Bill Text: TX SB1724 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to conditions on the receipt of tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-19 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1724 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SB1724-Engrossed.html
By: Zaffirini, Birdwell | S.B. No. 1724 |
|
||
|
||
relating to conditions on the receipt of tuition and fee exemptions | ||
at public institutions of higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 54.2001 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 54.2001. CONTINUED RECEIPT OF EXEMPTIONS CONDITIONAL. | ||
(a) Notwithstanding any other law but subject to Subsection (f), | ||
after initially qualifying under this subchapter for a mandatory or | ||
discretionary exemption from the payment of tuition or other fees | ||
for enrollment during a semester or term at an institution of higher | ||
education, a person may continue to receive the exemption for a | ||
subsequent semester or term only if the person: | ||
(1) maintains a grade point average that satisfies the | ||
institution's grade point average requirement for making | ||
satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or a certificate in | ||
accordance with the institution's policy regarding eligibility for | ||
financial aid; and | ||
(2) as of the beginning of the semester or term, has | ||
not completed more than 30 semester credit hours, or a greater | ||
number of hours as permitted by the institution on a showing of good | ||
cause, in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours | ||
required to complete the person's degree or certificate program. | ||
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), the computation of a | ||
person's total number of completed semester credit hours includes | ||
transfer credit hours that count toward the person's degree or | ||
certificate program course requirements, but excludes: | ||
(1) hours earned exclusively by examination; | ||
(2) hours earned for a course for which the person | ||
received credit toward the person's high school academic | ||
requirements; and | ||
(3) hours earned for developmental coursework that an | ||
institution of higher education required the person to take under | ||
Section 51.3062 or under the former provisions of Section 51.306. | ||
(c) If on the completion of any semester or term a person | ||
fails to meet any requirement of Subsection (a), the person may not | ||
receive an exemption from the payment of tuition or other fees | ||
described by Subsection (a) for the next semester or term in which | ||
the person enrolls. A person may become eligible to receive an | ||
exemption in a subsequent semester or term if the person: | ||
(1) completes a semester or term during which the | ||
person is not eligible for an exemption; and | ||
(2) meets each requirement of Subsection (a). | ||
(d) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a | ||
policy to allow a student who fails to maintain a grade point | ||
average as required by Subsection (a)(1) to receive an exemption in | ||
any semester or 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; | ||
(3) the student's active duty or other service in the | ||
United States armed forces; or | ||
(4) any other cause considered acceptable by the | ||
institution. | ||
(e) An institution of higher education shall maintain | ||
documentation of each exception granted to a student under | ||
Subsection (d). | ||
(f) If a requirement imposed by this section for the | ||
continued receipt of a specific exemption conflicts with another | ||
requirement imposed by statute for that exemption, the stricter | ||
requirement prevails. | ||
(g) This section does not apply to: | ||
(1) the exemption provided by Section 54.216 or to any | ||
other exemption provided to a high school student for enrollment in | ||
a dual credit course or other course for which the student may earn | ||
joint high school and college credit; or | ||
(2) any provision of this code that authorizes or | ||
requires the payment of tuition or fees at the rates provided for | ||
residents of this state by a person who is not a resident of this | ||
state for purposes of Subchapter B. | ||
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to | ||
eligibility for an exemption from the payment of tuition or other | ||
fees beginning with tuition and fees charged for the 2012 fall | ||
semester. | ||
SECTION 3. 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, 2011. |