79R5952 CAS-F
By: Morrison H.B. No. 3000
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the TEXAS grant and Texas B-On-time loan financial
assistance programs for students in higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 56.301(3), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(3) "Private or independent institution of higher
education," "public junior college," "public state college," and
"public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section
61.003.
SECTION 2. Section 56.304, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (c), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections
(d-1) and (e-1) 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 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) if the person first enrolled in an eligible
institution before the 2005 fall semester, have received an
associate degree from an eligible institution not earlier than May
1, 2001; or
(C) if the person first enrolled in an eligible
institution during or after the 2005 fall semester, have received
an associate degree from an eligible institution or completed the
core curriculum at a public junior college, public state college,
or public technical institute not earlier than May 1, 2005;
(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:
(i) the 12th month after the month the
person receives an associate degree from an eligible institution,
if the person first enrolled in an eligible institution before the
2005 fall semester; or
(ii) the 12th month after the month the
person receives an associate degree from an eligible institution or
completes the core curriculum at a public junior college, public
state college, or public technical institute, with an overall grade
point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent, if the person enrolls in an eligible institution not
earlier than the 2005 fall semester;
(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.
(c) A person is not eligible to receive a TEXAS grant if the
person:
(1) has been granted a baccalaureate degree; or
(2) is receiving a Texas B-On-time loan under
Subchapter Q.
(d) A person who first enrolled in an eligible institution
before the 2005 fall semester may not receive a TEXAS grant for more
than 150 semester credit hours or the equivalent.
(d-1) Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), a person who
first enrolled in an eligible institution during or after the 2005
fall semester may not receive a TEXAS grant for more than:
(1) one calendar year if the person is enrolled in a
baccalaureate degree program at an eligible institution that the
student entered not later than the 12th month after the month the
person received an associate degree from an eligible institution or
completed the core curriculum at a public junior college, public
state college, or public technical institute, with an overall grade
point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent, and the person has not previously received a TEXAS
grant; or
(2) any two calendar years if Subdivision (1) does not
apply to the person.
(e) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester.
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.
(e-1) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution during or after the 2005 fall
semester. 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, 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, that prevents the person from continuing the person's
enrollment during the period the person would otherwise have been
eligible under Subsection (d-1) or Section 56.305(d-1) to receive a
TEXAS grant.
SECTION 3. Section 56.305, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (d), (e), and (g) and adding Subsections (d-1)
and (e-1) to read as follows:
(d) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester.
A person who qualifies for and subsequently receives a TEXAS grant,
who receives an undergraduate certificate or associate degree, and
who, not later than the 12th month after the month the person
receives the certificate or degree, enrolls in a program leading to
a higher-level undergraduate degree continues to be eligible for a
TEXAS grant to the extent other eligibility requirements are met.
(d-1) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution during or after the 2005 fall
semester. A person who qualifies for and subsequently receives a
TEXAS grant to attend a public junior college, public state
college, or public technical institute, who receives an associate
degree from the institution or completes the institution's core
curriculum, and who, not later than the 12th month after the earlier
of the month the person receives the degree or the month the person
completes the core curriculum, as applicable, first enrolled in a
baccalaureate degree program in an eligible institution, continues
to be eligible for a TEXAS grant only until the first anniversary of
the person's enrollment in the baccalaureate degree program to the
extent other eligibility requirements are met.
(e) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester.
For the purpose of this section, a person makes satisfactory
academic progress toward an undergraduate degree or certificate
only if:
(1) in the person's first academic year the person
meets the satisfactory academic progress requirements of the
institution at which the person is enrolled; and
(2) in a subsequent academic year, the person:
(A) completes at least 75 percent of the semester
credit hours attempted in the student's most recent academic year;
and
(B) earns an overall grade point average of at
least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework
previously attempted at institutions of higher education.
