87R10428 CXP-D
By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 2815
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship
Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.9773(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) To receive a scholarship under this subchapter, a
student must enter into an agreement with the board as provided by
this section. The agreement must require the student to:
(1) complete:
(A) one year of ROTC training for each year that
the student receives the scholarship, up to a maximum requirement
of four years of ROTC training; or
(B) [complete] another undergraduate officer
commissioning program such as the United States Marine Corps
Platoon Leaders Class;
(2) graduate not later than six years after the date
the student first enrolls in a public or private institution of
higher education in this state;
(3) after graduation, enter into:
(A) a four-year commitment to be a member of the
Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State
Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine;
or
(B) a contract to serve as a commissioned officer
in any branch of the armed services of the United States;
(4) meet the physical examination requirements and all
other prescreening requirements of the Texas Army National Guard,
Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast
Guard, or United States Merchant Marine or the branch of the armed
services with which the student enters into a contract; and
(5) agree to repay the scholarship if the student:
(A) fails to maintain satisfactory academic
progress;
(B) withdraws from the scholarship program; or
(C) fails to fulfill a commitment or contract
described by Subdivision (3).
SECTION 2. Section 61.9773(a), Education Code, as amended
by this Act, applies beginning with a Texas Armed Services
Scholarship awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year. A Texas Armed
Services Scholarship awarded for an academic year before that
academic year is governed by the law in effect when the scholarship
was awarded, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the administration of Section 61.9773(a),
Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after
this Act takes effect.
SECTION 4. 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, 2021.