Bill Text: TX HB117 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the portion of designated tuition set aside to provide student financial assistance at institutions of higher education.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-11 - Referred to Higher Education [HB117 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB117-Introduced.html

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84R557 KSD-F
By: Fletcher H.B. No. 117

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the portion of designated tuition set aside to provide
student financial assistance at institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 56.011 and 56.012, Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 56.011. RESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) The governing board of each institution of higher education may
[shall] cause to be set aside not more [less] than 15 [20] percent
of any amount of tuition charged to a resident undergraduate
student under Section 54.0513 in excess of $46 per semester credit
hour. The funds set aside under this section by an institution
shall be used to provide financial assistance for resident
undergraduate students enrolled in the institution.
(b) From the funds set aside by an institution under this
section, the institution shall first fund any tuition and fee
exemptions required under Section 54.341 for veterans and other
military personnel and their dependents and surviving family
members enrolled as undergraduate students at the institution.
(c) To be eligible for assistance from any remaining funds
available under this section after the use of those funds required
by Subsection (b), a student must establish financial need in
accordance with rules and procedures established by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board. Priority shall be given to
students who meet the coordinating board definition of financial
need and whose cost for tuition and required fees is not met through
other non-loan financial assistance programs.
(d) [(c)] The financial assistance provided under
Subsection (c) [this section] may include grants, scholarships,
work-study programs, student loans, and student loan repayment
assistance.
Sec. 56.012. RESIDENT GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE. (a)
The governing board of each institution of higher education may
[shall] cause to be set aside not more [less] than 15 percent of any
amount of tuition charged to a resident student enrolled in a
graduate or professional degree program under Section 54.0513 in
excess of $46 per semester credit hour. The funds set aside under
this section by an institution shall be used to provide financial
assistance for resident students enrolled in graduate and
professional degree programs at the institution.
(b) From the funds set aside by an institution under this
section, the institution shall first fund any tuition and fee
exemptions required under Section 54.341 for veterans and other
military personnel and their dependents and surviving family
members enrolled in graduate and professional degree programs at
the institution.
(c) To be eligible for assistance from any remaining funds
available under this section after the use of those funds required
by Subsection (b), a student must establish financial need in
accordance with rules and procedures established by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board. Priority shall be given to
students who meet the coordinating board definition of financial
need and whose cost for tuition and required fees is not met through
other non-loan financial assistance programs.
(d) [(c)] The financial assistance provided under
Subsection (c) [this section] may include grants, scholarships,
work-study programs, student loans, and student loan repayment
assistance.
SECTION 2. Section 56.014(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) An institution of higher education that sets [is
required by this subchapter to set] aside a portion of a student's
tuition payments to provide financial assistance for students
enrolled in the institution under this subchapter shall provide to
each student of the institution who pays tuition from which a
portion is [required to be] set aside for that purpose a notice
regarding the specific amount that is [required to be] set aside by
the institution.
SECTION 3. Section 56.465(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall cause to be set aside five percent of the amount of
the tuition charged to a resident undergraduate student at the
institution under Section 54.0513 in excess of $46 per semester
credit hour. The amount of a student's tuition set aside under this
subsection is not considered a part of the amount, if any, [required
to be] set aside from that tuition under Section 56.011.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with designated tuition set aside by an institution of
higher education for the 2016 fall semester. Designated tuition
set aside for a semester or term before the 2016 fall semester is
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.