85R2867 MM-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 331
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the temporary approval of a private or independent
  college or university to continue to participate in the tuition
  equalization grant program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.222, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.222.  APPROVED INSTITUTIONS. (a)  The coordinating
  board shall approve for purposes of this subchapter only a [those]
  private or independent college [colleges] or university 
  [universities] that:
               (1)  is a [are] private or independent institution 
  [institutions] of higher education; [as defined by Section 61.003]
  or
               (2)  is [are] located within this state and meets 
  [meet] the same program standards and accreditation as an
  institution [public institutions] of higher education, as
  determined by the board.
         (b)  The coordinating board may temporarily approve a
  private or independent college or university [institution of higher
  education as defined by Section 61.003] that previously qualified
  for approval as a private or independent institution of higher
  education under Subsection (a)(1) [under Subsection (a)] but no
  longer holds the [same] accreditation described by Section
  61.003(15)(C) if the college or university is [as public
  institutions of higher education.   To qualify under this
  subsection, an institution must be]:
               (1)  accredited by an accreditor recognized by the
  board;
               (2)  actively working toward the [same] accreditation
  described by Section 61.003(15)(C) [as public institutions of
  higher education];
               (3)  participating in the federal financial aid program
  under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a; and
               (4)  a "part B institution" as defined by 20 U.S.C.
  Section 1061(2) and listed in 34 C.F.R. Section 608.2.
         (c)  The coordinating board may grant temporary approval for
  a period of two years and may renew the approval twice [once].
         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.