BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3273

By: Neave

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) used by students and institutions of higher education will be extensively revised beginning with applications for the 2023-2024 school year as a result of the federal FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020. Legislation passed in the 86th Legislature provides for the creation of an electronic version of the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), beginning with applications for the 2022-2023 school year. It has been noted that because the structure of the TASFA is based on the FAFSA, the timing of the FAFSA revision may result in duplicative development work for the electronic TASFA. H.B. 3273 seeks to address this issue by delaying implementation of the electronic TASFA to applications submitted for the 2023-2024 school year.

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

H.B. 3273 amends Chapter 801 (H.B. 2140), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, to postpone the applicability of statutory provisions relating to the electronic submission of the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) or a similar application for state financial assistance for students from beginning with applications submitted for the 2022-2023 academic year to beginning with applications submitted for the 2023-2024 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.