HB3959 - Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at a public institution of higher education or a career school or college for a student meeting certain income and grade requirements.

  89R16389 RDR-D     By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 3959       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to tuition and fee exemptions at a public institution of   higher education or a career school or college for a student meeting   certain income and grade requirements.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 54.204 to read as follows:           Sec.   54.204.     EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING CERTAIN INCOME   AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The governing board of an institution   of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and   required fees charged by the institution an undergraduate student   who:                 (1)  is a resident of this state;                 (2)     is a member of a household with a   total annual   income below $100,000; and                 (3)     maintains an overall grade point average of at   least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all coursework   attempted at the institution.           (b)     The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   adopt rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under   this section, including rules relating to the determination of a   student's eligibility for an exemption.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 132, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 132.0612 to read as follows:           Sec.   132.0612.     TUITION   EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING   CERTAIN INCOME AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. As a condition to receiving   a certificate of approval under this chapter, including renewal of   a certificate of approval, a career school or college must provide   an exemption from the payment of tuition and required fees charged   by the school for a course or program, as applicable, to a student   who is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees at a public   institution of higher education as provided by Section 54.204.          SECTION 3.  (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.204, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the   effective date of this Act.          (b)  Section 54.204, Education Code, as added by this Act,   applies beginning with tuition and required fees charged for the   2025 fall semester. Tuition and required fees charged for an   academic period before that semester are governed by the law in   effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  Section 132.0612, Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies to a certificate of approval issued or renewed   under Chapter 132, Education Code, on or after the effective date of   this Act.          SECTION 5.  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.