79R1085 JRJ-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 33
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to graduate stipends awarded as part of the Texas
B-On-time loan program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Q, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.466 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.466. GRADUATE STIPEND. (a) A student who
previously qualified for forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan
under Section 56.462 and who enrolls in a graduate or professional
degree program at an institution of higher education is eligible to
receive a stipend of $2,500 in the student's first academic year in
the program to be used toward expenses associated with the program.
(b) The stipends shall be paid from money appropriated for
that purpose. If in any academic year the amount of money available
for stipends is insufficient to provide a stipend to each eligible
student in the amount specified by this section, the coordinating
board shall determine the amount of available money and shall
allocate that amount to eligible institutions in proportion to the
number of full-time equivalent graduate students enrolled at each
institution. Each institution shall use the money allocated to
award stipends under this section to eligible students enrolled at
the institution selected according to financial need.
(c) The coordinating board shall adopt rules for the
administration of this section, including rules:
(1) prescribing procedures for notifying eligible
students of the availability of stipends under this section;
(2) prescribing application and payment procedures
for students seeking stipends; and
(3) providing for payment of stipends during the
academic year in periodic installments and for termination of the
payments to a student who does not remain enrolled in or maintain
satisfactory academic progress in the student's degree program.
SECTION 2. (a) Section 56.466, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules for the administration of Section 56.466, Education
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act
takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt
the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
SECTION 3. 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.