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INTRODUCED
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HOUSE COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE
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SECTION 1. Section 56.301,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.301. DEFINITIONS. In
this subchapter:
(1)
"Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
(2) "Eligible
institution" means a general academic teaching [an]
institution or a medical and dental unit [of higher education]
that offers one or more undergraduate degree or certification programs. The
term does not include a public state college.
(3) "General academic
teaching institution," "institution of higher education,"
"medical and dental unit," "public ["Public]
junior college," "public state college," and
"public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by
Section 61.003.
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SECTION 1. Sections 56.301(2)
and (3), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(2) "Eligible
institution" means a general academic teaching [an]
institution or a medical and dental unit [of higher education]
that offers one or more undergraduate degree or certification programs. The
term does not include a public state college.
(3) "General academic
teaching institution," "institution of higher education,"
"medical and dental unit," "public ["Public]
junior college," "public state college," and
"public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by
Section 61.003.
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SECTION 2. Section 56.302(b),
Education Code, is amended.
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SECTION 2. Same as introduced
version.
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SECTION 3. Sections
56.303(d-1), (e), and (f), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d-1) In allocating among eligible
[general academic teaching] institutions money available for initial
TEXAS grants for an academic year, the coordinating board shall ensure that
each of those institutions' proportional [percentage] share
of the total amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to eligible
[general academic teaching] institutions under this section [subsection]
for that year does not, as a result of the number of students who establish
eligibility at the institution for an initial grant under Section 56.3041(a)(2)(A) [56.3041(2)(A)],
change from the institution's proportional [percentage] share
of the total amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to those
institutions under this section [subsection] for the
preceding academic year.
(e) In determining who should
receive a TEXAS grant, the coordinating board and the eligible institutions
shall give priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who demonstrate
the greatest financial need and whose expected family contribution, as
determined according to the methodology used for federal student financial
aid, does not exceed 60 percent of the average statewide amount of tuition
and required fees described by Section 56.307(a). In giving priority based
on financial need as required by this subsection to students who meet the
requirements for the highest priority as provided by Subsection (f), an
eligible [a general academic teaching] institution shall
determine financial need according to the relative expected family
contribution of those students, beginning with students who have the lowest
expected family contribution.
(f) Beginning with TEXAS
grants awarded for the 2013-2014 academic year, in determining who should
receive an initial TEXAS grant, each eligible [general academic
teaching] institution, in addition to giving priority as provided by
Subsection (e), shall give highest priority to students who meet the
eligibility criteria described by Section 56.3041(a)(2)(A) [56.3041(2)(A)]. If there is money
available in excess of the amount required to award an initial TEXAS grant
to all students meeting those criteria, an eligible [a general
academic teaching] institution shall make awards to other students who
meet the eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A),
provided that the institution continues to give priority to students as
provided by Subsection (e).
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SECTION 3. Sections
56.303(d-1), (e), and (f), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d-1) In allocating among eligible
[general academic teaching] institutions money available for initial
TEXAS grants for an academic year, the coordinating board shall ensure that
each of those institutions' proportional [percentage] share
of the total amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to eligible
[general academic teaching] institutions under this section [subsection]
for that year does not, as a result of the number of students who establish
eligibility at the institution for an initial grant under Section 56.3041(2)(A), change from the
institution's proportional [percentage] share of the total
amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to those institutions
under this section [subsection] for the preceding academic
year.
(e) In determining who should
receive a TEXAS grant, the coordinating board and the eligible institutions
shall give priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who demonstrate
the greatest financial need and whose expected family contribution, as
determined according to the methodology used for federal student financial
aid, does not exceed 60 percent of the average statewide amount of tuition
and required fees described by Section 56.307(a). In giving priority based
on financial need as required by this subsection to students who meet the
requirements for the highest priority as provided by Subsection (f), an
eligible [a general academic teaching] institution shall
determine financial need according to the relative expected family
contribution of those students, beginning with students who have the lowest
expected family contribution.
(f) Beginning with TEXAS
grants awarded for the 2013-2014 academic year, in determining who should
receive an initial TEXAS grant, each eligible [general academic
teaching] institution, in addition to giving priority as provided by
Subsection (e), shall give highest priority to students who meet the
eligibility criteria described by Section
56.3041(2)(A). If there is money available in excess of the amount
required to award an initial TEXAS grant to all students meeting those
criteria, an eligible [a general academic teaching]
institution shall make awards to other students who meet the eligibility
criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A), provided that the
institution continues to give priority to students as provided by
Subsection (e).
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SECTION 4. Sections 56.304(a)
and (e-1), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially
for a TEXAS grant, a person who graduated
from high school before May 1, 2013, must:
(1) be a resident of this
state as determined by coordinating board rules;
(2) meet either of the
following academic requirements:
(A) be a graduate of a public
or accredited private high school in this state who graduated not earlier
than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or
advanced high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or 28.025
or its equivalent; or
(B) have received an
associate degree from a public or private institution of higher education
not earlier than May 1, 2001;
(3) meet financial need
requirements as defined by the coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in a
baccalaureate [an undergraduate] degree [or certificate]
program at an eligible institution;
(5) be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate
student for at least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not later
than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation from high
school; or
(B) an entering student for
at least three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student
as determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
after the month the person receives an associate degree from a public or
private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any
available financial aid or assistance; and
(7) comply with any
additional nonacademic requirement adopted by the coordinating board under
this subchapter.
(e-1) If a person is
initially awarded a TEXAS grant during or after the 2005 fall semester,
unless the person is provided additional time during which the person may
receive a TEXAS grant under Subsection (e-2), the person's eligibility for
a TEXAS grant ends on:
(1) the fifth anniversary of
the initial award of a TEXAS grant to the person, if the person is enrolled
in a degree [or certificate] program of four years [or less];
or
(2) the sixth anniversary of
the initial award of a TEXAS grant to the person, if the person is enrolled
in a degree program of more than four years.
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SECTION 4. Sections 56.304(a)
and (e-1), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially
for a TEXAS grant, a person must:
(1) be a resident of this
state as determined by coordinating board rules;
(2) meet either of the
following academic requirements:
(A) be a graduate of a public
or accredited private high school in this state who graduated not earlier
than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or advanced
high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or 28.025 or its
equivalent; or
(B) have received an
associate degree from a public or private institution of higher education
not earlier than May 1, 2001;
(3) meet financial need
requirements as defined by the coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in a
baccalaureate [an undergraduate] degree [or certificate]
program at an eligible institution;
(5) be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate
student for at least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not later
than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation from high
school; or
(B) an entering student for
at least three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student
as determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
after the month the person receives an associate degree from a public or
private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any
available financial aid or assistance; and
(7) comply with any
additional nonacademic requirement adopted by the coordinating board under
this subchapter.
(e-1) If a person is
initially awarded a TEXAS grant during or after the 2005 fall semester,
unless the person is provided additional time during which the person may
receive a TEXAS grant under Subsection (e-2), the person's eligibility for
a TEXAS grant ends on:
(1) the fifth anniversary of
the initial award of a TEXAS grant to the person, if the person is enrolled
in a degree [or certificate] program of four years [or less];
or
(2) the sixth anniversary of
the initial award of a TEXAS grant to the person, if the person is enrolled
in a degree program of more than four years.
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SECTION 5. Section 56.3041,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3041. INITIAL
ELIGIBILITY OF PERSON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 2013[,
AND ENROLLING IN A GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTION]. (a) To
[Notwithstanding Section 56.304(a),
to] be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person graduating from
high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling in an eligible [a
general academic teaching] institution must:
(1) be a resident of this
state as determined by coordinating board rules;
(2) meet the academic requirements
prescribed by Paragraph (A), (B), or (C) as follows:
(A) be a graduate of a public
or accredited private high school in this state who completed the
recommended high school program established under Section 28.025 or its
equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the following:
(i) graduation under the
advanced high school program established under Section 28.025 or its
equivalent, successful completion of the course requirements of the
international baccalaureate diploma program, or earning of the equivalent
of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in high school
through courses described in Sections 28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
(ii) satisfaction of the
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by
the coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment
instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section 51.3062(c) [or
(e)] or qualification for an exemption as described by Section
51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1);
(iii) graduation in the top
one-third of the person's high school graduating class or graduation from
high school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
scale or the equivalent; or
(iv) completion for high
school credit of at least one advanced mathematics course following the
successful completion of an Algebra II course, as permitted by Section
28.025(b-3), or at least one advanced career and technical course, as
permitted by Section 28.025(b-2);
(B) have received an
associate degree from a public or private institution of higher education;
or
(C) if sufficient money is
available, meet the eligibility criteria described by Section
56.304(a)(2)(A);
(3) meet financial need
requirements established by the coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in an
undergraduate degree or certificate program at an eligible [the
general academic teaching] institution;
(5) except as provided under
rules adopted under Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate
student for at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by
the coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the calendar
month in which the person graduated from high school;
(B) an entering undergraduate
student who entered military service not later than the first anniversary
of the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, at the eligible [general academic teaching]
institution not later than 12 months after being honorably discharged from
military service; or
(C) a continuing
undergraduate student for at least three-fourths of a full course load, as
determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after
the calendar month in which the person received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any
available financial aid or assistance; and
(7) comply with any
additional nonacademic requirements adopted by the coordinating board under
this subchapter.
(b) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a person who is
otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant, in the event of a hardship or
for other good cause shown, including a showing of a severe illness or
other debilitating condition that may affect the person's academic
performance or that the person is responsible for the care of a sick,
injured, or needy person and that the person's provision of care may affect
the person's academic performance, to receive a TEXAS grant while enrolled
in a number of semester credit hours that is less than the number of
semester credit hours required under Subsection (a)(5). The coordinating
board may not allow a person to receive a TEXAS grant while enrolled in
fewer than six semester credit hours.
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SECTION 5. Section 56.3041,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3041. INITIAL
ELIGIBILITY OF PERSON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 2013[,
AND ENROLLING IN A GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTION]. Notwithstanding Section 56.304(a), to be
eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person graduating from high school
on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling in an eligible [a general
academic teaching] institution must:
(1) be a resident of this
state as determined by coordinating board rules;
(2) meet the academic
requirements prescribed by Paragraph (A), (B), or (C) as follows:
(A) be a graduate of a public
or accredited private high school in this state who completed the
recommended high school program established under Section 28.025 or its
equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the following:
(i) graduation under the
advanced high school program established under Section 28.025 or its
equivalent, successful completion of the course requirements of the
international baccalaureate diploma program, or earning of the equivalent
of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in high school
through courses described in Sections 28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
(ii) satisfaction of the
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by
the coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment
instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section 51.3062(c) [or
(e)] or qualification for an exemption as described by Section
51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1);
(iii) graduation in the top
one-third of the person's high school graduating class or graduation from
high school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
scale or the equivalent; or
(iv) completion for high
school credit of at least one advanced mathematics course following the
successful completion of an Algebra II course, as permitted by Section
28.025(b-3), or at least one advanced career and technical course, as
permitted by Section 28.025(b-2);
(B) have received an
associate degree from a public or private institution of higher education;
or
(C) if sufficient money is
available, meet the eligibility criteria described by Section
56.304(a)(2)(A);
(3) meet financial need
requirements established by the coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in an
undergraduate degree or certificate program at an eligible [the
general academic teaching] institution;
(5) except as provided under
rules adopted under Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate
student for at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by
the coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the calendar
month in which the person graduated from high school;
(B) an entering undergraduate
student who entered military service not later than the first anniversary
of the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, at the eligible [general academic teaching]
institution not later than 12 months after being honorably discharged from
military service; or
(C) a continuing
undergraduate student for at least three-fourths of a full course load, as
determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after
the calendar month in which the person received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any
available financial aid or assistance; and
(7) comply with any
additional nonacademic requirements adopted by the coordinating board under
this subchapter.
