89R9472 KJE-D

By: Simmons H.B. No. 2476

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program for living expenses for certain students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter W to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER W. LIVING EXPENSES GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 56.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Grant program" means the grant program established under this subchapter.

(2) "Student who is homeless" has the meaning assigned by Section 5.001 and includes a student who resides in a student housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education during an academic term but who is homeless between academic terms.

Sec. 56.702. PURPOSE. The purpose of the grant program is to provide for the cost of living expenses for certain students enrolled at institutions of higher education.

Sec. 56.703. ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION. The comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to provide grants for the cost of living expenses to eligible students.

Sec. 56.704. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for a grant under the grant program for an academic year, a student must be:

(1) either:

(A) a student who is homeless; or

(B) a minor whose disabilities of minority have been removed under Chapter 31, Family Code; and

(2) enrolled at an institution of higher education.

Sec. 56.705. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY. Each institution of higher education shall:

(1) assess the eligibility for the grant program under Section 56.704(1) of each applicant who is offered admission to the institution; and

(2) notify the comptroller of each applicant the institution determines to be eligible under Subdivision (1).

Sec. 56.706. AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a) The comptroller shall award a grant to each eligible student in the amount necessary to pay the cost of the student's housing, food, and other living expenses during the student's enrollment at the institution of higher education for the applicable year.

(b) An eligible student is entitled to the full amount of a grant under this section regardless of whether the student is enrolled in a course for a summer term of the academic year for which the grant is awarded.

Sec. 56.707. USE OF GRANT. A grant may be used only for the cost of the eligible student's housing, food, and other living expenses during the student's enrollment at the institution of higher education for the applicable year.

Sec. 56.708. EFFECT OF GRANT ON OTHER AID. Notwithstanding any other law, the amount of a grant awarded under the grant program may not be considered in determining the amount of another grant, scholarship, or other aid to which the student is entitled under this chapter or another provision of this code.

Sec. 56.709. RULES. The comptroller, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules as necessary to administer the grant program.

SECTION 2. (a) The comptroller of public accounts, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter W, Chapter 56, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.

(b) The comptroller of public accounts shall begin awarding grants to eligible students under Subchapter W, Chapter 56, Education Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which money is appropriated for that purpose, except that the coordinating board may not allocate funds under that subchapter for an academic year before the 2026-2027 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, 2025.