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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to scholarship and insurance payments for student athletes |
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at certain public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9246 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9246. SCHOLARSHIP AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS FOR |
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CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES. (a) In this section, "media rights" |
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means the rights to media coverage of intercollegiate athletics |
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included in contracts between intercollegiate athletic conferences |
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and television networks that generate monetary payments to |
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individual institutions of higher education. |
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(b) This section applies only to an institution of higher |
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education that receives an average of at least $10 million in annual |
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revenue derived from media rights. |
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(c) If the athletic program of an institution of higher |
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education to which this section applies does not renew the athletic |
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scholarship of a student athlete who suffers an incapacitating |
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injury or illness resulting from the student athlete's |
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participation in the athletic program and is determined to be |
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medically ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, |
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the institution shall award to the student athlete a scholarship in |
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an amount that, when combined with the amount of the scholarship |
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funds previously awarded to the student athlete by the institution, |
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will cover the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for the student |
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athlete's enrollment in the institution for a period of four |
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academic years or the period required for the student athlete to |
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complete the student athlete's undergraduate degree, whichever |
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period is shorter. An institution may award a scholarship under |
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this subsection for a period longer than otherwise required by this |
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subsection. |
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(d) The athletic program of an institution of higher |
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education to which this section applies shall, for the duration of |
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the period in which a student athlete is participating in the |
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athletic program, pay premiums for health insurance that covers |
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claims resulting from the student athlete's participation in the |
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athletic program for the student athlete if the student athlete's |
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household income is below the level established by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board for purposes of this subsection. |
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(e) Subject to Subsection (f), the athletic program of an |
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institution of higher education to which this section applies shall |
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pay any deductible required under a student athlete's insurance |
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policy for a claim made by the student athlete for an injury or |
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illness resulting from the student athlete's participation in the |
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athletic program. |
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(f) If a student athlete participating in an athletic |
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program of an institution of higher education to which this section |
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applies suffers an injury or illness resulting from the student |
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athlete's participation that requires ongoing treatment, the |
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athletic program shall provide, for the duration of the period in |
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which the student athlete is enrolled at the institution and for a |
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period of not less than two years following the student athlete's |
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graduation or other separation from the institution: |
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(1) necessary medical treatment at no cost to the |
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student athlete; or |
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(2) payment for insurance premiums and any required |
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deductible under an insurance plan for the student athlete that |
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covers treatment for the student athlete's injury or illness. |
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(g) An institution of higher education to which this section |
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applies may use only revenue derived from media rights to pay a cost |
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associated with the requirements of this section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Section 51.9246(c), Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies beginning with athletic scholarships |
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awarded by an institution of higher education for the 2015-2016 |
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academic year. |
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(b) Section 51.9246(d), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies to insurance premium payments for a student athlete |
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participating in the athletic program of an institution of higher |
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education on or after January 1, 2016. |
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(c) Section 51.9246(e), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies to an insurance claim made by a student athlete on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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(d) Section 51.9246(f), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies to an injury or illness that occurs on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 31, 2015, the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish the threshold |
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household income to be used for purposes of Section 51.9246(d), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2015. |