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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to completion and submission of a financial aid |
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application for costs of higher education as a condition of high |
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school graduation for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.025(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible |
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for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may |
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graduate and receive a diploma only if: |
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(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum |
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requirements identified by the State Board of Education under |
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Subsection (a) and complies with Sections 28.0256 and [Section] |
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39.025; or |
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(2) the student successfully completes an |
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individualized education program developed under Section 29.005. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0256 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0256. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR |
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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. (a) Before graduating from high school, |
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each student must complete and submit a free application for |
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federal student aid (FAFSA) or, if applicable, a Texas application |
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for state financial aid (TASFA). |
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(b) A student is not required to comply with Subsection (a) |
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if: |
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(1) the student's parent or other person standing in |
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parental relation submits a signed form indicating that the parent |
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or other person authorizes the student to decline to complete and |
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submit the financial aid application; or |
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(2) the student signs and submits the form described |
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by Subdivision (1) on the student's own behalf if the student is 18 |
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years of age or older or the student's disabilities of minority have |
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been removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code. |
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(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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shall adopt a form to be used for purposes of Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with students |
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enrolled at the 12th grade level during the 2020-2021 school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |