82R1359 KEL-D

By: Branch H.B. No. 3514

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to student eligibility for tuition rebates offered by general academic teaching institutions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a portion of the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the student:

(1) is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general academic teaching institution within the period prescribed by Section 56.462(1)(A) or (B), as applicable, to qualify for forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan; and

(2) has attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree program:

(A) including:

(i) transfer credits; and

(ii) course credit earned exclusively by examination, except that, for purposes of this subsection, only the number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours attempted; and

(B) excluding:

(i) course credit that is earned to satisfy requirements for a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program but that is not required to complete the degree program; and

(ii) course credit, other than course credit earned exclusively by examination, that is earned before graduating from high school and used to satisfy high school graduation requirements.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a student who is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general academic teaching institution on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. 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.