BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 66
85R18868 MM-D	By: Guillen et al. (Zaffirini)
	Higher Education
	5/16/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties note that if a student appointed to receive a Texas Armed Services Scholarship loses eligibility for the scholarship, the appointing official is unable to make another appointment until the next year. H.B. 66 seeks to address this issue by allowing an appointing official, should the first student lose eligibility, to award the scholarship's remaining funds to another eligible student beginning with the next academic year.

H.B. 66 amends current law relating to determining eligibility for a Texas Armed Services Scholarship and to the appointment by certain elected officials of students to receive that scholarship.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.9772, Education Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:

(c) Requires a student, for a student to continue to receive a scholarship awarded under this subchapter (Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program), to maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), rather than as determined by the institution in which the student is enrolled.

(d) Authorizes the elected official who appointed the student, if THECB determines that a student appointed under Subsection (b) (relating to the appointment of certain students to receive a certain initial scholarship) to receive an initial scholarship under this subchapter has failed to maintain eligibility or otherwise meet the requirements to continue receiving the scholarship, beginning with the academic year following the determination, to appoint another eligible student under this subchapter to receive any available funds designated for the student who no longer meets the requirements for the scholarship.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.