89R21370 CMO-D
By: Wilson H.B. No. 300
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 300:
By: Wilson C.S.H.B. No. 300
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.9771(b), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The amount of a scholarship under this subchapter in an
academic year is the lesser of:
(1) the greater of $30,000 or an amount equal to the
average cost of attendance at an institution of higher education in
this state, as determined by board rule [$15,000]; or
(2) the amount available for each scholarship from
appropriations that may be used for scholarships under this
subchapter for that academic year.
SECTION 2. Section 61.9772, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(a) To receive an initial scholarship under this
subchapter, a student must:
(1) be enrolled in a public or private institution of
higher education in this state and, while enrolled at the
institution: [;]
(A) [(2)] enroll in and be a member in good
standing of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or
another [undergraduate] officer commissioning program such as the
United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class [while enrolled in
a public or private institution of higher education in this state];
(B) submit to the board proof of the student's
successful completion of a program described by Paragraph (A); or
(C) submit to the board proof of the student's
acceptance into the officer commissioning program for the Texas
State Guard, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code;
(2) [(3)] be appointed to receive a scholarship by the
governor, the lieutenant governor, a state senator, or a state
representative; and
(3) [(4)] enter into an agreement with the board under
Section 61.9773.
(b) In each year, the governor and the lieutenant governor
shall [may] each appoint two students and two alternates and each
state senator and each state representative shall [may] appoint one
student and one alternate to receive an initial scholarship under
this subchapter. If a student appointed under this subsection to
receive a scholarship fails to initially meet eligibility or
otherwise meet the requirements to initially receive the
scholarship, the board [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board]
must notify the alternate on file of their nomination.
(b-1) A state senator or state representative shall make the
appointments required by Subsection (b) not later than September 30
of each year. If a state senator or state representative fails to
make a timely appointment in accordance with this subsection, the
lieutenant governor or the speaker of the house of representatives,
as appropriate, shall promptly fill the vacancy in appointment or
designate a member of their respective chamber to promptly make the
appointment on their behalf.
SECTION 3. Section 61.9773, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.9773. AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (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) satisfy one of the following requirements
[complete]:
(A) complete or submit to the board proof that
the student previously completed one year of ROTC training for each
year that the student receives the scholarship; [or]
(B) complete or submit to the board proof that
the student previously completed another [undergraduate] officer
commissioning program such as the United States Marine Corps
Platoon Leaders Class; or
(C) submit to the board proof of the student's
acceptance into the officer commissioning program for the Texas
State Guard, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code;
(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).
(b) The board shall adopt rules to exempt a student from the
repayment of a scholarship under an agreement entered into under
this section if the student is unable to meet the obligations of the
agreement solely as a result of:
(1) physical inability; or
(2) an extraordinary circumstance outside the
student's control.
(c) If the board determines that a student who entered into
an agreement with the board under this section was erroneously
removed from the scholarship program established under this
subchapter, the board shall reinstate the student's scholarship if
the student is currently enrolled in a public or private
institution of higher education in this state.
SECTION 4. Section 61.9775, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.9775. LIMITATIONS ON SCHOLARSHIP. [(a)] A person
may not receive a scholarship under this subchapter for more than
four academic years [after earning a cumulative total of 150 credit
hours or after being awarded a baccalaureate degree, whichever
occurs first].
[(b) A scholarship awarded to a student under this
subchapter shall be reduced for an academic year by the amount by
which the full amount of the scholarship plus the total amount to be
paid to the student for being under contract with one of the
branches of the armed services of the United States exceeds the
student's total cost of attendance for that academic year at the
public or private institution of higher education in which the
student is enrolled.]
SECTION 5. Subchapter FF, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.9777 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.9777. SCHOLARSHIP COORDINATOR. The board shall
designate an employee of the board to serve as a scholarship
coordinator for scholarships awarded under this subchapter. The
scholarship coordinator shall:
(1) serve as a liaison and point of contact for
students appointed to receive a scholarship under this subchapter;
and
(2) coordinate with financial aid offices at public
and private institutions of higher education in this state and with
relevant military personnel on behalf of scholarship recipients to
ensure students fully understand the requirements of this
subchapter.
SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
academic year.
SECTION 7. 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, 2025.