(e-1) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution during or after the 2005 fall
semester. For the purpose of this section, a person makes
satisfactory academic progress toward an undergraduate degree or
certificate only if the person:
(1) meets the satisfactory academic progress
requirements of the institution at which the person is enrolled;
(2) completed at least 24 semester credit hours or the
equivalent in the student's most recent academic year and at least
75 percent of the semester credit hours attempted in that academic
year; and
(3) has earned an overall grade point average of at
least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework
previously attempted at institutions of higher education.
(g) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a
person who is otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant, in the
event of a hardship or for other good cause shown, including a
showing of a severe illness or other debilitating condition that
may affect the person's academic performance or that the person is
responsible for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and
that the person's provision of care may affect the person's academic
performance, to receive a TEXAS grant:
(1) while enrolled in a number of semester credit
hours that is less than the number of semester credit hours required
under Subsection (a)(3); or
(2) if the student's grade point average or completion
rate falls below the satisfactory academic progress requirements of
Subsection (e) or (e-1).
SECTION 4. Section 56.451(3), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(3) "General academic teaching institution," "private
or independent institution of higher education," "public junior
college," "public state college," and "public technical institute"
have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
SECTION 5. Section 56.453, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) In awarding a Texas B-On-time loan, the coordinating
board shall give preference to a person who previously was awarded a
TEXAS grant under Subchapter M.
SECTION 6. Section 56.454, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.454. PERSONS NOT ELIGIBLE. (a) A person is not
eligible to receive a Texas B-On-time loan during an academic term
if the person:
(1) has been granted a baccalaureate degree; or
(2) is receiving a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M
during that academic term.
(b) A person who first enrolled in an eligible institution
before the 2005 fall semester may not receive a Texas B-On-time loan
for more than 150 semester credit hours or the equivalent.
(c) A person who first enrolled in an eligible institution
during or after the 2005 fall semester may not receive a Texas
B-On-time loan for more than two years, except that a person
enrolled in a degree program that requires more than 128 semester
credit hours may receive a Texas B-On-time loan for not more than
three years.
SECTION 7. Section 56.455, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.455. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR LOAN. To be eligible
initially for a Texas B-On-time loan, a person must:
(1) be a resident of this state for purposes of
Subchapter B, Chapter 54;
(2) if the person first enrolled in an eligible
institution:
(A) before the 2005 fall semester, meet one of
the following academic requirements:
(i) [(A)] be a graduate of a public or
accredited private high school in this state who graduated not
earlier than the 2002-2003 school year under the recommended or
advanced high school program established under Section 28.025(a);
or
(ii) [(B)] have received an associate
degree from an eligible institution not earlier than May 1, 2005; or
(B) during or after the 2005 fall semester, meet
one of the following academic requirements:
(i) in the preceding two academic years,
have completed at least 48 semester credit hours or the equivalent
at one or more general academic teaching institutions and earned a
cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale
or the equivalent on that coursework; or
(ii) in the preceding 12-month period, have
received an associate degree from an eligible institution or
completed the core curriculum at a public junior college, public
state college, or public technical institute with a cumulative
grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent on coursework completed for that degree or core
curriculum, as applicable;
(3) be enrolled for a full course load for an
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, in
an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an eligible
institution;
(4) be eligible for federal financial aid, except that
a person is not required to meet any financial need requirement
applicable to a particular federal financial aid program; and
(5) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 8. Sections 56.456(a) and (d), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) After initially qualifying for a Texas B-On-time loan, a
person may continue to receive a Texas B-On-time loan for a [each]
semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an eligible
institution only if the person:
(1) is enrolled for a full course load for an
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, in
an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an eligible
institution;
(2) is eligible for federal financial aid, except that
a person is not required to meet any financial need requirement
applicable to a particular federal financial aid program;
(3) makes satisfactory academic progress toward a
degree or certificate as determined by the institution at which the
person is enrolled, if the person is enrolled in the person's first
academic year at the institution and if the person first enrolled in
an eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester;
(4) meets either of the following requirements:
(A) completed at least 75 percent of the semester
credit hours or the equivalent attempted by the person in the most
recent academic year and has a cumulative grade point average of at
least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all coursework
previously attempted at institutions of higher education, if the
person is enrolled in any academic year after the person's first
academic year and the person first enrolled in an eligible
institution before the 2005 fall semester; or
(B) first enrolled in an eligible institution
during or after the 2005 fall semester and:
(i) completed at least 24 semester credit
hours or the equivalent in the person's most recent academic year
and at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours or the
equivalent attempted in that academic year with a cumulative grade
point average of at least 2.75 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent on all coursework previously attempted at institutions
of higher education, if the person is enrolled in the second
calendar year in which the person may qualify for a Texas B-On-time
loan; or
(ii) completed at least 24 semester credit
hours or the equivalent in the person's most recent academic year
and at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours or the
equivalent attempted in that academic year with a cumulative grade
point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the
equivalent on all coursework previously attempted at institutions
of higher education, if the person is enrolled in the third calendar
year in which the person may qualify for a Texas B-On-time loan; and
(5) complies with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
(d) This subsection applies only to a person who first
enrolled in an eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester.
A person who qualifies for and subsequently receives a Texas
B-On-time loan, who receives an undergraduate certificate or
associate degree, and who, not later than the 12th month after the
month the person receives the certificate or degree, enrolls in a
program leading to a higher-level undergraduate degree continues to
be eligible for a Texas B-On-time loan to the extent other
eligibility requirements are met.
SECTION 9. Section 56.461, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.461. LOAN PAYMENT DEFERRED. The repayment of a
Texas B-On-time loan received by a student under this subchapter is
deferred as long as the student remains continuously enrolled:
(1) in an undergraduate degree or certificate program
at an eligible institution, if the student first enrolled in an
eligible institution before the 2005 fall semester; or
(2) in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible
institution, if the student first enrolled in an eligible
institution during or after the 2005 fall semester.
SECTION 10. Section 56.462, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.462. LOAN FORGIVENESS. (a) This subsection
applies only to a student who first enrolled in an eligible
institution before the 2005 fall semester. A student who receives a
Texas B-On-time loan shall be forgiven the amount of the student's
loan if the student is awarded an undergraduate certificate or
degree at an eligible institution with a cumulative grade point
average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent:
(1) within:
(A) four calendar years after the date the
student initially enrolled in the institution or another eligible
institution if:
(i) the institution is a four-year
institution; and
(ii) the student is awarded a degree other
than a degree in engineering, architecture, or any other program
determined by the coordinating board to require more than four
years to complete;
(B) five calendar years after the date the
student initially enrolled in the institution or another eligible
institution if:
(i) the institution is a four-year
institution; and
(ii) the student is awarded a degree in
engineering, architecture, or any other program determined by the
coordinating board to require more than four years to complete; or
(C) two years after the date the student
initially enrolled in the institution or another eligible
institution if the institution is a public junior college or public
technical institute; or
(2) with a total number of semester credit hours,
including transfer credit hours and hours earned exclusively by
examination, that is not more than six hours more than the minimum
number of semester credit hours required to complete the
certificate or degree.
(b) This subsection applies only to a student who first
enrolled in an eligible institution during or after the 2005 fall
semester. A student who receives a Texas B-On-time loan shall be
forgiven the amount of the student's loan if the student is awarded
an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution with a
cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale
or the equivalent within:
(1) four calendar years after the date the student
initially enrolled in the institution or another eligible
institution if the student's degree program was a baccalaureate
degree program that required 128 semester credit hours or less to
complete;
(2) five calendar years after the date the student
initially enrolled in the institution or another eligible
institution if the student's degree program was a baccalaureate
degree program that required more than 128 semester credit hours to
complete; or
(3) one calendar year longer than the time prescribed
by Subdivision (1) or (2), as applicable, if the student
transferred from a public junior college, public state college, or
public technical institute after receiving an associate degree or
completing the college's or institute's core curriculum.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.