HB300 - Relating to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.

      H.B. No. 300         AN ACT   relating to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.9771(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The amount of a scholarship under this subchapter in an   academic year is the lesser of:                (1)   the greater of $30,000 or an amount equal to the   average cost of attendance at an institution of higher education in   this state, as determined by board rule [ $15,000 ]; or                (2)  the amount available for each scholarship from   appropriations that may be used for scholarships under this   subchapter for that academic year.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.9772, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  To receive an initial scholarship under this   subchapter, a student must:                (1)  be enrolled in a public or private institution of   higher education in this state and, while enrolled at the   institution: [ ; ]                       (A)  [ (2) ]  enroll in and be a member in good   standing of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or   another [ undergraduate ] officer commissioning program such as the   United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class [ while enrolled in   a public or private institution of higher education in this state ];                       (B)     submit to the board proof of the student's   successful completion of a program described by Paragraph (A); or                       (C)     submit to the board proof of the student's   acceptance into the officer commissioning program for the Texas   State Guard, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code;                 (2)  [ (3) ]  be appointed to receive a scholarship by the   governor, the lieutenant governor, a state senator, or a state   representative; and                 (3)  [ (4) ]  enter into an agreement with the board under   Section 61.9773.          (b)  In each year, the governor and the lieutenant governor   shall [ may ] each appoint two students and two alternates and each   state senator and each state representative shall [ may ] appoint one   student and one alternate to receive an initial scholarship under   this subchapter.  If a student appointed under this subsection to   receive a scholarship fails to initially meet eligibility or   otherwise meet the requirements to initially receive the   scholarship, the board [ Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ]   must notify the alternate on file of their nomination.           (b-1)     A state senator or state representative shall make the   appointments required by Subsection (b) not later than September 30   of each year. If a state senator or state representative fails to   make a timely appointment in accordance with this subsection, the   lieutenant governor or the speaker of the house of representatives,   as appropriate, shall promptly fill the vacancy in appointment or   designate a member of their respective chamber to promptly make the   appointment on their behalf.          SECTION 3.  Section 61.9773, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.9773.  AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a)  To receive a   scholarship under this subchapter, a student must enter into an   agreement with the board as provided by this section.  The agreement   must require the student to:                (1)   satisfy one of the following requirements   [ complete ]:                      (A)   complete or submit to the board proof that   the student previously completed one year of ROTC training for each   year that the student receives the scholarship; [ or ]                      (B)   complete or submit to the board proof that   the student previously completed another [ undergraduate ] officer   commissioning program such as the United States Marine Corps   Platoon Leaders Class; or                       (C)     submit to the board proof of the student's   acceptance into the officer commissioning program for the Texas   State Guard, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code;                (2)  graduate not later than six years after the date   the student first enrolls in a public or private institution of   higher education in this state;                (3)  after graduation, enter into:                      (A)  a four-year commitment to be a member of the   Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State   Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Merchant Marine;   or                      (B)  a contract to serve as a commissioned officer   in any branch of the armed services of the United States;                (4)  meet the physical examination requirements and all   other prescreening requirements of the Texas Army National Guard,   Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, United States Coast   Guard, or United States Merchant Marine or the branch of the armed   services with which the student enters into a contract; and                (5)  agree to repay the scholarship if the student:                      (A)  fails to maintain satisfactory academic   progress;                      (B)  withdraws from the scholarship program; or                      (C)  fails to fulfill a commitment or contract   described by Subdivision (3).          (b)  The board shall adopt rules to exempt a student from the   repayment of a scholarship under an agreement entered into under   this section if the student is unable to meet the obligations of the   agreement solely as a result of :                 (1)   physical inability ; or                 (2)     an extraordinary circumstance outside the   student's control .           (c)     If the board determines that a student who entered into   an agreement with the board under this section was erroneously   removed from the scholarship program established under this   subchapter, the board shall reinstate the student's scholarship if   the student is currently enrolled in a public or private   institution of higher education in this state.            SECTION 4.  Section 61.9775, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.9775.  LIMITATIONS ON SCHOLARSHIP.  [ (a) ]  A person   may not receive a scholarship under this subchapter for more than   four academic years [ after earning a cumulative total of 150 credit   hours or after being awarded a baccalaureate degree, whichever   occurs first ].          [ (b)     A scholarship awarded to a student under this   subchapter shall be reduced for an academic year by the amount by   which the full amount of the scholarship plus the total amount to be   paid to the student for being under contract with one of the   branches of the armed services of the United States exceeds the   student's total cost of attendance for that academic year at the   public or private institution of higher education in which the   student is enrolled. ]          SECTION 5.  Subchapter FF, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.9777 to read as follows:           Sec.   61.9777.     SCHOLARSHIP COORDINATOR. The board shall   designate an employee of the board to serve as a scholarship   coordinator for scholarships awarded under this subchapter. The   scholarship coordinator shall:                 (1)     serve as a liaison and point of contact for   students appointed to receive a scholarship under this subchapter;   and                 (2)     coordinate with financial aid offices at public   and private institutions of higher education in this state and with   relevant military personnel on behalf of scholarship recipients to   ensure students fully understand the requirements of this   subchapter.          SECTION 6.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   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, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 300 was passed by the House on April   15, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 3 present, not   voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to   H.B. No. 300 on May 25, 2025, and requested the appointment of a   conference committee to consider the differences between the two   houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report   on H.B. No. 300 on May 31, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 121,   Nays 8, 1 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 300 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 21, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays   0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference   committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and   that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.   300 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor