79R6038 KEL-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 530
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 530:
By: Goolsby C.S.H.B. No. 530
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting discrimination based on a student's primary
or secondary school in awarding state scholarships or other
financial aid for higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.005 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.005. NONDISCRIMINATION IN FINANCIAL AID AWARDS
BASED ON TYPE OF SCHOOL ATTENDED. An institution of higher
education or state agency that awards financial aid of any kind to
students to attend public or private institutions of higher
education may not in awarding that aid discriminate against a
student based on the type of primary or secondary school the student
attended.
SECTION 2. Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
must:
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
coordinating board rules;
(2) meet either of the following academic
requirements:
(A) be a graduate of a public or [accredited]
private high school, including a home school, in this state who
graduated not earlier than the 1998-1999 school year and who
completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum
established under Section 28.002 or 28.025 or its equivalent; or
(B) have received an associate degree from an
eligible institution not earlier than May 1, 2001;
(3) meet financial need requirements as defined by the
coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program at an eligible institution;
(5) be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not
later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation
from high school; or
(B) an entering student for at least
three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as
determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
after the month the person receives an associate degree from an
eligible institution;
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
assistance; and
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies
beginning with student financial aid awarded for the 2006-2007
academic year. The change in law does not affect student financial
aid awarded for an academic period before that academic year, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.