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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial aid to assist students with paying the costs |
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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 56.302, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an individual grant |
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awarded under Section 56.3076 is known as a TEXAS technology grant. |
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A TEXAS technology grant is not a TEXAS grant for purposes of this |
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subchapter. This subsection expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 56.3021, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, |
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a student who was awarded a TEXAS grant under this subchapter to pay |
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the costs of enrollment in a private or independent institution of |
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higher education for the 2005 fall semester or an earlier academic |
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period may continue to receive a TEXAS grant [grants under this
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subchapter] while enrolled in a private or independent institution |
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of higher education if the student is otherwise eligible to receive |
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a TEXAS grant under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. Section 56.304, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (f) and adding Subsection (b-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person |
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must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state as determined by |
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coordinating board rules; |
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(2) meet either of the following academic |
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requirements: |
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(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited |
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private high school in this state [who graduated not earlier than
|
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the 1998-1999 school year and] who completed the recommended or |
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advanced high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or |
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28.025 or its equivalent; or |
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(B) have received an associate degree from a |
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public or private institution of higher education [not earlier than
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May 1, 2001]; |
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(3) meet financial need requirements as defined by the |
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coordinating board; |
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(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or |
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certificate program at an eligible institution; |
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(5) be enrolled as: |
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(A) an entering undergraduate student for at |
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least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering |
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undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not |
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later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation |
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from high school; or |
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(B) an entering student for at least |
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three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as |
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determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month |
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after the month the person receives an associate degree from a |
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public or private institution of higher education; |
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(6) have applied for any available financial aid or |
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assistance; and |
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(7) comply with any additional nonacademic |
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requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b-1), a [A] |
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person is not eligible to receive a TEXAS grant if the person has |
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been convicted of a felony [or an offense under Chapter 481, Health
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and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act), or under the law
|
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of another jurisdiction involving a controlled substance as defined
|
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by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code,] unless the person has met |
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the other applicable eligibility requirements under this |
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subchapter and has: |
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(1) received a certificate of discharge by the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice or a correctional facility or |
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completed a period of probation ordered by a court, and at least two |
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years have elapsed from the date of the receipt or completion; or |
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(2) been pardoned, had the record of the offense |
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expunged from the person's record, or otherwise has been released |
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from the resulting ineligibility to receive a grant under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b-1) A person who is convicted of any offense under a |
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federal or state law, including the law of another state, involving |
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the possession or sale of a controlled substance, as defined by |
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Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, for conduct that occurred |
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during a period of enrollment in which the person is receiving a |
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TEXAS grant: |
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(1) is ineligible to receive a TEXAS grant for the same |
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period for which 20 U.S.C. Section 1091(r) provides for |
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ineligibility to receive a federal grant, loan, or work assistance |
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had the conduct occurred during a period of enrollment in which the |
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person was receiving a federal grant, loan, or work assistance; and |
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(2) may become eligible to receive a TEXAS grant |
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before the end of the ineligibility period provided by Subdivision |
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(1) in the same manner as provided by 20 U.S.C. Section 1091(r) for |
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a person to resume eligibility for a federal grant, loan, or work |
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assistance. |
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(f) The requirement in Subsection (a)(2) that a person must |
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have completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum |
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does not apply to a person who: |
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(1) attended a public high school in a school district |
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if, not later than March 1 of the school year in which the person is |
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scheduled to graduate from high school, the superintendent of that |
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district certifies to the coordinating board [commissioner of
|
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education] that the high school did not offer all the necessary |
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courses for a person to complete all parts of the recommended or |
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advanced high school curriculum; and |
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(2) completed all courses at the high school offered |
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toward the completion of the recommended or advanced high school |
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curriculum. |
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SECTION 4. Subsections (a), (b), and (c), Section 56.305, |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) After initially qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person |
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may continue to receive a TEXAS grant during each academic year |
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[semester or term] in which the person is enrolled at an eligible |
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institution only if the person: |
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(1) meets financial need requirements as defined by |
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the coordinating board; |
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(2) is enrolled in an undergraduate degree or |
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certificate program at an eligible institution; |
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(3) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full |
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course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the |
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coordinating board; |
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(4) makes satisfactory academic progress toward an |
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undergraduate degree or certificate; and |
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(5) complies with any additional nonacademic |
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requirement adopted by the coordinating board. |
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(b) A person who under Section 56.304(b) or (b-1) would not |
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be [is not] eligible [to continue] to receive a TEXAS grant is not |
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eligible to continue to receive a grant under this section [if the
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person has been convicted of a felony or an offense under Chapter
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481, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act), or
|
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under the law of another jurisdiction involving a controlled
|
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substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, unless
|
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the person has met the other applicable eligibility requirements
|
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under this subchapter and has:
|
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[(1)
received a certificate of discharge by the Texas
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Department of Criminal Justice or a correctional facility or
|
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completed a period of probation ordered by a court, and at least two
|
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years have elapsed from the date of the receipt or completion; or
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[(2)
been pardoned, had the record of the offense
|
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expunged from the person's record, or otherwise has been released
|
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from the resulting ineligibility to receive a grant under this
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subchapter]. |
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(c) If a person fails to meet any of the requirements of |
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Subsection (a) after the completion of any academic year [semester
|
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or term], the person may not receive a TEXAS grant for a semester or |
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term of [during] the next academic year [semester or term] in which |
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the person enrolls. A person may become eligible to receive a TEXAS |
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grant in a subsequent academic year [semester or term] if the |
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person: |
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(1) completes an academic year [a semester or term] |
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during which the student is not eligible for a scholarship; and |
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(2) meets all the requirements of Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 56.3076 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.3076. TEXAS TECHNOLOGY GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. |
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(a) Grants may be awarded under this section only from: |
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(1) the amount of money available for TEXAS grants for |
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an award period that exceeds the amount necessary to award a TEXAS |
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grant to each eligible applicant in the applicable amount |
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determined under Section 56.307; |
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(2) money specifically appropriated for purposes of |
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this section; or |
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(3) money, other than money described by Subdivision |
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(1) or (2), that may lawfully be used for purposes of this section. |
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(b) The coordinating board may use money described by |
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Subsection (a) to award a TEXAS technology grant to a student who: |
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(1) is enrolled in an undergraduate engineering or |
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computer science program; |
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(2) has completed at least 60 semester credit hours |
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toward a baccalaureate degree in engineering or computer science; |
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and |
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(3) meets all eligibility requirements under Section |
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56.305 to receive a TEXAS grant. |
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(c) The amount of a TEXAS technology grant is determined by |
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the coordinating board and may not exceed an amount equal to two |
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times the amount that may be awarded as a TEXAS grant under Section |
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56.307(a) for the same academic period. |
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(d) In awarding a TEXAS technology grant, the coordinating |
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board: |
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(1) shall give priority to a student who is a member of |
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a group underrepresented in engineering or computer science, as |
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applicable, as established under coordinating board rule; |
