Bill Text: TX SB1656 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to the administration of the scholarship program for certain students graduating in the top 10 percent of the students' high school graduating class.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-04 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1656 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1656-Engrossed.html
 
 
  By: West S.B. No. 1656
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of the scholarship program for
  certain students graduating in the top 10 percent of the students'
  high school graduating class.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 56.483, 56.484, and 56.486, Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.483.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM [AWARD OF
  SCHOLARSHIP]. (a)  The coordinating board shall administer the Top
  10 Percent Scholarship Program established [award scholarships to
  eligible students] under this subchapter and shall adopt rules as
  necessary to implement the program at institutions of higher
  education. The coordinating board shall consult with student
  financial aid officers at institutions of higher education in
  developing the rules.
         (b)  The total amount of scholarships awarded under this
  subchapter may not exceed the amount available for the program from
  legislative appropriations  [An institution of higher education
  shall provide to a student who receives a scholarship under the
  program for a semester or other academic term:
               [(1)     a credit in the amount of the scholarship, to be
  applied toward the payment of any amount of educational costs
  charged by the institution for that semester or term; and
               [(2)     a check, electronic transfer, or other
  disbursement of any remaining scholarship amount].
         [(c)     An amount paid under Subsection (b)(2) may be applied
  only to any usual and customary cost incurred by the student to
  attend the institution of higher education.]
         Sec. 56.484.  INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP. To be
  eligible for a scholarship under this subchapter, a student must:
               (1)  have graduated from a public or accredited private
  high school in this state while ranked in the top 10 percent of the
  student's graduating class, subject to Section 56.487(b);
               (2)  have completed the recommended, [or] advanced, or
  distinguished high school curriculum established under Section
  28.025, the distinguished level of achievement under the foundation
  high school program, or an [its] equivalent curriculum;
               (3)  demonstrate financial need as defined by
  coordinating board rules [have applied for admission as a
  first-time freshman student for the 2010-2011 academic year or a
  subsequent academic year to an institution of higher education that
  has elected to offer admissions for that academic year to
  applicants as provided by Section 51.803(a-1)];
               (4)  unless granted a hardship extension under Section
  56.490, enroll as a first-time freshman student in an institution
  of higher education not later than the first fall semester
  following the student's high school graduation and maintain
  full-time enrollment through the census date of that fall semester
  [not later than the 16th month after the date of the student's high
  school graduation];
               (5)  [have been awarded a TEXAS grant under Subchapter
  M for the same semester or other academic term for which the
  scholarship will be awarded;
               [(6)]  be a Texas resident under Section 54.052; and
               (6) [(7)]  comply with any other eligibility
  requirements established by coordinating board rule.
         Sec. 56.486.  AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP.  The [(a)     Except as
  provided by Subsection (b), the] amount of a scholarship for an
  academic year [each semester or other academic term] in which an
  eligible student is enrolled at an institution of higher education
  is an amount determined annually by the coordinating board based on
  available funds [sufficient to cover, but not exceed, the amount of
  tuition charged to the student for that semester or term].
         [(b)     The amount of a scholarship for each semester or other
  academic term may not exceed the amount of the student's unmet
  financial need for that semester or term after any other gift aid
  has been awarded.
         [(c)     The coordinating board shall issue to each eligible
  student a certificate indicating the amount of the scholarship
  awarded to the student.]
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter R, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 56.4865 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.4865.  SCHOLARSHIP USE; PAYMENT. (a)  A student
  receiving a scholarship under the program may use the money to pay
  any usual and customary cost of attendance incurred by the student
  at an institution of higher education.
         (b)  An institution of higher education may disburse all or
  part of a scholarship to an eligible student only if the tuition and
  required fees incurred by the student at the institution have been
  paid.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 56.487(a), (b), and (c), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The coordinating board shall establish application
  procedures for the program.  [The procedures may require an officer
  of the applicable high school or school district to verify the
  eligibility of a student to receive a scholarship under the
  program.]
         (b)  An institution of higher education shall obtain the
  necessary documentation from the applicable high school or school
  district to verify a student's eligibility. An institution of
  higher education shall verify a student's [The coordinating board
  may permit a student to establish] initial eligibility based on the
  student's class rank at the end of the student's seventh semester in
  high school unless the institution uses a different semester in
  determining student eligibility for admission to the institution.  
  [The board may revoke an initial scholarship awarded to a student
  who subsequently loses eligibility based on the student's class
  rank on graduation from high school.]
         (c)  An institution of higher education [The coordinating
  board] may consider applications received after the uniform
  priority [application] deadline prescribed by the coordinating
  board under Section 56.008 only if sufficient funding for
  scholarships remains after the institution [board] awards
  scholarships to all eligible students who applied on or before the
  deadline.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 56.488, 56.489, 56.490, and 56.492,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.488.  CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP.
  (a)  After establishing eligibility to receive an initial
  scholarship under the program, a student may qualify for a renewal
  scholarship award in a [continue to receive additional scholarships
  during each] subsequent [semester or other] academic year [term] in
  which the student is enrolled at an institution of higher education
  if the student:
               (1)  makes satisfactory academic progress as required
  by Section 56.489;
               (2)  submits to the institution transcripts for any
  coursework completed at other public or private institutions of
  higher education; and
               (3)  [has been awarded a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M
  for the same semester or other academic term for which the
  scholarship will be awarded; and
               [(4)]  complies with any other eligibility
  requirements established by coordinating board rule.
         (b)  If a student fails to meet any of the requirements of
  Subsection (a) as of the end of an academic year [after completing a
  semester or other academic term], the student may not receive a
  scholarship during the next [semester or other] academic year 
  [term] in which the student enrolls.  A student may become eligible
  to receive a scholarship in a subsequent academic year [semester or
  term] if the student:
               (1)  completes an academic year [a semester or term]
  during which the student is not eligible for a scholarship; and
               (2)  meets all the requirements of Subsection (a).
         (c)  Except as provided by Section 56.490(b), a student's
  eligibility for a scholarship under the program ends on the fourth
  anniversary of the first day of the semester or other academic term
  for which the student was awarded an initial scholarship under the
  program.
         Sec. 56.489.  SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS.  A [For each
  academic year in which a] student initially awarded a scholarship
  under this subchapter in an academic year makes satisfactory
  academic progress in a subsequent academic year for purposes of
  this subchapter only if [receives one or more scholarships under
  the program,] the student [must]:
               (1)  completes [complete] for that year[:
                     [(A)     at least 75 percent of all credit hours
  attempted, as determined by the institution of higher education in
  which the student is enrolled; and
                     [(B)]  at least 30 credit hours or the number of
  credit hours needed to complete the student's degree or certificate
  program, whichever is less; and
               (2)  maintains [maintain] an overall grade point
  average of at least 3.25 on a four-point scale or its equivalent for
  all coursework attempted at any public or private institution of
  higher education.
         Sec. 56.490.  EXCEPTION FOR HARDSHIP OR OTHER GOOD CAUSE.
  (a)  Each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy to
  allow a student who fails to enroll as a first-time freshman student
  at an institution of higher education within the period prescribed
  by Section 56.484(4) or who fails to make satisfactory academic
  progress as required by Section 56.489 to receive a scholarship in a
  subsequent semester or other academic term on a showing of hardship
  or other good cause, including:
               (1)  a showing of a severe illness or other
  debilitating condition that could affect the student's academic
  performance;
               (2)  an indication that the student is responsible for
  the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and that the student's
  provision of care could affect the student's academic performance;
  or
               (3)  any other cause considered acceptable by the
  coordinating board.
         (b)  An institution of higher education may extend the
  eligibility period described by Section 56.488(c) in the event of
  hardship or other good cause as provided by the institution's
  policy adopted under Subsection (a), except that the institution
  may not extend a student's eligibility beyond four annual
  scholarship awards or for less than full-time enrollment.
         (c)  An institution of higher education shall maintain
  documentation of each exception granted to a student under this
  section [and shall provide timely notice of those exceptions to the
  coordinating board].
         Sec. 56.492.  DISBURSEMENTS [REIMBURSEMENT]. (a)  Each
  institution of higher education that provides scholarships under
  the program to eligible students enrolled at the institution shall
  receive, in accordance with coordinating board rules, a share of
  the funds appropriated for the program [is entitled to
  reimbursement by the coordinating board of the amounts provided.  
  The institution must request reimbursement in the manner specified
  by coordinating board rule].
         (b)  On approval of an institution's request for funds 
  [reimbursement], the coordinating board shall direct the
  comptroller to transfer the appropriate amount to the institution.  
  The institution may use the transferred funds as reimbursement for
  any credits provided to students under this subchapter, to
  reimburse students for charges previously paid to the institution,
  or to make scholarship payments to students, as applicable.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 56.485 and 56.487(d), Education Code,
  are repealed.
         SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act to Subchapter
  R, Chapter 56, Education Code, apply beginning with scholarships
  awarded under that subchapter for the 2015-2016 academic year.
         SECTION 7.  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, 2015.
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