84R799 KEL-D
By: Springer H.B. No. 3073
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.3031 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3031. FINANCIAL NEED. (a) The coordinating board
by rule shall establish financial need requirements for applicants
to demonstrate eligibility to receive initial or subsequent TEXAS
grants under this subchapter.
(b) The rules must require each applicant to demonstrate
eligibility for federal financial aid but may not require the
applicant to meet a financial need requirement applicable to a
particular federal financial aid program.
(c) Section 56.3045(b)(2) does not apply to the eligibility
requirement described by Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person who
graduated from high school before May 1, 2013, must:
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
coordinating board rules;
(2) meet either of the following academic
requirements:
(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
private high school in this state who graduated not earlier than the
1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or advanced
high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or 28.025
or its equivalent; or
(B) have received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education not earlier than
May 1, 2001;
(3) meet financial need requirements established [as
defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
(4) be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
an eligible institution;
(5) be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not
later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation
from high school; or
(B) an entering student for at least
three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as
determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
after the month the person receives an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
assistance; and
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 3. Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
in an eligible institution must:
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
coordinating board rules;
(2) meet the academic requirements prescribed by
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows:
(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
private high school in this state who completed the foundation high
school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent
and have accomplished any two or more of the following:
(i) successful completion of the course
requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or
earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of
college credit in high school through courses described in Sections
28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
(ii) satisfaction of the Texas Success
Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment
instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section
51.3062(c) or qualification for an exemption as described by
Section 51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1);
(iii) graduation in the top one-third of
the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high
school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
scale or the equivalent; or
(iv) completion for high school credit of
at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful
completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career
and technical or technology applications course;
(B) have received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(C) be an undergraduate student who has:
(i) previously attended another
institution of higher education;
(ii) received an initial Texas Educational
Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a
subsequent academic term;
(iii) completed at least 24 semester credit
hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and
(iv) earned an overall grade point average
of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all
course work previously attempted; or
(D) if sufficient money is available, meet the
eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);
(3) meet financial need requirements established by
the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program at an eligible institution;
(5) except as provided under rules adopted under
Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the
calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;
(B) an entering undergraduate student who
entered military service not later than the first anniversary of
the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for
at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12
months after being honorably discharged from military service;
(C) a continuing undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the
calendar month in which the person received an associate degree
from a public or private institution of higher education; or
(D) an undergraduate student described by
Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
assistance; and
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 4. Section 56.305(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) After initially qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person
may continue to receive a TEXAS grant during each semester or term
in which the person is enrolled at an eligible institution only if
the person:
(1) meets financial need requirements as established
[defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
(2) is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
an eligible institution;
(3) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full
course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the
coordinating board;
(4) makes satisfactory academic progress toward a
baccalaureate degree; and
(5) complies with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act in adding
Section 56.3031, Education Code, applies beginning with initial or
subsequent TEXAS grants awarded for the 2015 fall semester. Initial
or subsequent TEXAS grants awarded for a semester or term before the
2015 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 6. 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, 2015.