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(2) may award different amounts based on the amount of |
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coursework a student has completed toward earning a degree in |
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engineering or computer science, as provided by coordinating board |
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rule; and |
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(3) if the money available for TEXAS technology grants |
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is insufficient to award a grant to each eligible applicant, may |
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give priority in awarding grants to students who demonstrate the |
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greatest financial need. |
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(e) Section 56.306 applies to the use and disbursement of a |
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TEXAS technology grant in the same manner as that section applies to |
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the use and disbursement of a TEXAS grant. |
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(f) A person may not simultaneously receive a TEXAS grant |
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and a TEXAS technology grant. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 6. Subsection (b), Section 56.308, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Each school district shall: |
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(1) notify its middle school students, junior high |
|
school students, and high school students, those students' teachers |
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and counselors, and those students' parents of federal and state |
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financial aid [the TEXAS grant and Teach for Texas grant] programs |
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to assist students with paying the costs of higher education, the |
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primary eligibility requirements of the programs [each program], |
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the need for students to make informed curriculum choices to be |
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prepared for success beyond high school, [and] sources of |
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information on higher education admissions, and sources of |
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information on financial aid in a manner that assists the district |
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in implementing a strategy adopted by the district under Section |
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11.252(a)(4); and |
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(2) ensure that each student's official transcript or |
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diploma indicates whether the student has completed or is on |
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schedule to complete: |
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(A) the recommended or advanced high school |
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curriculum required for grant eligibility under Section 28.002 or |
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28.025; or |
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(B) for a school district covered by Section |
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56.304(f)(1), the required portion of the recommended or advanced |
|
high school curriculum in the manner described by Section |
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56.304(f)(2). |
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SECTION 7. Section 56.311, Education Code, is transferred |
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to Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, redesignated as |
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Section 56.005, and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.005 [56.311]. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON |
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STATE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) The |
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Legislative Oversight Committee on state financial aid programs for |
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higher education [the TEXAS grant program and Teach for Texas grant
|
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program] is composed of six members as follows: |
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(1) three members of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; and |
|
(2) three members of the house of representatives |
|
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(b) The committee shall: |
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(1) meet at least twice a year with the coordinating |
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board; and |
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(2) receive information regarding rules relating to |
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state financial aid programs for higher education [the TEXAS grant
|
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program and Teach for Texas grant program] that have been adopted by |
|
the coordinating board or proposed for adoption by the coordinating |
|
board. |
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(c) The committee may request reports and other information |
|
from the coordinating board relating to the operation by the |
|
coordinating board of state financial aid programs for higher |
|
education [the TEXAS grant program and Teach for Texas grant
|
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program by the coordinating board]. |
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(d) The committee shall review the specific recommendations |
|
for legislation related to this subchapter that are proposed by the |
|
coordinating board. |
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(e) The committee shall monitor the operation of state |
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financial aid programs for higher education [the TEXAS grant
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program and Teach for Texas grant program], with emphasis on the |
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manner of the award of financial aid [grants], the total amount of |
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financial aid [number of grants] awarded, the amount of financial |
|
aid awarded under each state financial aid program, and the |
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educational progress made by persons who have received financial |
|
aid [grants] under those programs. |
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(f) The committee shall file a report with the governor, |
|
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives |
|
not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year. |
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(g) The report shall include identification of any problems |
|
in the state financial aid programs for higher education [TEXAS
|
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grant program and Teach for Texas grant program] with recommended |
|
solutions for the coordinating board and for legislative action. |
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SECTION 8. Section 56.463, Education Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
(c) The coordinating board shall distribute money in the |
|
Texas B-On-time student loan account to be paid to an eligible |
|
institution under this subchapter through the electronic funds |
|
transfer system that is maintained by the Texas Guaranteed Student |
|
Loan Corporation for disbursing loan money from commercial lenders |
|
participating in the guaranteed student loan program under Chapter |
|
57, except that, at the request of an eligible institution, the |
|
coordinating board may distribute the money through another means |
|
specified by the institution. The coordinating board and the Texas |
|
Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation shall enter into a contract |
|
that provides for the corporation to make the electronic funds |
|
transfer system available for the coordinating board's use as |
|
necessary to carry out this subsection. |
|
SECTION 9. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Sections 61.0661, 61.0662, and 61.0663 to read as |
