By Hilderbran, Cuellar of Webb, et al. H.B. No. 780
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 780:
By Hunter C.S.H.B. No. 780
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
1-3 higher education for certain students.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 54.211 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 54.211. ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN AFDC STUDENTS.
1-8 A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized
1-9 by this chapter for the first academic year in which the student
1-10 enrolls at an institution of higher education if the student:
1-11 (1) graduated from a public high school in this state;
1-12 (2) has successfully completed the attendance
1-13 requirements under Section 21.032 of this code;
1-14 (3) during the student's last year of public high
1-15 school in this state or during the month in which the student
1-16 graduated from a public high school in this state was a dependent
1-17 child receiving financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human
1-18 Resources Code;
1-19 (4) is under the age of 22 on the date of enrollment;
1-20 (5) enrolls at the institution as an undergraduate
1-21 student not later than the second anniversary of the date of
1-22 graduation from a public high school in this state;
1-23 (6) has met all college entrance exam requirements
1-24 imposed by the institution before the date of enrollment at the
2-1 institution; and
2-2 (7) is a Texas resident as provided by Subchapter B of
2-3 this chapter.
2-4 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
2-5 amended by adding Section 54.212 to read as follows:
2-6 Sec. 54.212. ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN AFDC EARLY HIGH
2-7 SCHOOL GRADUATES. (a) The purpose of this section is to increase
2-8 efficiency in the foundation school program and to provide a
2-9 one-year exemption from the payment of tuition and fees to students
2-10 under this section to enable those students to attend institutions
2-11 of higher education.
2-12 (b) A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees
2-13 authorized by this chapter for the first year in which the student
2-14 enrolls at an institution of higher education if the student:
2-15 (1) has the written approval of at least one of the
2-16 student's parents or a person standing in parental relation to the
2-17 student;
2-18 (2) has successfully completed the requirements for a
2-19 public high school diploma in less than four years and graduated or
2-20 is eligible for graduation from a public high school in this state;
2-21 (3) is a Texas resident as provided by Subchapter B of
2-22 this chapter;
2-23 (4) has successfully completed the attendance
2-24 requirements under Section 21.032 of this code;
2-25 (5) during the student's last year of public high
2-26 school in this state or during the month in which the student
2-27 graduated from a public high school in this state was a dependent
3-1 child receiving financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human
3-2 Resources Code;
3-3 (6) is under the age of 22 on the date of enrollment;
3-4 and
3-5 (7) has met all college entrance exam requirements
3-6 imposed by the institution before the date of enrollment at the
3-7 institution.
3-8 (c) The exemption from the payment of tuition and fees under
3-9 this section is financed under the foundation school program.
3-10 Funding for the exemption is not subject to Section 16.254(d) of
3-11 this code. Not later than October 1 of each year, the Texas Higher
3-12 Education Coordinating Board shall file a report with the
3-13 commissioner of education and the foundation school fund budget
3-14 committee. The report shall include the number of students who are
3-15 entitled to the exemption, the amount of tuition and fees exempted
3-16 at institutions of higher education, and a projection of future
3-17 funding for the exemption. Out of funds appropriated for the
3-18 foundation school program, the commissioner of education shall
3-19 transfer to the coordinating board each year an amount sufficient
3-20 to fund the exemption for students who are entitled to the
3-21 exemption under Subsection (b) of this section. The coordinating
3-22 board shall distribute to an institution of higher education an
3-23 amount equal to the amount of tuition and fees exempted under this
3-24 section for each student who is enrolled at the institution and who
3-25 is entitled to the exemption. The commissioner of education and
3-26 the foundation school fund budget committee shall consider the
3-27 costs of the exemption in estimating the funds needed for
4-1 foundation school program purposes.
4-2 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
4-3 collected for the fall semester of 1993.
4-4 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
4-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-9 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-10 passage, and it is so enacted.