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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding state financial assistance to |
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students enrolled at public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.051, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-5) to read as follows: |
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(a-5) The board and the Legislative Budget Board jointly |
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shall study and evaluate the feasibility and economic effectiveness |
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of using the TEXAS grant program under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, to |
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provide financial assistance primarily to lower-division students |
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enrolled at institutions of higher education and the Texas |
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B-On-time loan program under Subchapter Q, Chapter 56, to provide |
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financial assistance primarily to upper-division students enrolled |
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at those institutions. As part of the biennial report submitted by |
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the board to the 81st Legislature under Subsection (a-3), the board |
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and the Legislative Budget Board jointly shall report the results |
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of the study to the legislature. The report must include any |
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recommendation of the board and the Legislative Budget Board for |
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legislation or administrative action, including changes to state |
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agency rules and other changes necessary to promote efficiency and |
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effectiveness in the use of money to fund the TEXAS grant program |
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and the Texas B-On-time loan program. A recommendation under this |
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subsection must include an explanation of the basis for the |
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recommendation. Not later than December 1, 2008, the board and the |
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Legislative Budget Board shall submit a copy of the financial |
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assistance report required by this subsection to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. This subsection expires January 31, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |