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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of students who participate in certain |
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internship programs for tuition rebates offered by general academic |
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teaching institutions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a |
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portion of the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the |
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student: |
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(1) is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general |
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academic teaching institution within the period prescribed by |
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Section 56.462(1)(A) or (B), as applicable, to qualify for |
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forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan; and |
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(2) has attempted no more than three hours in excess of |
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the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete |
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the degree program: |
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(A) including: |
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(i) transfer credits; and |
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(ii) course credit earned exclusively by |
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examination, except that, for purposes of this subsection, only the |
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number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination |
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in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours |
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attempted; and |
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(B) excluding: |
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(i) course credit that is earned to satisfy |
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requirements for a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program |
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but that is not required to complete the degree program; and |
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(ii) course credit earned through |
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participation in an optional internship program sponsored or |
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approved by an institution of higher education, if the student |
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earned the credit while enrolled at that institution. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a student who is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general |
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academic teaching institution on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |