85R1406 KJE-D
 
  By: Burton S.B. No. 383
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility for certain higher education grant
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 56.3031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.3031.  FINANCIAL NEED. (a) The coordinating board
  by rule shall establish financial need requirements for applicants
  to demonstrate eligibility to receive initial or subsequent TEXAS
  grants under this subchapter.
         (b)  The rules must require each applicant to demonstrate
  eligibility for federal financial aid but may not require the
  applicant to meet a financial need requirement applicable to a
  particular federal financial aid program.
         (c)  Section 56.3045(b)(2) does not apply to the eligibility
  requirement described by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 2.  Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person who
  graduated from high school before May 1, 2013, must:
               (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (2)  meet either of the following academic
  requirements:
                     (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited
  private high school in this state who graduated not earlier than the
  1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or advanced
  high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or 28.025
  or its equivalent; or
                     (B)  have received an associate degree from a
  public or private institution of higher education not earlier than
  May 1, 2001;
               (3)  meet financial need requirements established [as
  defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
               (4)  be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
  an eligible institution;
               (5)  be enrolled as:
                     (A)  an entering undergraduate student for at
  least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
  undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not
  later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation
  from high school; or
                     (B)  an entering student for at least
  three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as
  determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
  after the month the person receives an associate degree from a
  public or private institution of higher education;
               (6)  have applied for any available financial aid or
  assistance; and
               (7)  comply with any additional nonacademic
  requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
  graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
  in an eligible institution must:
               (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (2)  meet the academic requirements prescribed by
  Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows:
                     (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited
  private high school in this state who completed the foundation high
  school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent
  and have accomplished any two or more of the following:
                           (i)  successful completion of the course
  requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or
  earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of
  college credit in high school through courses described in Sections
  28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
                           (ii)  satisfaction of the Texas Success
  Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
  coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment
  instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section
  51.3062(c) or qualification for an exemption as described by
  Section 51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1);
                           (iii)  graduation in the top one-third of
  the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high
  school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
  scale or the equivalent; or
                           (iv)  completion for high school credit of
  at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful
  completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career
  and technical or technology applications course;
                     (B)  have received an associate degree from a
  public or private institution of higher education;
                     (C)  be an undergraduate student who has:
                           (i)  previously attended another
  institution of higher education;
                           (ii)  received an initial Texas Educational
  Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a
  subsequent academic term;
                           (iii)  completed at least 24 semester credit
  hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and
                           (iv)  earned an overall grade point average
  of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all
  course work previously attempted; or
                     (D)  if sufficient money is available, meet the
  eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);
               (3)  meet financial need requirements established by
  the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
               (4)  be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
  certificate program at an eligible institution;
               (5)  except as provided under rules adopted under
  Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
                     (A)  an entering undergraduate student for at
  least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the
  calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;
                     (B)  an entering undergraduate student who
  entered military service not later than the first anniversary of
  the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for
  at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12
  months after being honorably discharged from military service;
                     (C)  a continuing undergraduate student for at
  least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
  coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the
  calendar month in which the person received an associate degree
  from a public or private institution of higher education; or
                     (D)  an undergraduate student described by
  Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;
               (6)  have applied for any available financial aid or
  assistance; and
               (7)  comply with any additional nonacademic
  requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 4.  Section 56.305(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  After initially qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person
  may continue to receive a TEXAS grant during each semester or term
  in which the person is enrolled at an eligible institution only if
  the person:
               (1)  meets financial need requirements as established
  [defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.3031;
               (2)  is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
  an eligible institution;
               (3)  is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full
  course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the
  coordinating board;
               (4)  makes satisfactory academic progress toward a
  baccalaureate degree; and
               (5)  complies with any additional nonacademic
  requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter D, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 56.4031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.4031.  FINANCIAL NEED. (a) The coordinating board
  by rule shall establish financial need requirements for applicants
  to demonstrate eligibility to receive initial or subsequent grants
  under this subchapter.
         (b)  The rules must require each applicant to demonstrate
  eligibility for federal financial aid but may not require the
  applicant to meet a financial need requirement applicable to a
  particular federal financial aid program.
         SECTION 6.  Section 56.404(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible initially for a grant under the grant
  program, a person must:
               (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (2)  meet financial need requirements established [as
  defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.4031;
               (3)  be enrolled in an associate degree or certificate
  program at an eligible institution;
               (4)  be enrolled as an entering student for at least
  one-half of a full course load for an entering student in the
  associate degree or certificate program, as determined by the
  coordinating board;
               (5)  have applied for any available financial aid or
  assistance; and
               (6)  comply with any additional nonacademic
  requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 7.  Section 56.405(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  After initially qualifying for a grant under this
  subchapter, a person may continue to receive a grant under this
  subchapter during each semester or term in which the person is
  enrolled at an eligible institution only if the person:
               (1)  meets financial need requirements established [as
  defined] by the coordinating board under Section 56.4031;
               (2)  is enrolled in an associate degree or certificate
  program at an eligible institution;
               (3)  is enrolled for at least one-half of a full course
  load for a student in an associate degree or certificate program, as
  determined by the coordinating board;
               (4)  makes satisfactory academic progress toward an
  associate degree or certificate; and
               (5)  complies with any additional nonacademic
  requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
         SECTION 8.  The changes in law made by this Act in adding
  Sections 56.3031 and 56.4031, Education Code, apply beginning with
  initial or subsequent grants awarded for the 2017 fall semester.
  Initial or subsequent grants awarded for a semester or term before
  the 2017 fall semester are governed by the applicable law in effect
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  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, 2017.