R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State 1-2 of Texas, 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, That House Rule 1-3 13, Section 9(a), be suspended in part as provided by House Rule 1-4 13, Section 9(f), to enable the conference committee appointed to 1-5 resolve the differences on House Bill No. 713, relating to the 1-6 establishment and operation of the Toward EXcellence, Access, & 1-7 Success (TEXAS) grant program and the Teach for Texas Grant 1-8 Program; consolidating and revising financial aid, grant, and 1-9 scholarship programs; and providing for the education, 1-10 certification, and recruitment of teachers and faculty instructors, 1-11 to consider and take action on the following matters: 1-12 (1) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 1-13 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 1-14 either the house or senate version of the bill, in Section 1 of the 1-15 bill, in added Sections 56.304 and 56.305, Education Code, to read 1-16 as follows: 1-17 (Sec. 56.304) 1-18 (h) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a 1-19 person who is otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant, in the 1-20 event of a hardship or for other good cause shown, including a 1-21 showing of a severe illness or other debilitating condition that 1-22 may affect the person's academic performance or that the person is 1-23 responsible for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and 1-24 that the person's provision of care may affect the person's 2-1 academic performance, to receive a TEXAS grant while enrolled in a 2-2 number of semester credit hours that is less than the number of 2-3 semester credit hours required under Subsection (a)(5). The 2-4 coordinating board may not allow a person to receive a TEXAS grant 2-5 while enrolled in fewer than six semester credit hours. 2-6 (Sec. 56.305) 2-7 (g) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a 2-8 person who is otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant, in the 2-9 event of a hardship or for other good cause shown, including a 2-10 showing of a severe illness or other debilitating condition that 2-11 may affect the person's academic performance or that the person is 2-12 responsible for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and 2-13 that the person's provision of care may affect the person's 2-14 academic performance, to receive a TEXAS grant while enrolled in a 2-15 number of semester credit hours that is less than the number of 2-16 semester credit hours required under Subsection (a)(3). The 2-17 coordinating board may not allow a person to receive a TEXAS grant 2-18 while enrolled in fewer than six semester credit hours. 2-19 Explanation: This change is needed to allow the Texas Higher 2-20 Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules to allow a student 2-21 receiving a TEXAS grant to register for a reduced number of 2-22 semester credit hours in the event of a hardship or for good cause 2-23 shown. 2-24 (2) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 2-25 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 2-26 either the house or senate version of the bill, in Section 1 of the 2-27 bill, in added Section 56.305, Education Code, to read as follows: 3-1 (f) A person who is eligible to receive a TEXAS grant 3-2 continues to remain eligible to receive the TEXAS grant if the 3-3 person enrolls in or transfers to another eligible institution. 3-4 Explanation: This change is needed to allow a student 3-5 receiving a TEXAS grant to enroll in or transfer to another 3-6 institution other than the institution the student originally 3-7 attended. 3-8 (3) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 3-9 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 3-10 either the house or senate version of the bill, in Section 1 of the 3-11 bill, in added Section 56.307, Education Code, to read as follows: 3-12 (h) The total amount of grants that a student may receive in 3-13 an academic year under this subchapter and under Section 61.221 may 3-14 not exceed the maximum amount authorized under Section 61.227. 3-15 (i) A public institution of higher education may not: 3-16 (1) charge a person attending the institution who also 3-17 receives a TEXAS grant an amount of tuition and required fees in 3-18 excess of the amount of the TEXAS grant received by the person; or 3-19 (2) deny admission to or enrollment in the institution 3-20 based on a person's eligibility to receive a TEXAS grant or a 3-21 person's receipt of a TEXAS grant. 3-22 (j) An institution may use other available sources of 3-23 financial aid, other than a loan or a Pell grant, to cover any 3-24 difference in the amount of a TEXAS grant and the actual amount of 3-25 tuition and required fees at the institution. 3-26 (k) The legislature in an appropriations act shall account 3-27 for tuition and required fees received under this section in a way 4-1 that does not increase the general revenue appropriations to that 4-2 institution. 4-3 Explanation: This change is needed to set a maximum amount 4-4 that certain students may receive under the TEXAS grant program, to 4-5 restrict the amounts of tuition and fees an institution of higher 4-6 education may receive from a TEXAS grant recipient, and from other 4-7 sources, to clarify actions an institution may take with regard to 4-8 TEXAS grant recipients, and to specify the effect of the grants on 4-9 general revenue appropriations. 4-10 (4) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 4-11 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 4-12 either the house or senate version of the bill, in Section 1 of the 4-13 bill, in added Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, to read as 4-14 follows: 4-15 Sec. 56.311. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) The 4-16 Legislative Oversight Committee on the TEXAS and Teach for Texas 4-17 grant programs established by this subchapter is composed of six 4-18 members as follows: 4-19 (1) three members of the senate appointed by the 4-20 lieutenant governor; and 4-21 (2) three members of the house of representatives 4-22 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. 4-23 (b) The committee shall: 4-24 (1) meet at least twice a year with the coordinating 4-25 board; and 4-26 (2) receive information regarding rules relating to 4-27 the TEXAS and Teach for Texas grant programs established by this 5-1 subchapter that have been adopted by the coordinating board or 5-2 proposed for adoption by the coordinating board. 5-3 (c) The committee may request reports and other information 5-4 from the coordinating board relating to the operation of the TEXAS 5-5 and Teach for Texas grant programs under this subchapter by the 5-6 coordinating board. 5-7 (d) The committee shall review the specific recommendations 5-8 for legislation related to this subchapter that are proposed by the 5-9 coordinating board. 