86R795 KKA-D
By: Neave H.B. No. 535
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to completion and submission of a financial aid
application for costs of higher education as a condition of high
school graduation for public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.025(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible
for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may
graduate and receive a diploma only if:
(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum
requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
Subsection (a) and complies with Sections 28.0256 and [Section]
39.025; or
(2) the student successfully completes an
individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0256 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0256. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. (a) Before graduating from high school,
each student must complete and submit a free application for
federal student aid (FAFSA) or, if applicable, a Texas application
for state financial aid (TASFA).
(b) A student is not required to comply with Subsection (a)
if:
(1) the student's parent or other person standing in
parental relation submits a signed form indicating that the parent
or other person authorizes the student to decline to complete and
submit the financial aid application; or
(2) the student signs and submits the form described
by Subdivision (1) on the student's own behalf if the student is 18
years of age or older or the student's disabilities of minority have
been removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall adopt a form to be used for purposes of Subsection (b).
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with students
enrolled at the 12th grade level during the 2020-2021 school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.