By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 3827
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the initial eligibility requirements for a TEXAS grant
for certain economically disadvantaged students enrolling in
public institutions of higher education or public technical
institutes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 56.301, Education Code, is amended by
adding subdivision (4) to read as follows:
(4) "Economically disadvantaged" means a person who is
eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School
Lunch and Child Nutrition Program.
SECTION 2. Section 56.304, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as
follows:
(f) The requirement in Subsection (a)(2) that a person must
have completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum
does not apply to:
(1) a person who:
(A) [(1)] attended a public high school in a
school district if that district certifies to the commissioner of
education that the high school did not offer all the necessary
courses for a person to complete all parts of the recommended or
advanced high school curriculum; and
(B) [(2)] completed all courses at the high
school offered toward the completion of the recommended or advanced
high school curriculum; or
(2) an economically disadvantaged student enrolled in
a public institution of higher education or public technical
institute; and
(3) has completed the minimum high school curriculum
plan.
(f-1) The coordinating board and the commissioner of
education shall by rule establish the criteria for determining
whether a person is an economically disadvantaged student for the
purposes of Subsection (f)(2).
SECTION 3. This Act does not make an appropriation. This Act
takes effect only if the specific appropriation for the
implementation of this Act is provided in a general appropriations
act of the 83rd Legislature.
SECTION 4. The change in law made to Section 56.304,
Education Code, by this Act applies beginning with TEXAS grants
awarded for the 2013 fall semester. Grants awarded for a semester or
term before the 2013 fall semester are governed by the applicable
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
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, 2013.