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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption from tuition and required fees at public |
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institutions of higher education for undergraduate students from |
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low-income families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.2003 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.2003. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME |
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FAMILIES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Family income" means the combined gross income |
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for purposes of federal income tax of: |
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(A) the student and the student's parents, if the |
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student is not married; or |
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(B) the student, the student's parents, and the |
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student's spouse, if the student is married. |
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(2) "Federal poverty level" is determined according to |
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the federal poverty guidelines established by the United States |
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Department of Health and Human Services. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) For the 2021-2022 academic year and for each subsequent |
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academic year, an undergraduate student enrolled at an institution |
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of higher education is exempt from the payment of tuition and |
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required fees authorized by this chapter for a term or semester if |
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the student: |
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(1) on the day the semester or term begins: |
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(A) is less than 25 years of age; and |
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(B) is a resident of this state who has resided in |
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this state continuously for the preceding 12 months; and |
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(2) for the preceding calendar year, had a family |
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income of less than 400 percent of the applicable federal poverty |
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level. |
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(b-1) For the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021 academic |
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years, an undergraduate student enrolled at an institution of |
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higher education is exempt from the payment of tuition and required |
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fees authorized by this chapter for a term or semester if the |
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student: |
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(1) on the day the semester or term begins: |
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(A) is less than 25 years of age; and |
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(B) is a resident of this state who has resided in |
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this state continuously for the preceding 12 months; and |
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(2) for the preceding calendar year, had a family |
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income of less than 300 percent of the applicable federal poverty |
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level. |
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(b-2) Subsection (b-1) and this subsection expire September |
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1, 2021. |
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(c) A student may not receive an exemption under this |
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section for more than 12 semesters or summer terms. |
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(d) A student is not eligible for an exemption under this |
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section if the student's tuition and required fees for the semester |
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or term are or will be paid directly to the institution of higher |
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education by the United States or by a person other than the student |
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or the student's family or guardian from funds other than funds of |
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the student or the student's family or guardian. |
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(e) To receive an exemption under this section, a student |
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must apply for the exemption in the manner provided by the |
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institution in which the student registers. The governing board of |
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the institution shall require an applicant to submit satisfactory |
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evidence that the applicant is eligible for the exemption. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and |
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required fees imposed for the 2018 fall semester. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |