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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring certain students awarded dual credit by a |
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public institution of higher education to complete and submit a |
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financial aid application for higher education costs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9681 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9681. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION REQUIRED FOR DUAL |
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CREDIT STUDENTS. (a) In this section, "institution of higher |
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education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each student who earns a cumulative total of 15 or more |
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semester credit hours at an institution of higher education for |
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dual credit coursework successfully completed by the student before |
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the student's last semester or term in 12th grade must complete and |
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submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or, if |
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applicable, a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA) not |
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later than the later of: |
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(1) six months after the last day of the semester or |
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term in which the student earns that cumulative total; or |
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(2) January 15 of the school year in which the student |
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is enrolled in 12th grade. |
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(c) A student is not required to comply with Subsection (b) |
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if: |
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(1) the student's parent or other person standing in |
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parental relation submits a signed form indicating that the parent |
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or other person authorizes the student to decline to complete and |
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submit the financial aid application; or |
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(2) the student signs and submits the form described |
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by Subdivision (1) on the student's own behalf if the student is 18 |
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years of age or older or the student's disabilities of minority have |
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been removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code. |
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(d) Each institution of higher education shall ensure that |
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each student to whom the institution awards the cumulative total of |
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semester credit hours described by Subsection (b) completes and |
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submits the financial aid application as required by that |
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subsection or submits a signed form to the institution under |
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Subsection (c). |
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(e) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a form |
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to be used for purposes of Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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academic year. |
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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. |