85R11274 KJE-D
 
  By: Seliger S.B. No. 950
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to tuition and fee exemptions or waivers at public
  institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.201 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.201.  CERTAIN FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
  REQUIRED. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and subject to
  Subsection (b), to qualify for an exemption, waiver, or other
  benefit authorized under this subchapter for enrollment at an
  institution of higher education during an academic year, a person
  must:
               (1)  complete a free application for federal student
  aid (FAFSA) for that academic year and:
                     (A)  submit the person's FAFSA student aid report
  to the institution; or
                     (B)  designate the institution as a preferred
  institution to receive the report from the United States Department
  of Education; or
               (2)  if the person is not eligible to receive federal
  student aid, complete and submit to the institution the Texas
  Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) or a similar
  application for state student financial assistance.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a person who receives a
  waiver under Section 54.216.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.341(h), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (h)  The governing board of each institution of higher
  education shall electronically report to the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board [Veterans Commission] the information required
  by Section 61.0516 [434.00791, Government Code,] relating to each
  individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges under
  Subsection (a), (a-2), (b), or (k). The institution shall report
  the information not later than January 31 of each year for the fall
  semester, June 30 of each year for the spring semester, and
  September 30 of each year for the summer session.
         SECTION 3.  Section 434.00791, Government Code, is
  transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code,
  redesignated as Section 61.0516, Education Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0516 [434.00791].  ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR
  TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS [FAMILY MEMBERS].
  (a) [In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
         [(b)]  The board [commission] shall administer [ensure] a
  system to electronically monitor the use of tuition and fee
  exemptions at institutions of higher education under Section
  54.341[, Education Code, is developed]. The system must allow the
  board [commission] to electronically receive, for each semester,
  the following information from institutions of higher education:
               (1)  the name of the institution;
               (2)  the name, identification number, and date of birth
  of each individual attending the institution and receiving benefits
  for the semester under Section 54.341[, Education Code];
               (3)  for each individual receiving benefits, the number
  of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for
  the semester;
               (4)  for each individual receiving benefits at the
  institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of
  credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at
  the institution; and
               (5)  any other information required by the board
  [commission].
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2018, the Texas Veterans
  Commission, under an agreement with the board, shall provide access
  to the system developed by the commission that meets the
  requirements of this section.  This subsection expires September 1,
  2019.
         SECTION 4.  Section 54.201, Education Code, as added by this
  Act, applies to a person's eligibility for an exemption or waiver
  from the payment of all or part of tuition or other fees beginning
  with tuition and fees charged for the 2018 fall semester.
         SECTION 5.  Section 54.341(h), Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies beginning with the report for the 2018 spring
  semester.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.