85R3304 MK-D

By: White H.B. No. 928

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to assisting certain children who are in foster care or who have been adopted in the process of applying to institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 264.1211 to read as follows:

Sec. 264.1211. FACILITATION OF TRANSITION TO INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) In this section, "community resource coordination group" means a coordination group established under a memorandum of understanding under Section 531.055, Government Code.

(b) A department employee who is a member of a community resource coordination group shall:

(1) inform the group about the tuition and fee waivers for institutions of higher education that are available to eligible children in foster care under Section 54.366, Education Code, and eligible adopted children under Section 54.367, Education Code; and

(2) collaborate with the superintendent of each school district in the area served by the group and each school counselor assigned to a campus in the area served by the group to identify foster children and adopted children who are eligible for tuition and fee waivers at an institution of higher education under Sections 54.366 and 54.367, Education Code.

(c) After identifying eligible children under Subsection (b)(2), the department employee shall facilitate each child's transition to an institution of higher education 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 institution-sponsored scholarships;

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

(5) assisting the child in registering and preparing for college entrance examinations, including arranging for the payment of any examination fees by the department.

SECTION 2. 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, 2017.