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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of scholarships by private or independent |
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institutions of higher education under the Joint Admission Medical |
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Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 51.831, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.831. COUNCIL AGREEMENT WITH PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENT |
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INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Each private or independent |
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institution of higher education must enter into an agreement with |
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the council under which the institution agrees to: |
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(1) provide academic counseling to a participating |
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student or program alternate enrolled at the institution; |
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(2) as soon as practicable, implement or expand |
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appropriate degree programs as necessary to provide participating |
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students with sufficient preparation for enrollment in |
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participating medical schools; |
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(3) select a faculty director or an academic or health |
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professions advisor to assist in implementing the program at the |
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institution and in implementing or expanding the institution's |
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degree programs as necessary under Subdivision (2); and |
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(4) provide a scholarship to a participating student |
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in the amount required for a participating student attending a |
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general academic teaching institution, but not to exceed the amount |
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of tuition and fees that the student is charged. |
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(b) In addition to any penalties specified in the agreement, |
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a private or independent institution of higher education that has |
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entered an agreement under this section and does not provide the |
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scholarship required under Subsection (a)(4) to a participating |
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student may not receive state funding for tuition equalization |
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grants awarded under Subchapter F, Chapter 61, or for any other |
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student financial aid beginning with the academic year following a |
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default under this subsection, subject to Subsection (d). |
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(c) An institution is considered to be in default under |
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Subsection (b) if the affected student's enrollment in the program |
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ends before the institution awards and pays to the student the full |
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amount of scholarship for each year of the student's participation |
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in the program. |
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(d) A private or independent institution of higher |
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education in default under this section may receive state funding |
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for tuition equalization grants and other student financial aid |
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only for an academic year following an academic year in which: |
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(1) one or more participating students are enrolled at |
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the institution; and |
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(2) with respect to the students described by |
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Subdivision (1), the institution has fully complied with the terms |
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of an agreement entered into under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to the |
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provision of scholarships pursuant to an agreement under Section |
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51.831, Education Code, as amended by this Act, beginning with the |
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2023-2024 academic year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |