By Maxey                                         H.B. No. 986

      75R4254 JSA-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the consideration of race and ethnicity in the awarding

 1-3     of scholarships and financial aid to students at institutions of

 1-4     higher education.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is

 1-7     amended by adding Section 56.004 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 56.004.  CONSIDERATION OF RACE AND ETHNICITY IN

 1-9     FINANCIAL AID AWARDS.  In any decision involving the exercise of

1-10     discretion by an institution of higher education, the Texas Higher

1-11     Education Coordinating Board, or any person acting on behalf of an

1-12     institution of higher education or the coordinating board relating

1-13     to the award of a scholarship or other financial aid to a student

1-14     or potential student, due regard shall be given to the race or

1-15     ethnicity of each applicant or other eligible person considered for

1-16     the award.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.