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.