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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for a TEXAS Grant and to administration of |
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the TEXAS grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 56.304, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A person may not receive a TEXAS grant for more than the |
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greater of: |
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(1) 135 [150] semester credit hours or the equivalent; |
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or |
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(2) 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent in |
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excess of the degree requirements of the degree the person is |
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seeking. |
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SECTION 2. Section 56.305, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e-2) to read as follows: |
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(e-2) For purposes of this section, a person who is |
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initially awarded a TEXAS grant during or after the 2017 fall |
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semester makes satisfactory academic progress toward an |
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undergraduate degree or certificate only if: |
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(1) in the person's first academic year the person |
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meets the satisfactory academic progress requirements of the |
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institution at which the person is enrolled; and |
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(2) in a subsequent academic year, the person: |
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(A) completed at least 30 semester credit hours |
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in the student's most recent academic year; and |
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(B) has earned an overall grade point average of |
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at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework |
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previously attempted at institutions of higher education. |
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SECTION 3. Section 56.307, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (f) and subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(f) The amount of a TEXAS grant may not be reduced by any |
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gift aid for which the person receiving the grant is eligible, other |
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than a federal Pell Grant, unless the total amount of a person's |
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grant plus any gift aid received exceeds the student's financial |
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need. |
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(j) A public institution of higher education shall use other |
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available sources of financial aid, other than a loan or |
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participation in a work-study program, to cover any difference in |
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the amount of a TEXAS grant awarded to the student and the actual |
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amount of tuition and required fees at the institution if the |
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difference results from: |
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(1) a reduction in the amount of a TEXAS grant under |
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Subsection (i-1); or |
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(2) a deficiency in the amount of the grant as |
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established under Subsection (a) or (e), as applicable, to cover |
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the full amount of tuition and required fees charged to the student |
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by the institution. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies to |
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individuals whose initial Texas grant is awarded for the 2018 fall |
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semester or later. Recipients whose initial TEXAS grant was awarded |
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for a semester or term before the 2018 fall semester are governed by |
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the applicable law in effect prior to the 2018 fall semester, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |