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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a requirement that a full TEXAS grant be awarded to each |
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eligible applicant in an academic year. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 56.307, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (m) to read as follows: |
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(m) Before the beginning of each academic year, the |
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coordinating board shall determine and certify to each eligible |
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institution the total amount of money necessary for the institution |
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to award, without reference to any factor that could affect a grant |
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award such as financial need, the full amount of a TEXAS grant to |
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each eligible applicant who enrolls at the institution during that |
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academic year. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, |
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after the coordinating board certifies the total amount necessary |
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to award those grants with respect to an eligible institution, the |
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institution shall award the full amount of the TEXAS grant to each |
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eligible applicant who enrolls at the institution. Notwithstanding |
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any other law, an eligible institution that fails to satisfy the |
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requirements of this subsection may not spend any of the |
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institution's unobligated institutional funds or any money |
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appropriated to the institution for instruction or operations in |
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the academic year for which the coordinating board certified the |
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total amount necessary to award grants as required by this |
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subsection. An eligible institution may elect to reduce the amount |
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of a grant awarded to any eligible applicant only as permitted by |
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Subsections (i-1) and (j). |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies |
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beginning with TEXAS grants awarded for the 2010 fall semester. |
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Grants awarded for a semester or term before the 2010 fall semester |
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are covered by the applicable law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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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. |