This section sets how TEXAS grant amounts are calculated and limits how public institutions handle students who receive the grant.
Sec. 56.307. GRANT AMOUNT. (a) The amount of a TEXAS grant for a semester or term for a person enrolled full-time at an eligible institution is an amount determined by the coordinating board as the average statewide amount of tuition and required fees that a resident student enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program would be charged for that semester or term at general academic teaching institutions. (b) Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1181, Sec. 55, eff. September 1, 2005. (c) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155, Sec. 62(5), eff. September 1, 2013. (d) Repealed by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155, Sec. 62(5), eff. September 1, 2013. (d-1) The coordinating board shall determine the average statewide tuition and fee amounts for a semester or term of the next academic year for purposes of this section by using the amounts of tuition and required fees that will be charged by the eligible institutions for that semester or term in that academic year. The board may estimate the amount of the charges for a semester or term in the next academic year by an institution if the relevant information is not yet available to the board. (e) The coordinating board may adopt rules that allow the coordinating board to increase or decrease, in proportion to the number of semester credit hours in which a student is enrolled, the amount of a TEXAS grant award under this section to a student who is enrolled in a number of semester credit hours in excess of or below the number of semester credit hours described in Section 56.304(a)(5) or 56.305(a)(3). (f) The amount of a TEXAS grant may not be reduced by any gift aid for which the person receiving the grant is eligible, unless the total amount of a person's grant plus any gift aid received exceeds the student's financial need. (g) Not later than January 31 of each year, the coordinating board shall publish the amounts of each grant established by the board for each type of institution for the academic year beginning the next fall semester. (h) Repealed by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1230, Sec. 17, eff. June 18, 2005. (i) A public institution of higher education may not: (1) unless the institution complies with Subsection (j), charge a person attending the institution who also receives a TEXAS grant an amount of tuition and required fees in excess of the amount of the TEXAS grant received by the person; or (2) deny admission to or enrollment in the institution based on a person's eligibility to receive a TEXAS grant or a person's receipt of a TEXAS grant. (i-1) A public institution of higher education may elect to award a TEXAS grant to any student in an amount that is less than the applicable amount established under Subsection (a) or (e). (j) A public institution of higher education shall use other available sources of financial aid, other than a loan, to cover any difference in the amount of a TEXAS grant awarded to the student and the actual amount of tuition and required fees at the institution if the difference results from: (1) a reduction in the amount of a TEXAS grant under Subsection (i-1); or (2) a deficiency in the amount of the grant as established under Subsection (a) or (e), as applicable, to cover the full amount of tuition and required fees charged to the student by the institution. (k) The legislature in an appropriations act shall account for tuition and required fees received under this section in a way that does not increase the general revenue appropriations to that institution. (l) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1243 , Sec. 8(2), eff. September 1, 2015. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1590, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1999. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 919, Sec. 3, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1181 (S.B. 1227), Sec. 35, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1181 (S.B. 1227), Sec. 55, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1230 (H.B. 1172), Sec. 17, eff. June 18, 2005. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155 (S.B. 215), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155 (S.B. 215), Sec. 62(5), eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1243 (H.B. 700), Sec. 8(2), eff. September 1, 2015.