Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2445 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R8795 JTZ-D
2	2	By: Dutton H.B. No. 2445
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to an exemption from or refund of tuition and fees for
8	8	certain lower-division students enrolled at Texas Southern
9	9	University or Prairie View A&M University.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
12	12	amended by adding Section 54.220 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 54.220. EXEMPTION FOR LOWER-DIVISION STUDENTS AT
14	14	CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) An entering freshman
15	15	student enrolled at Texas Southern University or Prairie View A&M
16	16	University is entitled to a refund of tuition and required fees paid
17	17	by the student under this chapter for the first semester or term for
18	18	which the student enrolls at that university if the student:
19	19	(1) graduated from a private high school, including a
20	20	home school, or public high school in this state;
21	21	(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
22	22	B; and
23	23	(3) for all courses attempted that initial semester or
24	24	term earns a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a four-point
25	25	scale or the equivalent.
26	26	(b) To receive a refund under Subsection (a), the student
27	27	must apply to the university in the manner required by the
28	28	university not later than the first anniversary of the last class
29	29	day of the semester or term.
30	30	(c) A student enrolled at Texas Southern University or
31	31	Prairie View A&M University is exempt from the payment of tuition
32	32	and required fees authorized by this chapter for a semester or term
33	33	of the student's first two academic years, other than a semester or
34	34	term described by Subsection (a), at that university if the
35	35	student:
36	36	(1) graduated from a private high school, including a
37	37	home school, or public high school in this state;
38	38	(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
39	39	B; and
40	40	(3) maintains an overall grade-point average of at
41	41	least 2.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all prior
42	42	coursework attempted at the university.
43	43	(d) A student receiving an exemption under this section for
44	44	one or more semesters or terms may not enroll for the student's
45	45	third academic year at the university until the student passes an
46	46	examination to be selected and administered by the university for
47	47	that purpose.
48	48	(e) A university to which this section applies may fund
49	49	tuition and fee refunds and exemptions under this section from
50	50	local funds or from funds appropriated to the university. The
51	51	university may but is not required to provide tuition and fee
52	52	refunds or exemptions beyond those funded through state
53	53	appropriations specifically designated for this purpose.
54	54	(f) A person may not receive a refund or exemption under
55	55	this section for a semester or term that begins after the 2042-2043
56	56	academic year. This section expires September 1, 2044.
57	57	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
58	58	charged for the 2023 fall semester.
59	59	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
60	60	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
61	61	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
62	62	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
63	63	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.