BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1323

By: Taylor

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The recent Texas Commission on Public School Finance Report noted relatively low statewide completion rates for the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and expressed concern that failure to complete that application may reinforce a lack of awareness among low-income students regarding potential financial aid for postsecondary education, leaving available federal money unclaimed and hindering growth in enrollment rates for this population. S.B. 1323 seeks to address this issue by requiring high school students who earn 15 semester credit hours of dual credit to complete relevant financial aid forms, subject to certain opt-out provisions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1323 amends the Education Code to require each student who earns a cumulative total of 15 or more semester credit hours at a public institution of higher education for dual credit coursework successfully completed by the student before the student's last semester or term in 12th grade to complete and submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or, if applicable, a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA) not later than the later of six months after the last day of the semester or term in which the student earns the cumulative total or January 15 of the school year in which the student is enrolled in 12th grade.

S.B. 1323 exempts a student from these requirements if the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation submits a signed form indicating that the parent or other applicable person authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the financial aid application or if a student who is 18 years of age or older or for whom the disabilities of minority have been removed signs and submits such a form on the student's own behalf. The bill requires each institution of higher education to adopt a form to be used for those purposes and to ensure that each student to whom the institution awards the specified cumulative total of semester credit hours completes and submits the applicable financial aid application or submits the signed form to the institution.

S.B. 1323 applies beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.