SRC-CTC H.B. 1576 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1576 77R5061 JSA-FBy: Telford (Van de Putte) Education 4/27/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In 1999, the 76th Legislature capped the amount of Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) funds a student may receive if the student also receives a TEXAS Grant. The intention of this cap was to ensure that a disproportionate share of TEXAS Grant funds were not allocated to independent colleges and universities in this state. In reality, a student who receives both TEG funds and a TEXAS Grant does not realize an increase in aid to pay college expenses. H.B. 1576 allows financial aid officers to package a TEXAS Grant with TEG funds up to the maximum TEG amount, not to exceed the tuition and fees charged to a student, to increase the total amount of aid a college's neediest students may receive to pay college expenses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 56.307(h), Education Code, to prohibit the total amount of grants that a student may receive in an academic year under this subchapter and under Section 61.221 from exceeding the total amount of tuition and required fees charged to the student in that year for the academic periods for which one or more of the grants were awarded, rather than the maximum amount authorized under Section 61.227. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2001-2001 academic year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.