86R14159 SOS-D
By: Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 4124
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board on best practices to assist certain students in
completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.07763 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.07763. STUDY AND REPORT ON FREE APPLICATION FOR
FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) COMPLETION BEST PRACTICES. (a) The
board shall conduct a study to determine best practices to provide
assistance in completing and submitting the free application for
federal student aid (FAFSA) to an applicant who is a dependent of a
person who lacks the documentation necessary to complete the
application.
(b) The study must identify best practices to address the
lack of access to the following information required to complete
the FAFSA:
(1) federal income tax information;
(2) a social security number issued by the Social
Security Administration;
(3) an identification document, including a driver's
license, government-issued identification, United States passport,
Certificate of United States Citizenship, Certificate of
Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration
Receipt Card, Temporary Resident Card, Refugee Travel Document, or
Employment Authorization Document; and
(4) an alien registration number.
(c) In conducting the study, the board shall collaborate
with general academic teaching institutions, public junior
colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges,
private or independent institutions of higher education, and rural
and urban career schools or colleges, as defined by Section
132.001.
(d) To the extent necessary, the board may consult with and
consider recommendations from federal agencies in conducting the
study.
(e) The recommendations resulting from the study may not
include any recommendation to deceive, mislead, or undermine the
United States Department of Education.
(f) Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and the commissioner of education a written
report on the study's results and any recommendations for
legislative or other action.
(g) The board shall:
(1) provide a written copy of the report submitted
under Subsection (f) to each school district or open-enrollment
charter school high school counselor in this state; and
(2) post the report on the board's Internet website.
(h) This section expires September 1, 2021.
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, 2019.