78S30342 KEL-D
By: Noriega H.B. No. 74
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility to receive a TEXAS grant.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 56.304(e), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) A person's eligibility for a TEXAS grant ends on the
sixth anniversary of the initial award of a TEXAS grant to the
person [and the person's enrollment in an eligible institution],
unless the person is provided additional time during which the
person may receive a TEXAS grant under this subsection. The
coordinating board shall adopt rules to provide a person who is
otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant additional time during
which the person may receive a TEXAS grant in the event of a
hardship or other good cause shown that prevents the person from
continuing the person's enrollment during the period the person
would otherwise have been eligible to receive a TEXAS grant,
including a showing of a severe illness or other debilitating
condition or that the person is or was responsible for the care of a
sick, injured, or needy person.
SECTION 2. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.3042 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3042. EXTENSION OF INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT.
A student enrolled at an eligible institution who does not meet the
requirements of Section 56.304(a)(5) but who otherwise qualifies
for a grant under that section is eligible to receive an initial
TEXAS grant if, as determined by the coordinating board, the
student:
(1) previously applied for and was eligible to receive
an initial TEXAS grant under Section 56.304 on enrollment at an
eligible institution but did not receive an initial grant solely
because of insufficient funding for the grant program; and
(2) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full
course load for an undergraduate student.
SECTION 3. Section 56.305(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) After initially qualifying for and receiving a TEXAS
grant, a person may continue to receive a TEXAS grant during each
semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an eligible
institution only if the person:
(1) meets financial need requirements as defined by
the coordinating board;
(2) is enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program at an eligible institution;
(3) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full
course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the
coordinating board;
(4) makes satisfactory academic progress toward an
undergraduate degree or certificate; and
(5) complies with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act relating to
the eligibility of a person to receive a TEXAS grant applies
beginning with TEXAS grants awarded for the 2004-2005 academic
year. The eligibility of a person to receive a TEXAS grant for an
academic year before the 2004-2005 academic year is governed by the
applicable law in effect immediately before the effective date of
this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect February 1, 2004.