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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board on best practices to assist certain students in |
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completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.07763 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.07763. STUDY AND REPORT ON FREE APPLICATION FOR |
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FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) COMPLETION BEST PRACTICES. (a) The |
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board shall conduct a study to determine best practices to provide |
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assistance in completing and submitting the free application for |
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federal student aid (FAFSA) to an applicant who is a dependent of a |
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person who lacks the documentation necessary to complete the |
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application. |
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(b) The study must identify best practices to address the |
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lack of access to the following information required to complete |
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the FAFSA: |
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(1) federal income tax information; |
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(2) a social security number issued by the Social |
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Security Administration; |
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(3) an identification document, including a driver's |
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license, government-issued identification, United States passport, |
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Certificate of United States Citizenship, Certificate of |
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Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration |
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Receipt Card, Temporary Resident Card, Refugee Travel Document, or |
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Employment Authorization Document; and |
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(4) an alien registration number. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the board shall collaborate |
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with general academic teaching institutions, public junior |
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colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges, |
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private or independent institutions of higher education, and rural |
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and urban career schools or colleges, as defined by Section |
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132.001. |
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(d) To the extent necessary, the board may consult with and |
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consider recommendations from federal agencies in conducting the |
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study. |
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(e) The recommendations resulting from the study may not |
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include any recommendation to deceive, mislead, or undermine the |
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United States Department of Education. |
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(f) Not later than November 1, 2020, the board shall submit |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and the commissioner of education a written |
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report on the study's results and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action. |
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(g) The board shall: |
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(1) provide a written copy of the report submitted |
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under Subsection (f) to each school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school high school counselor in this state; and |
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(2) post the report on the board's Internet website. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |