Section 56.006, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) Each institution of higher education shall ensure that
one or more persons employed by the institution is trained:
(1) in understanding state and federal student
financial assistance programs available to military veterans or
their family members, especially programs specifically applicable
to military veterans or their family members; [and]
(2) in assisting military veterans and eligible family
members in understanding and obtaining the benefits available under
those programs; and
(3) in tracking, through the electronic auditing
system as described by Subsection (a-1), the academic progress of
military veterans or family members of veterans receiving student
financial assistance, in verifying the information provided by the
system, and in providing guidance in understanding and using the
information.
(a-1) Each institution of higher education shall adopt and
maintain an electronic auditing system to verify the enrollment and
completion of courses that count toward the degree plan of military
veterans or family members of veterans receiving student financial
assistance. The electronic auditing system must, through the
institution's Internet website, allow a student described by this
subsection to track the student's progress towards completing the
student's degree plan.
SECTION 3. Each public institution of higher education in
this state shall implement the electronic auditing system as
required by Section 56.006, Education Code, as amended by this Act,
beginning with the 2014 fall semester.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.