HB4303 - Relating to the establishment of the Texas First Generation Matching Grant Program for certain students at public institutions of higher education.

      By: Howard H.B. No. 4303       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Texas First Generation   Matching Grant Program for certain students 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 N to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER N.   TEXAS FIRST GENERATION MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM           Sec. 56.331.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                 (2)     "Eligible institution" means an institution of   higher education that meets the eligibility criteria adopted by the   coordinating board under Section 56.338.                 (3)     "First generation college student" means a student   whose parents have not earned a baccalaureate degree or a higher   degree, including a student who regularly resides with and receives   support from only one parent who has not earned a baccalaureate   degree.                 (4)     "Program" means the Texas First Generation   Matching Grant Program established under this subchapter.           Sec.   56.332.     PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. The   coordinating board shall establish and administer the Texas First   Generation Matching Grant Program to provide financial assistance   to eligible first generation college students enrolled at eligible   institutions.           Sec.   56.333.     STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a)   To be   initially eligible to participate in the program for an academic   year, a student must:                 (1)     be a first generation college student who resides   in this state;                 (2)     be a citizen of the United States or an eligible   noncitizen described by 20 U.S.C. Section 1091(a)(5);                 (3)     be enrolled at an eligible institution in an   associate or baccalaureate degree program;                 (4)     be enrolled in at least six semester credit hours   or the equivalent;                 (5)     complete the Free Application for Federal Student   Aid (FAFSA);                 (6)     have financial need as determined by the eligible   institution based on the United States Department of Education   Student Aid Index (SAI) formula;                 (7)     have not previously been awarded a baccalaureate   degree; and                 (8)     comply with any additional eligibility   requirement adopted by the coordinating board under Section 56.338.           (b)     After initially qualifying for a grant under the   program, a student may continue to receive a grant under the program   for a subsequent academic year if the student continues to meet all   eligibility requirements described by Subsection (a).           Sec.   56.334.     APPLICATION PROCESS. An eligible student may   apply for the program through the financial aid office of the   eligible institution in which the student is enrolled.           Sec.   56.335.     GRANT AMOUNT. (a)   The amount of a grant   awarded to an eligible student for an academic year under the   program shall be determined by the eligible institution at which   the student is enrolled based on:                 (1)     the student's financial need determined in   accordance with Section 56.333(a)(6); and                 (2)     the total amount of funding available to the   institution for distribution under the program for that academic   year.           (b)     The amount of a grant awarded to an eligible student for   an academic year may not exceed the student's estimated cost of   attendance for the academic year.           Sec.   56.336.     FUNDING. (a)   The coordinating board and each   eligible institution may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and   donations from any public or private source for the program.           (b)     From money appropriated by the legislature or otherwise   available to the coordinating board for the program, the   coordinating board shall provide to each eligible institution   matching funds in the amount of at least one dollar for each dollar   received by the institution for the program from a private source.           (c)     Matching funds received by an eligible institution   under this section may be used only to provide grants under the   program.           (d)     To qualify to receive matching grant funds for an   academic year, an eligible institution must annually certify to the   coordinating board, not later than the date prescribed by   coordinating board rule, the amount of private contributions   received by the institution for the program.           Sec.   56.337.     REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. An eligible   institution annually shall submit to the coordinating board and   each standing committee of the legislature with primary   jurisdiction over higher education a written report that includes:                 (1)     the number of students to whom the institution   awarded grants under the program for the most recent academic year;                 (2)     the total amount of private contributions the   institution received and certified for matching funds in accordance   with Section 56.336;                 (3)     demographic information of students described by   Subdivision (1); and                 (4)     the retention and graduate rates of students to   whom the institution has awarded grants under the program.           Sec.   56.338.     RULES. The coordinating board shall adopt   rules for the administration of the program, including:                 (1)     any additional criteria for a student to be   eligible to participate in the program, including application   requirements;                 (2)     eligibility criteria for an institution of higher   education to participate in the program;                 (3)     procedures to oversee the disbursement of grant   funds awarded by eligible institutions under the program; and                 (4)     rules to ensure compliance with any relevant   federal or state law or rule.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter N, Chapter   56, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable   after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter N, Chapter 56, Education Code, as   added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2026-2027 academic   year.          SECTION 4.  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.