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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption from or refund of tuition and fees for |
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lower-division students enrolled in a general academic teaching |
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institution who maintain a high grade point average. |
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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 54.220 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.220. EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENT LOWER-DIVISION |
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STUDENTS AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS FOR MAINTAINING |
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HIGH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. (a) In this section, "general academic |
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teaching institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) An entering freshman student enrolled in a general |
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academic teaching institution is entitled to a refund of the |
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tuition and required fees paid by the student under this chapter for |
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the first semester or term for which the student enrolls at that |
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institution if the student: |
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(1) graduated from a private high school, including a |
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home school, or a public high school in this state; |
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(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter |
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B; and |
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(3) for all courses attempted that initial semester or |
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term earns a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point |
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scale or the equivalent. |
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(c) To receive a refund under Subsection (b), the student |
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must apply to the general academic teaching institution for the |
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refund in the manner required by the institution not later than the |
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first anniversary of the last class day of the semester or term for |
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which the student seeks a refund. |
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(d) A student enrolled in a general academic teaching |
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institution is exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees |
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authorized by this chapter for a semester or term of the student's |
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first two academic years, other than a semester or term covered by |
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Subsection (b), at that institution if the student: |
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(1) graduated from a private high school, including a |
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home school, or a public high school in this state; |
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(2) is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter |
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B; and |
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(3) maintains an overall grade point average of at |
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least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all prior |
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course work attempted at the institution. |
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(e) A student receiving an exemption under this section for |
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one or more semesters or terms may not enroll for the student's |
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third academic year at the general academic teaching institution |
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until the student passes an examination selected and administered |
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by the institution. |
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(f) A general academic teaching institution shall fund |
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tuition and fee refunds and exemptions under this section from |
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available institutional funds or from available local funds or |
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other amounts appropriated to the institution, without regard to |
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whether those appropriations are specifically designated for this |
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purpose. |
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(g) A student may not receive a refund or exemption under |
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this section for a semester or term that begins after the 2038-2039 |
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academic year. This section expires September 1, 2039. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees |
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charged for the 2019 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, 2019. |