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AN ACT
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relating to assisting certain children who are in foster care in the |
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process of applying to institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1211 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1211. FACILITATION OF TRANSITION TO INSTITUTION OF |
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HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) In this section, "community resource |
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coordination group" means a coordination group established under a |
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memorandum of understanding under Section 531.055, Government |
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Code. |
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(b) A department employee who is a member of a community |
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resource coordination group shall inform the group about the |
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tuition and fee waivers for institutions of higher education that |
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are available to eligible children in foster care under Section |
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54.366, Education Code. |
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(c) Each school district, in coordination with the |
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department, shall facilitate the transition of each child enrolled |
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in the district who is eligible for a tuition and fee waiver under |
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Section 54.366, Education Code, and who is likely to be in the |
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conservatorship of the department on the day preceding the child's |
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18th birthday to an institution of higher education by: |
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(1) assisting the child with the completion of any |
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applications for admission or for financial aid; |
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(2) arranging and accompanying the child on campus |
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visits; |
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(3) assisting the child in researching and applying |
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for private or institution-sponsored scholarships; |
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(4) identifying whether the child is a candidate for |
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appointment to a military academy; |
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(5) assisting the child in registering and preparing |
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for college entrance examinations, including, subject to the |
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availability of funds, arranging for the payment of any examination |
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fees by the department; and |
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(6) coordinating contact between the child and a |
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liaison officer designated under Section 61.0908, Education Code, |
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for students who were formerly in the department's conservatorship. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 928 was passed by the House on May 3, |
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2017, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 1, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 928 was passed by the Senate on May |
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23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |