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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility requirements for the tuition equalization |
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grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 61.2251(b), (c), and (e), Education |
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Code, as added by Chapter 1230 (H.B. 1172), Acts of the 79th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible for a tuition equalization grant in the |
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first academic year in which the person receives the grant, a person |
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must: |
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(1) be a Texas resident as defined by the coordinating |
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board and meet, at a minimum, the resident requirements defined by |
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law for Texas resident tuition in fully state-supported |
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institutions of higher education; |
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(2) be enrolled in at least three-fourths of [for] a |
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full course load conforming to an individual degree plan in an |
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approved college or university; |
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(3) be required to pay more tuition than is required at |
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a public college or university and be charged no less than the |
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regular tuition required of all students enrolled at the |
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institution; |
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(4) establish financial need in accordance with |
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procedures and regulations of the coordinating board; |
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(5) not be a recipient of any form of athletic |
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scholarship; [and] |
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(6) make satisfactory academic progress toward a |
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degree or certificate as determined by the institution at which the |
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person is enrolled; and |
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(7) have complied with other requirements adopted by |
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the coordinating board under this subchapter. |
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(c) After qualifying for a tuition equalization grant under |
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Subsection (b), a person may receive a tuition equalization grant |
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in a subsequent academic year in which the person is enrolled at an |
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approved institution only if the person: |
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(1) meets the requirements of Subsection (b); |
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(2) completed at least: |
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(A) 24 semester credit hours in the person's most |
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recent full academic year, if the person is enrolled in an |
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undergraduate degree or certificate program; or |
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(B) 18 semester credit hours in the person's most |
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recent full academic year, if the person is enrolled in a graduate |
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or professional degree program; and |
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(3) has earned an overall grade point average of at |
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least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework |
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previously attempted at public or private institutions of higher |
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education. |
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(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a |
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person who is otherwise eligible to receive a tuition equalization |
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grant, in the event of a hardship or for other good cause shown, to |
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receive a tuition equalization grant if the person does not: |
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(1) make satisfactory academic progress as required |
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under Subsection (b)(6); |
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(2) complete the semester credit hours required by |
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Subsection (c)(2); |
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(3) [(2)] maintain the grade point average required by |
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Subsection (c)(3); or |
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(4) [(3)] complete the person's certificate or degree |
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program within the period prescribed by Subsection (d). |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.2251, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition equalization |
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grants awarded for the 2010-2011 academic year. A tuition |
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equalization grant awarded for an academic year before that |
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academic year is covered by the law in effect when the grant was |
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awarded, and that law is continued in 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. |