college grants for first generation students

The text as introduced · 924 words

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.