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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing participation in state-funded student |
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financial assistance programs by certain students of Western |
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Governors University Texas or similar online nonprofit |
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universities. |
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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 56.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.009. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED AT |
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WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY TEXAS OR SIMILAR ONLINE UNIVERSITIES. |
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(a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall |
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provide for the participation in the state-funded student financial |
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assistance programs that the coordinating board is authorized under |
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this title to administer, including a program under this chapter or |
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under Chapter 52 or 61, by students enrolled: |
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(1) at Western Governors University Texas, or a |
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similar nonprofit university operating in accordance with a |
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memorandum of understanding with this state pursuant to an |
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executive order issued by the governor and offering exclusively |
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online or other distance education; and |
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(2) in a degree program approved by the coordinating |
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board for purposes of this section and accredited by an appropriate |
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accrediting organization recognized by the coordinating board. |
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(b) In the rules adopted under this section, the |
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coordinating board may modify course load, course completion, or |
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other eligibility requirements as appropriate for students |
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enrolled in online or other distance education programs, and may |
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prorate amounts of aid awarded considering course loads and costs |
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of enrollment for those students. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt any rules necessary under Section 56.009, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
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this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may |
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adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency |
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rules. |
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(b) The coordinating board shall begin awarding student |
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financial aid in accordance with Section 56.009, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes |
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effect. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2013. |