5-10 (e) The committee shall monitor the operation of the TEXAS 5-11 and Teach for Texas grant programs established under this 5-12 subchapter, with emphasis on the manner of the award of grants, the 5-13 number of grants awarded, and the educational progress made by 5-14 persons who have received grants under this subchapter. 5-15 (f) The committee shall file a report with the governor, 5-16 lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives 5-17 not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year. 5-18 (g) The report shall include identification of any problems 5-19 in the TEXAS and Teach for Texas grant programs operated under this 5-20 subchapter with recommended solutions for the coordinating board 5-21 and for legislative action. 5-22 Explanation: This change is needed to create a legislative 5-23 oversight committee to oversee the TEXAS and Teach for Texas grant 5-24 programs. 5-25 (5) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 5-26 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 5-27 either the house or senate version of the bill, to read as follows: 6-1 SECTION 11. Sections 54.215 and . . . , Education Code, are 6-2 repealed. 6-3 SECTION 15. A person receiving a scholarship or other 6-4 financial assistance under Section 54.215 or 54.216, Education 6-5 Code, or Subchapter G, Chapter 56, Education Code, on the effective 6-6 date of this Act may continue to receive a scholarship or other 6-7 financial assistance under Section 54.215 or 54.216 or under 6-8 Subchapter G, Chapter 56, Education Code, as applicable to the 6-9 person on the effective date, until the person is no longer 6-10 eligible for the scholarship or other assistance under Section 6-11 54.215 or 54.216, Education Code, or Subchapter G, Chapter 56, 6-12 Education Code, as the applicable section or subchapter exists on 6-13 January 1, 1999. The costs of the scholarships or other financial 6-14 assistance authorized under this section shall be covered by the 6-15 TEXAS grant program established by Subchapter M, Chapter 56, 6-16 Education Code, as added by this Act. 6-17 Explanation: This change is needed to abolish the student 6-18 financial assistance program for certain National Guard/ROTC 6-19 students and to allow existing National Guard/ROTC students to 6-20 continue to receive assistance. 6-21 (6) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 6-22 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 6-23 either the house or senate version of the bill, to read as follows: 6-24 SECTION 17. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating 6-25 Board shall review and study the effect of the TEXAS grant program 6-26 and the Teach for Texas grant program established by Subchapter M, 6-27 Chapter 56, Education Code, as added by this Act, on enrollments at 7-1 institutions of higher education. The study shall determine 7-2 whether there have been shifts in enrollments between universities 7-3 and community colleges and whether those shifts were caused by the 7-4 different grant amounts awarded to students at each institution. 7-5 The report shall make recommendations for legislative changes to 7-6 the methodology for calculating the amount of the grant awards, if 7-7 needed. 7-8 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall 7-9 report its findings to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the 7-10 speaker of the house of representatives, the presiding officer of 7-11 each legislative committee with oversight responsibilities for 7-12 higher education institutions, and the legislative oversight 7-13 committee established under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education 7-14 Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2000. 7-15 Explanation: This change is needed to allow the Texas Higher 7-16 Education Coordinating Board to study and review the effects of the 7-17 TEXAS grant program and the Teach for Texas grant program on 7-18 enrollments at institutions of higher education. 7-19 (7) House Rule 13, Sections 9(a)(3) and (4), are suspended 7-20 to permit the committee to add additional text not included in 7-21 either the house or senate version of the bill, to read as follows: 7-22 SECTION 11. (a) This Act may be cited as the Steven 7-23 Gonzales-Prisoner of War Higher Education Act. 7-24 (b) Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by 7-25 adding Section 54.219 to read as follows: 7-26 Sec. 54.219. PRISONERS OF WAR. (a) In this section, 7-27 "tuition and required fees" includes tuition, service fees, lab 8-1 fees, building use fees, and all other required fees except room, 8-2 board, or clothing fees or deposits in the nature of security for 8-3 the return or proper care of property. 8-4 (b) For each semester or summer session and for a total 8-5 number of semester credit hours not to exceed 120, the governing 8-6 body of each institution of higher education shall exempt from the 8-7 payment of tuition and required fees any person who: 8-8 (1) is a resident of Texas and was a resident of Texas 8-9 at the time of the person's original entry into the United States 8-10 armed forces; 8-11 (2) was first classified as a prisoner of war by the 8-12 United States Department of Defense on or after January 1, 1999; 8-13 and 8-14 (3) is enrolled for at least 12 semester credit hours. 8-15 (c) For each semester or session in which a person receives 8-16 an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), 8-17 the governing body of the institution the person attends shall 8-18 exempt the person from the payment of fees and charges for lodging 8-19 and board if the person resides on the campus of the institution. 8-20 If the person does not reside on the campus of the institution, the 8-21 institution shall provide to the person a reasonable stipend to 8-22 cover the costs of the person's lodging and board. 8-23 (d) For each semester or session in which a person receives 8-24 an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), 8-25 the governing body of the institution the person attends shall 8-26 award to the person a scholarship to cover the costs of books and 8-27 similar educational materials required for course work at the 9-1 institution. 9-2 (e) An institution may use any available revenue, including 9-3 legislative appropriations, and shall solicit and accept gifts, 9-4 grants, and donations for the purposes of this section. The 9-5 institution shall use gifts, grants, and donations received for the 9-6 purposes of this section before using any other revenue. 9-7 (c) This section applies beginning with the 1999 fall 9-8 semester. 9-9 Explanation: This change is necessary to require 9-10 institutions of higher education to provide tuition and fee 9-11 exemptions and other financial assistance to certain prisoners of 9-12 war residing in Texas. Cuellar _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1258 was adopted by the House on May 27, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House