82(R) HB 10 - House Committee Report version

This bill amends the Education Code concerning the award of TEXAS Grants. TEXAS Grants are financial aid awards made to higher education students who meet certain academic requirements as specified under the Education Code and who are selected for the award by the institution of higher education that they attend.

This bill would make three major changes to this statute. First, the bill establishes a new set of academic standards for the "priority" award of these grants at General Academic Institutions. These institutions would be required to award TEXAS Grants first to those students who met these new standards; institutions with funds remaining after these "priority" awards would be permitted to give TEXAS Grants to the broader, statutorily eligible population. Second, the bill prevents HECB from changing the proportion of funds allocated to General Academic Institutions due to different levels of "priority" students; however, HECB retains rule-making authority to change allocation percentages for other reasons. Finally, it would enable eligible students entering military service to retain TEXAS Grant eligibility for the year following their honorable discharge from military service.

The statutory changes implemented as a result of this bill will not affect the number of students served at each institution and as a result no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated; however, the specific students selected for awards at some institutions may change.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 15, 2011

TO:	Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education

FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB10 by Branch (relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant and to administration of the TEXAS grant program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted