Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3041 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	89R24502 RDR-F
1	2		By: Paul H.B. No. 3041
	3	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3041:
	4	+	By: Perez of El Paso C.S.H.B. No. 3041
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6	9		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	10		AN ACT
8	11		relating to measures to support the enrollment of students with a
9	12		nontraditional secondary education at public institutions of
10	13		higher education, including eligibility for certain student
11	14		financial assistance programs.
12	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	16		SECTION 1. Sections 51.803(a-1), (a-2), and (m), Education
14	17		Code, are amended to read as follows:
15	18		(a-1) Beginning with admissions for the 2011-2012 academic
16	19		year, The University of Texas at Austin is not required to offer
17	20		admission to applicants who qualify for automatic admission under
18	21		Subsection (a) in excess of the number required to fill 75 percent
19	22		of the university's enrollment capacity designated for first-time
20	23		resident undergraduate students in an academic year. If the number
21	24		of applicants who qualify for automatic admission to The University
22	25		of Texas at Austin under Subsection (a) for an academic year exceeds
23	26		75 percent of the university's enrollment capacity designated for
24	27		first-time resident undergraduate students for that academic year,
25	28		the university may elect to offer admission to those applicants as
26	29		provided by this subsection and not as otherwise required by
27	30		Subsection (a). If the university elects to offer admission under
28	31		this subsection, except as otherwise provided by this subsection
29	32		for those students who completed a nontraditional secondary
30	33		education, the university shall offer admission to those applicants
31	34		by percentile rank according to high school graduating class
32	35		standing based on grade point average, beginning with the top
33	36		percentile rank, until the applicants qualified under Subsection
34	37		(a), including those applicants who completed a nontraditional
35	38		secondary education as determined below, have been offered
36	39		admission in the number estimated in good faith by the university as
37	40		sufficient to fill 75 percent of the university's enrollment
38	41		capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate
39	42		students, except that the university must offer admission to all
40	43		applicants with the same percentile rank. Notwithstanding Section
41	44		51.9241, for the admission under this subsection of those
42	45		applicants qualified for automatic admission under Subsection (a)
43	46		who completed a nontraditional secondary education, instead of
44	47		offering admission to those applicants by high school graduating
45	48		class percentile rank, the university shall offer admission to
46	49		those applicants whose score on a standardized test on a college
47	50		entrance examination meets or exceeds a benchmark test score set by
48	51		the university for purposes of this subsection. The university
49	52		shall set the benchmark test score to be used under this subsection
50	53		for an academic year based on the standardized test scores on a
51	54		college entrance examination of applicants to the university who
52	55		completed a nontraditional secondary education and who were offered
53	56		admission under this subsection in the academic year preceding the
54	57		academic year by two years and in a manner designed to ensure that
55	58		the percent of applicants who completed a nontraditional secondary
56	59		education and who are offered admission under this subsection for
57	60		an academic year will be the same as the percent of applicants who
58	61		completed a traditional secondary education and who are offered
59	62		admission under this subsection for that year. After the
60	63		applicants qualified for automatic admission under Subsection (a),
61	64		including those who completed a nontraditional secondary
62	65		education, have been offered admission under this subsection in the
63	66		number estimated in good faith as sufficient to fill 75 percent of
64	67		the designated enrollment capacity described by this subsection,
65	68		the university shall consider any remaining applicants qualified
66	69		for automatic admission under Subsection (a) in the same manner as
67	70		other applicants for admission as first-time undergraduate
68	71		students in accordance with Section 51.805. In this subsection,
69	72		"nontraditional secondary education" has the meaning assigned by
70	73		Section 51.9241.
71	74		(a-2) If the number of applicants who apply to a general
72	75		academic teaching institution during the current academic year for
73	76		admission in the next academic year and who qualify for automatic
74	77		admission to a general academic teaching institution under
75	78		Subsection (a) exceeds 75 percent of the institution's enrollment
76	79		capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate students
77	80		for that next academic year and the institution plans to offer
78	81		admission under Subsection (a-1) during the next school year, the
79	82		institution shall, in the manner prescribed by the Texas Education
80	83		Agency and not later than September 15, provide to each school
81	84		district, for dissemination of the information to high school
82	85		junior-level students and their parents, notice of:
83	86		(1) which percentile ranks of high school senior-level
84	87		students who qualify for automatic admission under Subsection (a)
85	88		are anticipated by the institution to be offered admission under
86	89		Subsection (a-1) during the next school year; and
87	90		(2) what benchmark test score will be used by the
88	91		institution to offer admission under Subsection (a-1) during the
89	92		next school year to students who qualify for automatic admission
90	93		under Subsection (a) and who complete a nontraditional secondary
91	94		education.
92	95		(m) In determining the eligibility for admission under
93	96		Subsection (a) [this section] of an applicant with a nontraditional
94	97		secondary education, as defined by Section 51.9241, that does not
95	98		include a high school graduating class ranking, a general academic
96	99		teaching institution shall calculate the applicant's class rank in
97	100		the manner provided by Section 51.9241(d).
