H.B. No. 1117

AN ACT

relating to eligibility for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 61.9772(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) To receive an initial scholarship under this subchapter, a student must:

(1) be enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education in this state;

(2) enroll in and be a member in good standing of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or another undergraduate officer commissioning program such as the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class while enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education in this state;

(3) be appointed to receive a scholarship by the governor, the lieutenant governor, a state senator, or a state representative; and

(4) enter into an agreement with the board under Section 61.9773.

SECTION 2. Section 61.9773(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) To receive a scholarship under this subchapter, a student must enter into an agreement with the board as provided by this section. The agreement must require the student to:

(1) complete four years of ROTC training or complete another undergraduate officer commissioning program such as the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class;

(2) graduate not later than six years after the date the student first enrolls in a public or private institution of higher education in this state;

(3) after graduation, enter into:

(A) a four-year commitment to be a member of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine; or

(B) a contract to serve as a commissioned officer in any branch of the armed services of the United States;

(4) meet the physical examination requirements and all other prescreening requirements of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine or the branch of the armed services with which the student enters into a contract; and

(5) agree to repay the scholarship if the student:

(A) fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress;

(B) withdraws from the scholarship program; or

(C) fails to fulfill a commitment or contract described by Subdivision (3).

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with a Texas Armed Services Scholarship awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year. A Texas Armed Services Scholarship awarded for an academic year before that academic year is covered by the law in effect when the scholarship was awarded, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules for the administration of Sections 61.9772 and 61.9773, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect.

SECTION 5. 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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1117 was passed by the House on April 20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1117 was passed by the Senate on May 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor