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By: Turner of Tarrant, Leibowitz, Moody |
H.B. No. 3951 |
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(Senate Sponsor - Davis) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2009; |
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May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher |
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Education; May 13, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: |
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Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 13, 2009, sent to printer.) |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring a public institution of higher education to |
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designate or employ a person trained in student financial |
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assistance programs for military veterans and their families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 56.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.006. EMPLOYEE TRAINED IN STUDENT FINANCIAL |
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ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES. (a) Each |
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institution of higher education shall ensure that one or more |
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persons employed by the institution is trained: |
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(1) in understanding state and federal student |
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financial assistance programs available to military veterans or |
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their family members, especially programs specifically applicable |
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to military veterans or their family members; and |
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(2) in assisting military veterans and eligible family |
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members in understanding and obtaining the benefits available under |
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those programs. |
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(b) A person described by Subsection (a) must be available |
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to assist persons as described by Subsection (a)(2) during regular |
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business hours at the financial aid or other office to which the |
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person is assigned. |
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(c) The legislature shall ensure that each institution |
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receives adequate funding to cover the additional costs |
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attributable to the requirements of this section and may |
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appropriate money for that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. A public institution of higher education shall |
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comply with Section 56.006, Education Code, as added by this Act, |
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concerning employment of a person to provide student financial |
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assistance for military veterans and their families not later than |
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January 1, 2010. |
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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. |
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* * * * * |