HB2476 - Relating to a grant program for living expenses for certain students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

  89R9472 KJE-D     By: Simmons H.B. No. 2476       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a grant program for living expenses for certain   students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter W to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER W.   LIVING EXPENSES GRANT PROGRAM           Sec. 56.701.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Grant program" means the grant program   established under this subchapter.                 (2)     "Student who is homeless" has the meaning assigned   by Section 5.001 and includes a student who resides in a student   housing facility maintained by an institution of higher education   during an academic term but who is homeless between academic terms.           Sec.   56.702.     PURPOSE. The purpose of the grant program is   to provide for the cost of living expenses for certain students   enrolled at institutions of higher education.           Sec.   56.703.     ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION.   The   comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to   provide grants for the cost of living expenses to eligible   students.           Sec.   56.704.     ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for a grant under   the grant program for an academic year, a student must be:                 (1)  either:                       (A)  a student who is homeless; or                       (B)     a minor whose disabilities of minority have   been removed under Chapter 31, Family Code; and                 (2)  enrolled at an institution of higher education.           Sec.   56.705.     DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY. Each   institution of higher education shall:                 (1)     assess the eligibility for the grant program under   Section 56.704(1) of each applicant who is offered admission to the   institution; and                 (2)     notify the comptroller of each applicant the   institution determines to be eligible under Subdivision (1).           Sec.   56.706.     AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a)   The comptroller shall   award a grant to each eligible student in the amount necessary to   pay the cost of the student's housing, food, and other living   expenses during the student's enrollment at the institution of   higher education for the applicable year.           (b)     An eligible student is entitled to the full amount of a   grant under this section regardless of whether the student is   enrolled in a course for a summer term of the academic year for   which the grant is awarded.           Sec.   56.707.     USE OF GRANT. A grant may be used only for the   cost of the eligible student's housing, food, and other living   expenses during the student's enrollment at the institution of   higher education for the applicable year.           Sec.   56.708.     EFFECT OF GRANT ON OTHER AID. Notwithstanding   any other law, the amount of a grant awarded under the grant program   may not be considered in determining the amount of another grant,   scholarship, or other aid to which the student is entitled under   this chapter or another provision of this code.           Sec.   56.709.     RULES. The comptroller, in consultation with   the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules as   necessary to administer the grant program.          SECTION 2.  (a) The comptroller of public accounts, in   consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,   shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter W, Chapter 56, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the   effective date of this Act.          (b)  The comptroller of public accounts shall begin awarding   grants to eligible students under Subchapter W, Chapter 56,   Education Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year   for which money is appropriated for that purpose, except that the   coordinating board may not allocate funds under that subchapter for   an academic year before the 2026-2027 academic year.          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, 2025.