85R6583 KJE-F     By: Seliger S.B. No. 886       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 56.405(f), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (f)  The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a   person who is otherwise eligible to receive a grant under this   subchapter, in the event of a hardship or for other good cause   shown, including a showing of a severe illness or other   debilitating condition that may affect the person's academic   performance or that the person is responsible for the care of a   sick, injured, or needy person and that the person's provision of   care may affect the person's academic performance, to receive a   grant under this subchapter:                (1)  while enrolled in a number of semester credit   hours that is less than the number of semester credit hours required   under Subsection (a)(3); [or]                (2)  if the student's grade point average or completion   rate falls below the satisfactory academic progress requirements of   Subsection (d);                (3)  for a number of semester credit hours that is   greater than the number of semester credit hours permitted under   Section 56.404(d); or                (4)  for a number of years that is greater than the   number of years for which the person is eligible to receive a grant   under Section 56.404(f).          SECTION 2.  Section 56.406, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 56.406.  GRANT USE. A person receiving a grant under   this subchapter may use the money only to pay the amount of tuition   and required fees and the cost of required textbooks [any usual and   customary cost of attendance] at an eligible institution incurred   by the student.  The institution may disburse all or part of the   proceeds of a grant under this subchapter to an eligible person only   if the tuition and required fees incurred by the person at the   institution have been paid.          SECTION 3.  Sections 56.407(a), (c), and (g), Education   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The amount of a grant awarded to a student under this   subchapter for a semester or other academic term [student enrolled   full-time at an eligible institution] is an [the] amount not to   exceed the lesser of:                (1)  the difference between:                      (A)  [determined by the coordinating board as] the   [average statewide] amount of tuition and required fees incurred by   the student at an eligible institution for that semester or term   plus a textbook stipend in an amount determined by the coordinating   board; and                       (B)  the amount of the Pell Grant for which the   student is eligible, if any; or                (2)  the student's unmet financial need for that   semester or term [that a resident student enrolled full-time in an   associate degree or certificate program would be charged for that   semester or term at eligible institutions].          (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (a)(1), the [The]   amount of a grant under this subchapter may not be reduced by any   gift aid for which the person receiving the grant is eligible,   unless the total amount of a person's grant plus any gift aid   received exceeds the student's financial need [total cost of   attendance at an eligible institution].          (g)  An institution may use other available sources of   financial aid, other than a loan or work-study program [a Pell   grant], to cover any difference in the amount of a grant under this   subchapter and the actual amount of tuition and required fees at the   institution.          SECTION 4.  Sections 56.407(b) and (d), Education Code, are   repealed.          SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply   beginning with initial or subsequent grants awarded for the 2018   fall semester. Initial or subsequent grants awarded for a semester   or term before the 2018 fall semester are governed by the applicable   law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and   the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2018.