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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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certain lower-division students enrolled at Texas Southern |
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University or Prairie View A&M University. |
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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 LOWER-DIVISION STUDENTS AT |
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CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) An entering freshman |
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student enrolled at Texas Southern University or Prairie View A&M |
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University is entitled to a refund of tuition and required fees paid |
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by the student under this chapter for the first semester or term for |
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which the student enrolls at that university if the student: |
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(1) graduated from a private high school, including a |
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home school, or 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 2.0 on a four-point |
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scale or the equivalent. |
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(b) To receive a refund under Subsection (a), the student |
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must apply to the university in the manner required by the |
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university not later than the first anniversary of the last class |
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day of the semester or term. |
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(c) A student enrolled at Texas Southern University or |
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Prairie View A&M University is exempt from the payment of tuition |
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and required fees authorized by this chapter for a semester or term |
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of the student's first two academic years, other than a semester or |
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term described by Subsection (a), at that university if the |
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student: |
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(1) graduated from a private high school, including a |
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home school, or 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 2.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all prior |
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coursework attempted at the university. |
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(d) 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 university until the student passes an |
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examination to be selected and administered by the university for |
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that purpose. |
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(e) A university to which this section applies may fund |
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tuition and fee refunds and exemptions under this section from |
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local funds or from funds appropriated to the university. The |
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university may but is not required to provide tuition and fee |
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refunds or exemptions beyond those funded through state |
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appropriations specifically designated for this purpose. |
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(f) A person may not receive a refund or exemption under |
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this section for a semester or term that begins after the 2042-2043 |
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academic year. This section expires September 1, 2044. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees |
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charged for the 2023 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, 2023. |