By: Gonzales of Williamson H.B. No. 3577

(Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2011; April 29, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 12, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 12, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3577 By: Zaffirini

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to priority consideration and eligibility for Texas Educational Opportunity Grants, TEXAS grants, and other state financial aid.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 56.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 56.007. PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall provide for a uniform priority application deadline for applications for financial assistance for an academic year.

(b) The priority deadline may not serve as a determination of eligibility for state financial assistance, but otherwise eligible applicants who apply on or before the deadline shall be given priority consideration for available state financial assistance before other applicants.

(c) The coordinating board shall consult with financial aid personnel at institutions of higher education in adopting rules providing for the deadline required under this section.

(d) This section only applies to a general academic teaching institution as defined by Section 61.003.

SECTION 2. Section 56.404(e), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) A person may not receive a grant under this subchapter and [if the person is eligible for] a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M for the same semester or other term, regardless of whether the person is otherwise eligible for both grants during that semester or term. A person who but for this subsection would be awarded both a grant under this subchapter and a TEXAS grant for the same semester or other term is entitled to receive only the grant of the greater amount.

SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by Section 56.007, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with student financial assistance awarded for the 2013-2014 academic year. State student financial assistance awarded for an academic period before that academic year is covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

(b) The change in law made by this Act relating to the eligibility of a student for a Texas Educational Opportunity Grant or a TEXAS grant applies beginning with grants awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year. Grants awarded for an academic year before the 2011-2012 academic year are governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. 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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