85R65 KEL-D     By: Leach H.B. No. 3247       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant.          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), or (q-2);                            (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.  The change in law made by this Act in adding   Section 56.3031, Education Code, applies beginning with initial or   subsequent TEXAS grants awarded for the 2017 fall semester. Initial   or subsequent TEXAS 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 6.  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.