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SECTION 6. Section 56.3042,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3042. INITIAL
QUALIFICATION OF PERSON ON TRACK TO MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) If
at the time an eligible institution awards TEXAS grants to initial
recipients for an academic year an applicant has not completed high school
or the applicant's final high school transcript is not yet available to the
institution, the student is considered to have satisfied the eligibility
requirements of Section 56.304(a)(2)(A) or 56.3041(a)(2)(A) [56.3041(2)(A)]
if the student's available high school transcript indicates that at the
time the transcript was prepared the student was on schedule to graduate
from high school and to meet the eligibility requirements, as applicable to
the student, in time to be eligible for a TEXAS grant for the academic
year.
(a-1) If at the time an
eligible institution awards TEXAS grants to initial recipients for an
academic year an applicant who is an associate degree candidate has not
completed that degree or the applicant's final college transcript is not
yet available to the institution, the student is considered to have
satisfied the associate degree requirement of Section 56.304(a)(2)(B) or 56.3041(a)(2)(B)
[56.3041(2)(B)] if the student's available college transcript
indicates that at the time the transcript was prepared the student was on
schedule to complete the associate degree in time to be eligible for a
TEXAS grant for the academic year.
(b) The coordinating board or
the eligible institution may require the student to forgo or repay the
amount of an initial TEXAS grant awarded to the student as described by
Subsection (a) or (a-1) if the student fails to meet the eligibility
requirements described by Subsection (a) or (a-1) [of Section
56.304(a)(2)(A), 56.3041(2)(A), 56.304(a)(2)(B), or 56.3041(2)(B)], as
applicable to the student, after the issuance of the available high school
or college transcript.
(c) A person who is required
to forgo or repay the amount of an initial TEXAS grant under Subsection (b)
may subsequently become eligible to receive an initial TEXAS grant under
Section 56.304 or 56.3041 by satisfying the associate degree requirement
prescribed by Section 56.304(a)(2)(B) or 56.3041(a)(2)(B) [56.3041(2)(B)]
and the other requirements of those sections applicable to the person at
the time the person reapplies for the grant.
(d) A person who receives an
initial TEXAS grant under Subsection (a) or (a-1) but does not satisfy
the applicable eligibility requirement that the person was considered to
have satisfied under the applicable subsection and who is not
required to forgo or repay the amount of the grant under Subsection (b) may
become eligible to receive a subsequent TEXAS grant under Section 56.305
only by satisfying the associate degree requirement prescribed by Section
56.304(a)(2)(B) or 56.3041(a)(2)(B) [56.3041(2)(B)], as
applicable to the person, in addition to the requirements of Section 56.305
at the time the person applies for the subsequent grant.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 7. Section 56.305(a),
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) After initially
qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person may continue to receive a TEXAS
grant during each semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an
eligible institution only if the person:
(1) meets financial need
requirements as defined by the coordinating board;
(2) is enrolled in a
baccalaureate [an undergraduate] degree [or certificate]
program at an eligible institution;
(3) is enrolled for [at least three-fourths of] a full
course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating
board;
(4) makes satisfactory
academic progress toward a baccalaureate [an undergraduate]
degree [or certificate]; and
(5) complies with any
additional nonacademic requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
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SECTION 6. Section 56.305(a),
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) After initially
qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person may continue to receive a TEXAS
grant during each semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an
eligible institution only if the person:
(1) meets financial need
requirements as defined by the coordinating board;
(2) is enrolled in a
baccalaureate [an undergraduate] degree [or certificate]
program at an eligible institution;
(3) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full course load
for an undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board;
(4) makes satisfactory
academic progress toward a baccalaureate [an undergraduate]
degree [or certificate]; and
(5) complies with any
additional nonacademic requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
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SECTION 8. Section 56.306,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.306. GRANT USE. A
person receiving a TEXAS grant may use the money to pay any usual and
customary cost of attendance at an eligible institution [of
higher education] incurred by the student. The institution may disburse
all or part of the proceeds of a TEXAS grant directly to an eligible person only if the tuition and
required fees incurred by the person at the institution have been paid.
