BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 928

 

By: White et al. (Uresti)

 

Health & Human Services

 

5/16/2017

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Foster youth are eligible for higher education programs that help them transition to college. However, many foster youth miss out on these opportunities due to a lack of knowledge of the program, or lack of guidance throughout the process. H.B. 928 ensures that foster youth are informed of how to best navigate these existing opportunities.

 

H.B. 928 directs existing community resource groups to coordinate with school districts to identify foster youth eligible for existing tuition and fee waivers. The bill also directs Department of Family and Protective Services to coordinate with school districts to help foster youth with filling out applications, preparing and paying for college entrance exams, visiting schools, and identifying scholarship opportunities.

 

These children have already had to endure many hardships that most of us will never face. H.B. 928 levels the playing field to help foster youth grow beyond circumstances that were thrust upon them, and give them the best shot for entering higher education.

 

H.B. 928 amends current law relating to assisting certain children who are in foster care in the process of applying to institutions of higher education.

 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, by adding Section 264.1211, as follows:

 

Sec. 264.1211. FACILITATION OF TRANSITION TO INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Defines �community resource coordination group.�

 

(b) Requires a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employee who is a member of a community resource coordination group (group) to inform the group about the tuition and fee waivers for institutions of higher education (IHEs) that are available to eligible children in foster care under Section 54.366 (Exemptions for Students under Conservatorship of Department of Family and Protective Services), Education Code.�

 

(c) Requires that each school district (district), in coordination with DFPS, facilitate the transition of each child enrolled in the district who is eligible for a tuition and fee waiver under Section 54.366, Education Code, and who is likely to be in the conservatorship of DFPS on the day preceding the child�s 18th birthday to an IHE by:

 

(1) assisting the child with the completion of any applications for admission or for financial aid;

 

(2) arranging and accompanying the child on campus visits;

 

(3) assisting the child in researching and applying for private or IHE-sponsored scholarships;

 

(4) identifying whether the child is a candidate for appointment to a military academy;

 

(5) assisting the child in registering and preparing for college entrance examinations, including, subject to the availability of funds, arranging for the payment of any examination fees by DFPS; and

 

(6) coordinating contact between the child and a liaison officer designated under Section 61.0908 (Designation of Liaison Officer to Assist Students Formerly in Foster Care), Education Code, for students who were formerly in DFPS�s conservatorship.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.