The coordinating board must administer the TEXAS grant program, adopt implementing rules, and allocate grants within available funds.
Sec. 56.303. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The coordinating board shall administer the TEXAS grant program and shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the TEXAS grant program or this subchapter. The coordinating board shall consult with the student financial aid officers of eligible institutions in developing the rules. (b) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to provide a TEXAS grant to an eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution in the most efficient manner possible. (c) The total amount of TEXAS grants awarded may not exceed the amount available for the program from appropriations, gifts, grants, or other funds. (d) From money appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of this subchapter, the coordinating board annually shall determine the allocation of money available for TEXAS grants among general academic teaching institutions and other eligible institutions and shall distribute the money accordingly. (d-1) In allocating among eligible institutions money available for initial TEXAS grants for an academic year, the coordinating board shall ensure that each of those institutions' proportional share of the total amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to eligible institutions under this section for that year does not, as a result of the number of students who establish eligibility at the institution for an initial grant under Section 56.3041(2)(A), change from the institution's proportional share of the total amount of money for initial grants that is allocated to those institutions under this section for the preceding academic year. (e) In determining who should receive a TEXAS grant, the coordinating board and the eligible institutions shall give priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and whose expected family contribution, as determined according to the methodology used for federal student financial aid, does not exceed 60 percent of the average statewide amount of tuition and required fees described by Section 56.307(a). In giving priority based on financial need as required by this subsection to students who meet the requirements for the highest priority as provided by Subsection (f), an eligible institution shall determine financial need according to the relative expected family contribution of those students, beginning with students who have the lowest expected family contribution. (f) Beginning with TEXAS grants awarded for the 2013-2014 academic year, in determining who should receive an initial TEXAS grant, each eligible institution, in addition to giving priority as provided by Subsection (e), shall give highest priority to students who meet the eligibility criteria described by Section 56.3041(2)(A). If there is money available in excess of the amount required to award an initial TEXAS grant to all students meeting those criteria, an eligible institution shall make awards to other students who meet the eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A), provided that the institution continues to give priority to students as provided by Subsection (e). Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1590, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1197 (S.B. 28), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155 (S.B. 215), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.