|
follows: |
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Sec. 61.0661. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING ISSUANCE OF DEBIT |
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CARDS TO STUDENTS AWARDED FINANCIAL AID. (a) The board, in |
|
consultation with student financial aid officers of institutions of |
|
higher education and private or independent institutions of higher |
|
education, shall conduct a study to evaluate: |
|
(1) the feasibility of issuing to a student who is |
|
awarded state or institutional financial aid to pay higher |
|
education expenses a debit card for debiting the account to which |
|
the student's financial aid money is assigned; |
|
(2) if feasible to issue a debit card, the financial |
|
aid programs for which use of a debit card would be suitable; |
|
(3) the manner, if any, in which a debit card could be |
|
consolidated with another debit card issued to a student by an |
|
institution of higher education or a private or independent |
|
institution of higher education; and |
|
(4) any other issue the study participants determine |
|
would be helpful in making decisions concerning the issuance of a |
|
debit card to a student who is awarded state or institutional |
|
financial aid. |
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(b) Not later than September 30, 2008, the board shall |
|
complete the study required by Subsection (a) and shall submit to |
|
the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative |
|
standing committee or subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over |
|
higher education a report that includes any recommendations that |
|
result from the study. |
|
(c) This section expires January 1, 2009. |
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Sec. 61.0662. IMPACT STUDY: OVERALL GRADE POINT AVERAGE |
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REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL AID; COMPUTATION OF GRADE POINT AVERAGE. |
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(a) The board, in consultation with appropriate representatives |
|
of institutions of higher education and private or independent |
|
institutions of higher education, shall conduct a study to evaluate |
|
the impact of: |
|
(1) requiring a student to maintain an overall grade |
|
point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the |
|
equivalent in order for the student to retain eligibility for |
|
receiving state financial aid to pay higher education costs; and |
|
(2) excluding from the computation of overall grade |
|
point average for purposes of determining eligibility to receive |
|
state financial aid, any grade a student receives in an elective |
|
course. |
|
(b) In conducting the study required by Subsection (a)(1), |
|
the board: |
|
(1) shall consider whether a grade point average |
|
requirement higher than 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent |
|
for retaining eligibility for receiving state financial aid should |
|
be phased in over time; and |
|
(2) may consider the impact of establishing an overall |
|
grade point average requirement that is higher than 2.5 on a |
|
four-point scale or the equivalent but that is lower than 3.0 on a |
|
four-point scale or the equivalent. |
|
(c) Not later than September 30, 2008, the board shall |
|
complete the study required by this section and shall submit to the |
|
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative |
|
standing committee and subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over |
|
higher education a report that includes any recommendations that |
|
result from the study. |
|
(d) This section expires January 1, 2009. |
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Sec. 61.0663. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING TEXAS GRANT AWARD |
|
AMOUNTS. (a) The board, in consultation with appropriate |
|
representatives of institutions of higher education, shall conduct |
|
a study to evaluate the feasibility of awarding to a student who is |
|
eligible for a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, until the |
|
student has completed 90 semester credit hours of higher education |
|
coursework, less than the full amount of a TEXAS grant, as that |
|
amount is determined under Section 56.307. The board and the other |
|
study participants shall consider awarding to an eligible student |
|
amounts equal to the following percentages of the full amount of a |
|
TEXAS grant: |
|
(1) 50 percent, until the student has completed 30 |
|
semester credit hours of higher education coursework; |
|
(2) 60 percent, until the student has completed 60 |
|
semester credit hours of higher education coursework; and |
|
(3) 75 percent, until the student has completed 90 |
|
semester credit hours of higher education coursework. |
|
(b) The board and the other study participants may consider: |
|
(1) awarding amounts based on percentages of the full |
|
amount of a TEXAS grant other than the percentages specified by |
|
Subsection (a); or |
|
(2) basing reduced TEXAS grant award amounts on |
|
numbers of semester credit hour coursework completed other than the |
|
numbers specified by Subsection (a). |
|
(c) Not later than September 30, 2008, the board shall |
|
complete the study required by Subsection (a) and shall submit to |
|
the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative |
|
standing committee and subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over |
|
higher education a report that includes any recommendations that |
|
result from the study. |
|
SECTION 10. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 61.2251, |
|
Education Code, as added by Chapter 1230, Acts of the 79th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) To be eligible for a tuition equalization grant in the |
|
first academic year in which the person receives the grant, a person |
|
must: |
|
(1) be a Texas resident as defined by the coordinating |
|
board and meet, at a minimum, the resident requirements defined by |
|
law for Texas resident tuition in fully state-supported |
|
institutions of higher education; |
|
(2) be enrolled for a full course load conforming to an |
|
individual degree plan in an approved college or university; |
|
(3) be required to pay more tuition than is required at |
|
a public college or university and be charged no less than the |
|
regular tuition required of all students enrolled at the |
|
institution; |
|
(4) establish financial need in accordance with |
|
procedures and regulations of the coordinating board; |
|
(5) not be a recipient of any form of athletic |
|
scholarship; [and] |
|
(6) make satisfactory academic progress toward a |
|
degree or certificate by meeting the requirements established for |
|
that purpose by the approved college or university in which the |
|
person is enrolled; and |
|
(7) have complied with other requirements adopted by |
|
the coordinating board under this subchapter. |
|
(c) After qualifying for a tuition equalization grant under |
|
Subsection (b), a person may receive a tuition equalization grant |
|
in a subsequent academic year in which the person is enrolled at an |
|
approved institution only if the person: |
|
(1) meets the requirements of Subsection (b), other |
|
than the requirements established under Subsection (b)(6); |
|
(2) makes satisfactory academic progress toward a |
|
degree or certificate by completing [completed] at least: |
|
(A) 24 semester credit hours in the person's most |
|
recent academic year, if the person is enrolled in an undergraduate |
|
degree or certificate program; or |
|
(B) 18 semester credit hours in the person's most |
|
recent academic year, if the person is enrolled in a graduate or |
|
professional degree program; 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 public or private institutions of higher |
|
education. |
|
SECTION 11. Subsection (g), Section 56.304, Education Code, |
|
is repealed. |
|
SECTION 12. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
|
this section, the changes in law made by this Act to Subchapter M, |
|
Chapter 56, Education Code, and to Section 61.2251, Education Code, |
|
as added by Chapter 1230, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular |
|
Session, 2005, apply beginning with the 2008 fall semester. |
|
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
|
award TEXAS technology grants under Section 56.3076, Education |
|
Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2009 fall semester. |
|
SECTION 13. 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, 2007. |
|
|
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* * * * * |