H.B. No. 2140
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating an electronic application system for state
  student financial assistance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.07762 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.07762.  APPLICATION FOR STATE FINANCIAL AID. (a)
  The board shall adopt procedures to allow a person to complete and
  submit the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) or a
  similar application for state student financial assistance by
  electronic submission through the Internet website through which
  the board provides the common admission application form required
  by Section 51.762.
         (a-1)  The board shall appoint an advisory committee
  composed of financial aid personnel at institutions of higher
  education and stakeholders who represent the needs of interested
  students to assist the board in adopting the procedures required by
  Subsection (a) and to develop recommendations for that purpose.  
  Not later than January 1, 2021, the board shall report the advisory
  committee's recommendations to the standing committee of each house
  of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education.  This
  subsection expires January 1, 2023.
         (b)  For the purposes of this section, the board shall
  continuously maintain an online database of institutions of higher
  education to which state student financial assistance may be
  applied.
         (c)  The personal information of an individual maintained by
  the board for the purposes of this section is confidential and is
  not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
         (d)  The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply
  beginning with applications for state student financial assistance
  submitted for the 2022-2023 academic year.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2140 was passed by the House on April
  25, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, Nays 4, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2140 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor