By: White, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Uresti) H.B. No. 928
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2017;
  May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 19, 2017, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to assisting certain children who are in foster care 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 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.
         (c)  Each school district, in coordination with the
  department, shall 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 the department on the day preceding the child's
  18th birthday 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;
               (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 the department; and
               (6)  coordinating contact between the child and a
  liaison officer designated under Section 61.0908, Education Code,
  for students who were formerly in the department's conservatorship.
         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.
 
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