By: West S.B. No. 976
(Branch)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the temporary approval of an institution to participate
in the tuition equalization grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.222, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.222. APPROVED INSTITUTIONS. (a) The coordinating
board shall approve only those private or independent colleges or
universities that are private or independent institutions of higher
education as defined by Section 61.003 or are located within this
state and meet the same program standards and accreditation as
public institutions of higher education as determined by the board.
(b) The coordinating board may temporarily approve a
private or independent institution of higher education as defined
by Section 61.003 that previously qualified under Subsection (a)
but no longer holds the same accreditation as public institutions
of higher education. To qualify under this subsection, an
institution must be:
(1) accredited by an accreditor recognized by the
board;
(2) actively working toward the same accreditation as
public institutions of higher education;
(3) participating in the federal financial aid program
under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a; and
(4) a "part B institution" as defined by 20 U.S.C.
Section 1061(2) and listed in 34 C.F.R. Section 608.2.
(c) The coordinating board may grant temporary approval for
a period of two years and may renew the approval once.
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, 2013.