85R2867 MM-D
By: West S.B. No. 331
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the temporary approval of a private or independent
college or university to continue 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 for purposes of this subchapter only a [those]
private or independent college [colleges] or university
[universities] that:
(1) is a [are] private or independent institution
[institutions] of higher education; [as defined by Section 61.003]
or
(2) is [are] located within this state and meets
[meet] the same program standards and accreditation as an
institution [public institutions] of higher education, as
determined by the board.
(b) The coordinating board may temporarily approve a
private or independent college or university [institution of higher
education as defined by Section 61.003] that previously qualified
for approval as a private or independent institution of higher
education under Subsection (a)(1) [under Subsection (a)] but no
longer holds the [same] accreditation described by Section
61.003(15)(C) if the college or university is [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
described by Section 61.003(15)(C) [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 twice [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, 2017.