Bill Text: TX SB18 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to public institutions of higher education setting aside portions of designated tuition for student financial assistance.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-17 - Left pending in committee [SB18 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB18-Engrossed.html
 
 
  By: Seliger, et al. S.B. No. 18
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to public institutions of higher education setting aside
  portions of designated tuition for student financial assistance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 56.0093 and 56.0094 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.0093.  REPORT REGARDING DESIGNATED TUITION SET ASIDE
  FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.  (a)  In this section,
  "coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board.
         (b)  This section applies only to the governing board of an
  institution of higher education that sets aside any portion of the
  tuition charged by the institution to a resident student under
  Section 54.0513 for the purpose of providing financial assistance
  for resident students enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or
  professional degree program at the institution.
         (c)  Not later than August 31 of each year, the governing
  board of an institution to which this section applies shall submit
  to the coordinating board a written report regarding any tuition
  set aside by the institution as described by Subsection (b) in the
  preceding fall, spring, or summer term.  The report must include:
               (1)  the amount of tuition set aside by the institution
  as described by Subsection (b) for each applicable term;
               (2)  the percentage of the total amount of tuition
  charged by the institution under Section 54.0513 for each
  applicable term that was set aside by the institution as described
  by Subsection (b); and
               (3)  the types of student financial assistance provided
  using the funds set aside by the institution as described by
  Subsection (b).
         (d)  The coordinating board shall disseminate to each public
  or accredited private high school in this state the information
  provided in Subsection (c) in a way designed to educate high school
  students and the parents of those students on available
  opportunities and required preparation with respect to
  institutions of higher education.
         (e)  The coordinating board may adopt rules to administer
  this section.
         Sec. 56.0094.  NOTICE TO STUDENTS REGARDING TUITION SET
  ASIDE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.  (a)  An institution of higher
  education that sets aside a portion of a student's tuition payments
  to provide financial assistance for students enrolled in the
  institution shall provide to each student of the institution who
  pays tuition from which a portion is set aside for that purpose a
  notice regarding the specific amount that is set aside by the
  institution.
         (b)  The institution shall provide the notice required by
  Subsection (a) to the student in a prominently printed statement
  that appears on or is included with:
               (1)  the student's tuition bill or billing statement,
  if the institution provides the student with a printed bill or
  billing statement for the payment of the student's tuition; or
               (2)  the student's tuition receipt, if the institution
  provides the student with a printed receipt evidencing the payment
  of the student's tuition.
         (c)  If for any semester or other academic term the
  institution does not provide the student with a printed tuition
  bill, tuition billing statement, or tuition receipt, the
  institution shall include the notice required by Subsection (a) for
  that semester or other term in a statement prominently displayed in
  an e-mail sent to the student.  The notice may be included in any
  other e-mail sent to the student in connection with the student's
  tuition charges for that semester or other term.
         (d)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule
  shall prescribe minimum standards for the manner, form, and content
  of the notice required by this section.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter U to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER U. TEXAS STUDENTS FIRST GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 56.641.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "General academic teaching institution" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
               (3)  "Eligible institution" means a general academic
  teaching institution that satisfies the requirements of Section
  56.644.
               (4)  "Program" means the Texas Students First Grant
  Program established under this subchapter.
               (5)  "Tuition" includes:
                     (A)  tuition for which the rates are prescribed by
  Chapter 54; and
                     (B)  tuition charged by a general academic
  teaching institution under Section 54.0513 or another law
  authorizing an institution to establish tuition rates.
         Sec. 56.642.  PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas Students
  First Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to students
  with financial need at general academic teaching institutions that
  have successfully controlled tuition costs charged to students at
  the institution.
         Sec. 56.643.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM; PRIORITY FOR GRANT
  AWARDS. (a)  The coordinating board shall:
               (1)  administer the program;
               (2)  adopt rules for determining the allocation of
  funds under the program among eligible institutions; and
               (3)  adopt any other rules necessary to implement the
  program or this subchapter.
         (b)  The coordinating board shall consult with the student
  financial aid officers of eligible institutions in developing rules
  adopted under Subsection (a).
         (c)  In awarding grants under the program, priority shall be
  given to eligible students whose cost for tuition and required fees
  is not fully met through other non-loan financial assistance
  programs.
         Sec. 56.644.  ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. (a)  A general
  academic teaching institution is eligible to participate in the
  program for an academic year only if the total amount of tuition
  charged by the institution to each student for that academic year is
  at least five percent less than the total amount of tuition that the
  institution would have charged to a similarly situated student for
  the 2017-2018 academic year.
         (b)  For purposes of this section, students are similarly
  situated if they share the same residency status, degree program,
  course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other
  circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student.
         Sec. 56.645.  ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT.  To be eligible for a
  grant under the program, a person must:
               (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (2)  be enrolled as an undergraduate student at an
  eligible institution;
               (3)  meet financial need requirements as defined by
  coordinating board rules;
               (4)  comply with any additional requirement adopted by
  the coordinating board under this subchapter; and
               (5)  be eligible for federal financial aid, except that
  a person is not required to meet any financial aid need requirement
  applicable to a particular federal financial aid program.
         Sec. 56.646.  GRANT USE. A person receiving a grant under
  this subchapter may use the money only to pay the amount of tuition
  and required fees and the cost of required textbooks incurred by the
  student at an eligible institution.
         Sec. 56.647.  GRANT AMOUNT. (a)  The coordinating board by
  rule shall prescribe the maximum amount of a grant awarded to a
  person under the program for a semester or other academic term.
         (b)  The total amount of grants awarded under the program may
  not exceed the amount available for the program from
  appropriations, gifts, grants, or other funds.
         Sec. 56.648.  FUNDING. (a)  The coordinating board may
  solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or
  private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
         (b)  The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes
  of this subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply
  beginning with tuition charged for the 2018 spring semester.  
  Tuition charged for any semester or other academic term before the
  2018 spring semester is covered by the applicable law as it existed
  before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter U, Chapter
  56, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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