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By: Gonzales of Williamson |
H.B. No. 3577 |
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(Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2011; |
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April 29, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher |
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Education; May 12, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable |
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Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; |
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May 12, 2011, sent to printer.) |
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3577 |
By: Zaffirini |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to priority consideration and eligibility for Texas |
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Educational Opportunity Grants, TEXAS grants, and other state |
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financial aid. |
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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 56.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.007. PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL |
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ASSISTANCE. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by |
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rule shall provide for a uniform priority application deadline for |
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applications for financial assistance for an academic year. |
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(b) The priority deadline may not serve as a determination |
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of eligibility for state financial assistance, but otherwise |
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eligible applicants who apply on or before the deadline shall be |
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given priority consideration for available state financial |
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assistance before other applicants. |
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(c) The coordinating board shall consult with financial aid |
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personnel at institutions of higher education in adopting rules |
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providing for the deadline required under this section. |
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(d) This section only applies to a general academic teaching |
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institution as defined by Section 61.003. |
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SECTION 2. Section 56.404(e), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) A person may not receive a grant under this subchapter |
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and [if the person is eligible for] a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M |
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for the same semester or other term, regardless of whether the |
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person is otherwise eligible for both grants during that semester |
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or term. A person who but for this subsection would be awarded both |
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a grant under this subchapter and a TEXAS grant for the same |
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semester or other term is entitled to receive only the grant of the |
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greater amount. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by Section 56.007, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with |
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student financial assistance awarded for the 2013-2014 academic |
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year. State student financial assistance awarded for an academic |
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period before that academic year is covered by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) The change in law made by this Act relating to the |
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eligibility of a student for a Texas Educational Opportunity Grant |
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or a TEXAS grant applies beginning with grants awarded for the |
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2011-2012 academic year. Grants awarded for an academic year |
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before the 2011-2012 academic year are governed by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2011. |
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* * * * * |