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Amend SB 34 (House committee printing) by adding the
following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and
renumbering existing SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. (a) Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code,
is amended by adding Section 54.2115 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.2115. TUITION EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PERSONS IN
TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "transitional
living program" means a program that meets the grant eligibility
standards for transitional living youth projects for homeless youth
under Sections 321 and 322, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. Sections 5714-1 and 5714-2), as amended.
(b) A person is exempt from the payment of tuition and
required fees other than property deposit fees if the person:
(1) was a resident in a transitional living program
for a continuous period of at least six months occurring after the
person's 16th birthday but before the person's 22nd birthday;
(2) maintains a current residence that is separate
from that of a parent, conservator, or other guardian of the person;
(3) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
B;
(4) initially enrolls at an institution of higher
education as a full-time or part-time undergraduate student not
later than the person's 22nd birthday; and
(5) demonstrates financial need as determined
according to standards adopted by any institution of higher
education in which the person enrolls.
(c) Each transitional living program in this state shall
provide current program information to the Department of Family and
Protective Services and shall update the information as necessary.
The department shall maintain a record of each transitional living
program in this state and shall provide a list of the programs to
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board not later than June 1
of each year.
(b) Section 54.2115, Education Code, as added by this
section, applies beginning with tuition and fees for the 2006
spring semester.
(c) A public institution of higher education shall adopt the
standards for financial need as described by Section 54.2115,
Education Code, as added by this section, not later than the 30th
day after the effective date of this section. For that purpose, the
institution may adopt the initial standards in the manner provided
by law for adoption of emergency rules. This subsection expires
January 1, 2006.