When deciding certain financial assistance eligibility, the commission may not count specified education-savings and prepaid-tuition assets or benefits.
Sec. 31.0039. EXCLUSION OF ASSETS IN PREPAID TUITION PROGRAMS AND HIGHER EDUCATION SAVINGS PLANS. (a) For purposes of determining the amount of financial assistance granted to an individual under this chapter for the support of dependent children or determining whether the family meets household income and resource requirements for financial assistance under this chapter, the commission may not consider the right to assets held in or the right to receive payments or benefits under: (1) any fund or plan established under Subchapter G, H, or I, Chapter 54, Education Code, including an interest in a savings trust account, prepaid tuition contract, or related matching account; (2) any qualified tuition program of any state that meets the requirements of Section 529, Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or (3) any school-based account or bond described by Section 28.0024(b)(2), Education Code. (b) The amount of exclusion under Subsection (a)(3) of assets held in or the right to receive payments or benefits under a school-based account or bond described by Section 28.0024(b)(2)(C), (D), or (E), Education Code, is limited to the amount of the cost of undergraduate resident tuition and required fees for one academic year consisting of 30 semester credit hours charged by the general academic teaching institution with the highest such tuition and fee costs for the most recent academic year, as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 54.753, Education Code. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1186 (H.B. 3708), Sec. 8, eff. June 17, 2011. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.048, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1265 (H.B. 3987), Sec. 3, eff. June 20, 2015.