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SECTION 7. Section 56.306,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.306. GRANT USE. A
person receiving a TEXAS grant may use the money to pay any usual and
customary cost of attendance at an eligible institution [of
higher education] incurred by the student. The institution may disburse
all or part of the proceeds of a TEXAS grant to an eligible person only if
the tuition and required fees incurred by the person at the institution
have been paid.
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SECTION 9. Sections 56.307(a)
and (d-1), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The amount of a TEXAS
grant for a semester or term for a person enrolled full-time at an eligible
institution [other than an institution covered by Subsection (c) or (d)]
is an [the] amount determined by the coordinating board that may not exceed [as] the average statewide amount of
tuition, [and] required fees,
and allowance for course materials that a resident student
enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program would be charged for
that semester or term at general academic teaching institutions.
(d-1)
The coordinating board shall determine the average statewide tuition,
[and] fee amounts, and allowance for course materials for a
semester or term of the next academic year for purposes of this section by
using the amounts of tuition and required fees that will be charged by the
[applicable] eligible institutions for that semester or term in that
academic year. The board may estimate the amount of the charges for a
semester or term in the next academic year by an institution if the
relevant information is not yet available to the board.
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SECTION 8. Section 56.307(a),
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The amount of a TEXAS
grant for a semester or term for a person enrolled full-time at an eligible
institution [other than an institution covered by Subsection (c) or (d)]
is the amount determined by the coordinating board as the average statewide
amount of tuition and required fees that a resident student enrolled
full-time in a baccalaureate degree program would be charged for that
semester or term at general academic teaching institutions.
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SECTION 10. Section
56.311(c-1), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c-1) Not later than
September 1 of each year, the coordinating board shall provide a report to
the committee regarding the operation of the TEXAS grant program, including
information from the three preceding state fiscal years as follows:
(1) allocations of TEXAS
grants by eligible institution, disaggregated by initial and subsequent
awards;
(2) the number of TEXAS
grants awarded to students disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and expected
family contribution;
(3) disaggregated as required
by Subdivision (2) and reported both on a statewide basis and for each
eligible institution, the number of TEXAS grants awarded to students who
meet:
(A) only the eligibility
criteria described by Section 56.304; or
(B) the eligibility criteria
described by Section 56.3041(a)(2)(A) [56.3041(2)(A)]; and
(4) the persistence,
retention, and graduation rates of students receiving TEXAS grants.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 11. Sections
56.307(c), (d), (e), (f), (i-1), (j), and
(l), Education Code, are repealed.
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SECTION 9. Sections 56.307(c)
and (d), Education Code, are repealed.
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SECTION 12. (a) The change in
law made to Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, by this Act applies
beginning with TEXAS grants awarded for the 2014 fall semester. Grants
awarded for a semester or term before the 2014 fall semester are governed
by the applicable law in effect immediately before the effective date of
this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Notwithstanding
Subsection (a) of this section, a student who first receives a TEXAS grant
for attendance at a public junior college, public state college, or public
technical institute for a semester or other academic term before the 2014
fall semester may continue to receive a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M,
Chapter 56, Education Code, as that subchapter existed immediately before
the effective date of this Act, as long as the student remains eligible for
a TEXAS grant under the former law, and, if eligible, may continue to
receive a TEXAS grant if the person enrolls at an eligible institution
under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, as amended this Act. The
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules to administer
this subsection and shall notify each student who receives a TEXAS grant in
the 2013-2014 academic year of the provisions of this subsection.
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SECTION 10. Substantially the
same as introduced version.
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SECTION 13. 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, 2013.
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SECTION 11. Same as
introduced version.
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