98	101		SECTION 2. Section 51.9241, Education Code, is amended by
99	102		amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
100	103		follows:
101	104		(d) If an institution of higher education in its
102	105		undergraduate admission review process sorts applicants by high
103	106		school graduating class rank, the institution shall assign a class
104	107		rank to [place] any applicant who presents evidence that the
105	108		applicant has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary
106	109		education that does not include a high school graduating class
107	110		ranking by:
108	111		(1) calculating for each class rank of other
109	112		applicants to the institution the median score on each college
110	113		entrance examination the institution considers in admissions; and
111	114		(2) assigning to the applicant the highest class rank
112	115		for which the applicant's score on a college entrance examination
113	116		the institution considers in admissions is at least equal to the
114	117		median score for that class rank calculated under Subdivision (1)
115	118		[at the average high school graduating class rank of undergraduate
116	119		applicants to the institution who have equivalent standardized
117	120		testing scores as the applicant].
118	121		(e) An institution of higher education to which Subsection
119	122		(d) applies shall post on the institution's Internet website the
120	123		median score on each college entrance examination the institution
121	124		considers in admissions calculated for each class rank under
122	125		Subsection (d)(1) for the preceding admissions cycle.
123	126		SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
124	127		amended by adding Section 51.9675 to read as follows:
125	128		Sec. 51.9675. EQUAL ACCESS TO DUAL CREDIT COURSES. (a) In
126	129		this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning
127	130		assigned by Section 61.003.
128	131		(b) In admitting or enrolling high school students in a dual
129	132		credit course, an institution of higher education must apply the
130	133		same criteria and conditions to each student wishing to enroll in
131	134		the course without regard to whether the student attends a public
132	135		school or a private or parochial school, including a home school.
133	136		For purposes of this section, a student who attends a school that is
134	137		not formally organized as a high school and is at least 16 years of
135	138		age is considered to be attending a high school.
136	139		SECTION 4. Section 56.013, Education Code, is amended to
137	140		read as follows:
138	141		Sec. 56.013. INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
139	142		FUNDED FROM DESIGNATED TUITION. The Texas Higher Education
140	143		Coordinating Board shall post on the coordinating board's Internet
141	144		website and disseminate to each public or accredited private high
142	145		school in this state information regarding the financial assistance
143	146		available under this subchapter and shall include information
144	147		designed to educate high school students and the parents of those
145	148		students on available opportunities and required preparation with
146	149		respect to institutions of higher education. The coordinating
147	150		board shall recommend a method of delivery of the information to
148	151		parents and students under this section.
149	152		SECTION 5. Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to
150	153		read as follows:
151	154		(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person who
152	155		graduated from high school before May 1, 2013, must:
153	156		(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
154	157		coordinating board rules;
155	158		(2) meet either of the following academic
156	159		requirements:
157	160		(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
158	161		private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of
159	162		successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as
160	163		defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who graduated not earlier
161	164		than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or
162	165		advanced high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or
163	166		28.025 or its equivalent; or
164	167		(B) have received an associate degree from a
165	168		public or private institution of higher education not earlier than
166	169		May 1, 2001;
167	170		(3) meet financial need requirements as defined by the
168	171		coordinating board;
169	172		(4) be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
170	173		an eligible institution;
171	174		(5) be enrolled as:
172	175		(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
173	176		least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
174	177		undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not
175	178		later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation
176	179		from high school; or
177	180		(B) an entering student for at least
178	181		three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as
179	182		determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
180	183		after the month the person receives an associate degree from a
181	184		public or private institution of higher education;
182	185		(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
183	186		assistance; and
184	187		(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
185	188		requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
186	189		subchapter.
187	190		SECTION 6. Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended
188	191		to read as follows:
189	192		(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
190	193		graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
191	194		in an eligible institution must:
192	195		(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
193	196		coordinating board rules;
194	197		(2) meet the academic requirements prescribed by
195	198		Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows:
196	199		(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
197	200		private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of
198	201		successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as
199	202		defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who completed the
200	203		foundation high school program established under Section 28.025 or
201	204		its equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the
202	205		following:
203	206		(i) successful completion of the course
204	207		requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or
205	208		earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of
206	209		college credit in high school through courses described in Sections
207	210		28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
208	211		(ii) satisfaction of the Texas Success
209	212		Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
210	213		coordinating board under Section 51.334 on any assessment
211	214		instrument designated by the coordinating board under that section
212	215		or qualification for an exemption as described by Section
213	216		51.338(b), (c), or (d);
214	217		(iii) graduation in the top one-third of
215	218		the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high
216	219		school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
217	220		scale or the equivalent; or
218	221		(iv) completion for high school credit of
219	222		at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful
220	223		completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career
221	224		and technical or technology applications course;
222	225		(B) have received an associate degree from a
223	226		public or private institution of higher education;
224	227		(C) be an undergraduate student who has:
225	228		(i) previously attended another
226	229		institution of higher education;
227	230		(ii) received an initial Texas Educational
228	231		Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a
229	232		subsequent academic term;
230	233		(iii) completed at least 24 semester credit
231	234		hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and
232	235		(iv) earned an overall grade point average
233	236		of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all
234	237		course work previously attempted; or
235	238		(D) if sufficient money is available, meet the
236	239		eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);
237	240		(3) meet financial need requirements established by
238	241		the coordinating board;
239	242		(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
240	243		certificate program at an eligible institution;
241	244		(5) except as provided under rules adopted under
242	245		Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
243	246		(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
244	247		least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
245	248		coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the
246	249		calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;
247	250		(B) an entering undergraduate student who
248	251		entered military service not later than the first anniversary of
249	252		the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for
250	253		at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
251	254		coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12
252	255		months after being honorably discharged from military service;
253	256		(C) a continuing undergraduate student for at
254	257		least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
255	258		coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the
256	259		calendar month in which the person received an associate degree
257	260		from a public or private institution of higher education; or
258	261		(D) an undergraduate student described by
259	262		Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;
260	263		(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
261	264		assistance; and
262	265		(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
263	266		requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this
264	267		subchapter.
265	268		SECTION 7. Sections 56.308(a) and (d), Education Code, are
266	269		amended to read as follows:
267	270		(a) The coordinating board shall post on the coordinating
268	271		board's Internet website and distribute to each eligible
269	272		institution and to each school district a copy of the rules adopted
270	273		under this subchapter.
271	274		(d) In addition to the eligibility requirements of Section
272	275		56.304, a person who graduated from an accredited private high
273	276		school or who presents evidence of successful completion of a
274	277		nontraditional secondary education, as defined by Section 51.9241,
275	278		is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter only if the
276	279		student's official transcript or diploma includes the information
277	280		required as provided by Subsections (b)(2)(A) and (c).
278	281		SECTION 8. Section 56.484, Education Code, is amended to
279	282		read as follows:
280	283		Sec. 56.484. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP. (a) To
281	284		be eligible for a scholarship under this subchapter, a student
282	285		must:
283	286		(1) have graduated from a public or accredited private
284	287		high school, or be a graduate who presents evidence of successful
285	288		completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as defined by
286	289		Section 51.9241, in this state while ranked in the top 10 percent or
287	290		as the valedictorian of the student's graduating class, subject to
288	291		Section 56.487(b);
289	292		(2) have completed the recommended or advanced high
290	293		school curriculum established under Section 28.025 or its
291	294		equivalent;
292	295		(3) have applied for admission as a first-time
293	296		freshman student for the 2010-2011 academic year or a subsequent
294	297		academic year to an institution of higher education that has
295	298		elected to offer admissions for that academic year to applicants as
296	299		provided by Section 51.803(a-1);
297	300		(4) enroll as a first-time freshman student in an
298	301		institution of higher education not later than the 16th month after
299	302		the date of the student's high school graduation;
300	303		(5) have been awarded a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M
301	304		for the same semester or other academic term for which the
302	305		scholarship will be awarded;
303	306		(6) be a Texas resident under Section 54.052; and
304	307		(7) comply with any other eligibility requirements
305	308		established by coordinating board rule.
306	309		(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the class rank of a
307	310		student who presents evidence of successful completion of a
308	311		nontraditional secondary education shall be calculated in the
309	312		manner provided by Section 51.9241(d)(1).
310	313		SECTION 9. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
311	314		51.803 and 51.9241, Education Code, apply beginning with admissions
312	315		to a public institution of higher education for the 2026 fall
313	316		semester. Admissions to a public institution of higher education
314	317		for a term or semester before the 2026 fall semester are governed by
315	318		the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act,
316	319		and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
317	320		SECTION 10. Section 51.9675, Education Code, as added by
318	321		this Act, applies beginning with admissions or enrollment in a dual
319	322		credit course at a public institution of higher education for the
320		-	~~2025~~ fall semester. Admissions or enrollment in a dual credit
	323	+	2026 fall semester. Admissions or enrollment in a dual credit
321	324		course at a public institution of higher education for a term or
322		-	semester before the ~~2025~~ fall semester is governed by the law in
	325	+	semester before the 2026 fall semester is governed by the law in
323	326		effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
324	327		former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
325	328		SECTION 11. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
326	329		56, Education Code, apply beginning with student financial
327	330		assistance awarded by a public institution of higher education for
328	331		the 2026 fall semester. Student financial assistance awarded by a
329	332		public institution of higher education for a term or semester
330	333		before the 2026 fall semester is governed by the law in effect
331	334		immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
332	335		law is continued in effect for that purpose.
333	336		SECTION 12. This Act takes effect immediately if it
334	337		receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
335	338		house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
336	339		If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
337	340		effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.