S.B. No. 1210

	AN ACT
	relating to conditions on the receipt of tuition and fee exemptions
	and waivers at public institutions of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 54.2001 and 54.2002 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.2001.  CONTINUED RECEIPT OF EXEMPTIONS OR WAIVERS
	CONDITIONAL. (a)  Notwithstanding any other law but subject to
	Subsection (f), after initially qualifying under this subchapter
	for a mandatory or discretionary exemption or waiver from the
	payment of all or part of the tuition or other fees for enrollment
	during a semester or term at an institution of higher education, a
	person may continue to receive the exemption or waiver for a
	subsequent semester or term only if the person:
	(1)  as a graduate or undergraduate student, maintains
	a grade point average that satisfies the institution's grade point
	average requirement for making satisfactory academic progress
	toward a degree or certificate in accordance with the institution's
	policy regarding eligibility for financial aid; and
	(2)  as an undergraduate student, has not completed as
	of the beginning of the semester or term a number of semester credit
	hours that is considered to be excessive under Section 54.014,
	unless permitted to complete those hours by the institution on a
	showing of good cause.
	(b)  In determining whether a person has completed a number
	of semester credit hours that is considered to be excessive for
	purposes of Subsection (a)(2), semester credit hours completed
	include transfer credit hours that count toward the person's
	undergraduate degree or certificate program course requirements
	but exclude:
	(1)  hours earned exclusively by examination;
	(2)  hours earned for a course for which the person
	received credit toward the person's high school academic
	requirements; and
	(3)  hours earned for developmental coursework that an
	institution of higher education required the person to take under
	Section 51.3062 or under the former provisions of Section 51.306.
	(c)  If on the completion of any semester or term a person
	fails to meet any requirement of Subsection (a), for the next
	semester or term in which the person enrolls the person may not
	receive the exemption or waiver described by Subsection (a).  A
	person may become eligible to receive an exemption or waiver in a
	subsequent semester or term if the person:
	(1)  completes a semester or term during which the
	person is not eligible for an exemption or waiver; and
	(2)  meets each requirement of Subsection (a), as
	applicable.
	(d)  Each institution of higher education shall adopt a
	policy to allow a student who fails to maintain a grade point
	average as required by Subsection (a)(1) to receive an exemption or
	waiver in any semester or term on a showing of hardship or other
	good cause, including:
	(1)  a showing of a severe illness or other
	debilitating condition that could affect the student's academic
	performance;
	(2)  an indication that the student is responsible for
	the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and that the student's
	provision of care could affect the student's academic performance;
	(3)  the student's active duty or other service in the
	United States armed forces or the student's active duty in the Texas
	National Guard; or
	(4)  any other cause considered acceptable by the
	institution.
	(e)  An institution of higher education shall maintain
	documentation of each exception granted to a student under
	Subsection (d).
	(f)  If a requirement imposed by this section for the
	continued receipt of a specific exemption or waiver conflicts with
	another requirement imposed by statute for that exemption or
	waiver, the stricter requirement prevails.
	(g)  This section does not apply to:
	(1)  the waiver provided by Section 54.216 or any other
	reduction in tuition provided to a high school student for
	enrollment in a dual credit course or other course for which the
	student may earn joint high school and college credit;
	(2)  the exemption provided by Section
	54.341(a-2)(1)(A), (B), (C), or (D) or (b)(1)(A), (B), (C), or (D);
	(3)  the exemption provided by Section 54.342 or
	54.366; or
	(4)  any provision of this code that authorizes or
	requires the payment of tuition or fees at the rates provided for
	residents of this state by a person who is not a resident of this
	state for purposes of Subchapter B.
	Sec. 54.2002.  EXEMPTIONS AND WAIVERS FOR STATE-FUNDED
	COURSES ONLY. Notwithstanding any other law, a mandatory or
	discretionary exemption or waiver from the payment of tuition or
	other fees under this subchapter or another provision of this code
	applies only to courses for which an institution of higher
	education receives formula funding.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
	person's eligibility for an exemption or waiver from the payment of
	all or part of tuition or other fees beginning with tuition and fees
	charged for the 2014 fall semester.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1210 passed the Senate on
	April 8, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 25, 2013, by the
	following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1210 passed the House, with
	amendment, on May 22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 148,
	Nays 0, two present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor