By: Lucio III, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 452
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 2011;
  May 16, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
  Education; May 20, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 20, 2011, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to temporary housing between academic terms for certain
  postsecondary students who have been under the conservatorship of
  the Department of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.976 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.976.  TEMPORARY HOUSING BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS FOR
  CERTAIN STUDENTS FORMERLY UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF DEPARTMENT OF
  FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
               (2)  "Academic term" includes a summer session.
         (b)  To be eligible to receive housing assistance from an
  institution of higher education under Subsection (c), a student
  must:
               (1)  have been under the conservatorship of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services or its predecessor in
  function on the day preceding:
                     (A)  the student's 18th birthday; or
                     (B)  the date the student's disabilities of
  minority are removed by a court under Chapter 31, Family Code;
               (2)  be enrolled full-time at the institution during
  the academic term immediately preceding the period for which the
  student requests the housing assistance;
               (3)  be registered or otherwise have taken the actions
  required by the institution to permit the student to enroll
  full-time at the institution during the academic term immediately
  following the period for which the student requests the housing
  assistance; and
               (4)  lack other reasonable temporary housing
  alternatives between the academic terms described by Subdivisions
  (2) and (3), as determined by the institution.
         (c)  On the student's request, each institution of higher
  education shall assist an eligible student in locating temporary
  housing for any period beginning on the last day of an academic term
  and ending on the first day of the immediately following academic
  term, according to the institution's academic calendar.
         (d)  For each eligible student under Subsection (b) who also
  demonstrates financial need, the institution may:
               (1)  provide a stipend to cover any reasonable costs of
  the temporary housing that are not covered by other financial aid
  immediately available to the student for that purpose; or
               (2)  provide temporary housing directly to the student
  for the applicable period.
         (e)  The receipt of a stipend under Subsection (d) does not
  prohibit the student from receiving additional stipends under that
  subsection in one or more subsequent periods, based on the
  student's demonstrated financial need.
         (f)  An institution of higher education may use any available
  revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may solicit and
  accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
  section. The institution shall use any gifts, grants, and
  donations received for the purposes of this section before using
  other revenue.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.
 
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