85R2867 MM-D     By: West S.B. No. 331       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the temporary approval of a private or independent   college or university to continue to participate in the tuition   equalization grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.222, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.222.  APPROVED INSTITUTIONS. (a)  The coordinating   board shall approve for purposes of this subchapter only a [those]   private or independent college [colleges] or university    [universities] that:                (1)  is a [are] private or independent institution    [institutions] of higher education; [as defined by Section 61.003]   or                (2)  is [are] located within this state and meets    [meet] the same program standards and accreditation as an   institution [public institutions] of higher education, as   determined by the board.          (b)  The coordinating board may temporarily approve a   private or independent college or university [institution of higher   education as defined by Section 61.003] that previously qualified   for approval as a private or independent institution of higher   education under Subsection (a)(1) [under Subsection (a)] but no   longer holds the [same] accreditation described by Section   61.003(15)(C) if the college or university is [as public   institutions of higher education.   To qualify under this   subsection, an institution must be]:                (1)  accredited by an accreditor recognized by the   board;                (2)  actively working toward the [same] accreditation   described by Section 61.003(15)(C) [as public institutions of   higher education];                (3)  participating in the federal financial aid program   under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a; and                (4)  a "part B institution" as defined by 20 U.S.C.   Section 1061(2) and listed in 34 C.F.R. Section 608.2.          (c)  The coordinating board may grant temporary approval for   a period of two years and may renew the approval twice [once].          SECTION 2.  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, 2017.