CHAPTER 305. TEXAS CAREER OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
LABOR CODE
TITLE 4. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT
SUBTITLE B. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION; WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT;
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
CHAPTER 305. TEXAS CAREER OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 305.001. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas Career
Opportunity Grant Program is to help ensure a qualified workforce
to meet the needs of this state by reducing the financial
barriers to postsecondary career education and training for
economically disadvantaged Texans.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
(3) "Eligible institution" means a career school or college in
this state that:
(A) holds a certificate of approval under Chapter 132, Education
Code; and
(B) is approved by the commission under Section 305.023 for its
students to participate in the grant program established under
this chapter.
(4) "Public technical institute" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003, Education Code.
(5) "Qualified education program" means a postsecondary
education program that meets the requirements provided by Section
305.024.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 364, Sec. 2.29, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 817, Sec. 8.43, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 305.003. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. The commission and
the coordinating board shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding for the coordination and administration of the
grant program established under Subchapter B. Functions assigned
to the commission under this chapter may be assigned to the
coordinating board pursuant to the memorandum of understanding.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
197, Sec. 1, eff. May 27, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER B. GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 305.021. TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT; AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a)
The commission may provide tuition assistance grants to Texas
residents enrolled in a qualified education program at an
eligible institution.
(b) In selecting applicants to receive grants under this chapter
and the amount of the grant for each applicant, the commission
may consider:
(1) the financial need and resources of an applicant;
(2) the state's need for workforce development in the
applicant's proposed career field;
(3) the efficient use of the money available for grants;
(4) the fair allocation of grants to promote workforce
development in different career fields;
(5) the opportunity of applicants from all regions of this state
to receive financial assistance under this chapter; and
(6) any other factor the commission considers appropriate to
further the purposes of this chapter.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.022. LIMITATIONS ON GRANT AMOUNT. (a) The amount of a
grant under this chapter may not exceed the lower of:
(1) the maximum grant amount, if any, specified by the
legislature in an appropriation act; or
(2) the amount by which the tuition and required fees at the
eligible institution attended exceeds the average amount of
tuition and required fees that would be charged at a public
technical institute, as determined by the commission based on
information provided by the coordinating board.
(b) The total amount of grants paid under this chapter on behalf
of a student during a state fiscal year may not exceed an amount
equal to 50 percent of the average state appropriation in the
biennium preceding the biennium in which the grant is made for a
full-time student or the equivalent at a public technical
institute, as determined by the coordinating board and certified
to the commission.
(c) The amount of a grant to a part-time student shall be made
on a pro rata basis in relation to the amount of the grant the
person would be entitled to receive if enrolled as a full-time
student.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.023. APPROVAL OF INSTITUTIONS. The commission shall
approve a career school or college for its students to
participate in the grant program established under this chapter
if the school or college:
(1) has been accredited for not less than five years by an
accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of
Education and maintains that accreditation;
(2) has held a certificate of approval under Chapter 132,
Education Code, for at least five years; and
(3) offers one or more qualified education programs.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 364, Sec. 2.30, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 817, Sec. 8.44, eff.
Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 305.024. QUALIFIED EDUCATION PROGRAMS. For purposes of
this chapter, a qualified education program is a postsecondary
course of instruction in a specific career field that:
(1) is at least one academic year in length as defined by the
United States Department of Education; and
(2) leads to a certificate, certification, degree, or diploma in
the career field.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.025. NONDISCRIMINATION. The commission in
administering this chapter shall ensure compliance with Title VI,
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d et seq.), as
amended, in regard to nondiscrimination under any program or
activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.026. APPLICATION; ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. (a) To
receive a grant under this chapter, a person must apply to the
eligible institution in which the person enrolls in the manner
provided by commission rule.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, an
applicant must:
(1) be a Texas resident and meet the requirements to qualify as
a Texas resident under Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code,
and the rules of the coordinating board for the payment of
resident tuition at a public institution of higher education;
(2) be enrolled in a qualified education program at an eligible
institution for at least one-half of a full course load;
(3) be required to pay more tuition and required fees than the
amount required at a public technical institute and be charged
not less than the regular tuition and required fees paid by other
students enrolled at the eligible institution the person attends;
(4) establish financial need and eligibility for student
financial assistance in accordance with procedures and
regulations of the United States Department of Education for
financial aid programs under Title IV, Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1070 et seq.), as amended;
(5) not be in default on a loan made under the Federal Perkins
Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, or William
D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program;
(6) not owe a refund on a grant received under the federal Pell
Grant program or the federal Supplemental Education Opportunity
Grant program; and
(7) comply with any other requirements adopted by the commission
under this chapter.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.027. PAYMENT OF GRANT. (a) On receipt of an
enrollment report for a student awarded a grant under this
chapter and certification of the amount of the student's
financial need from the approved institution, the commission
shall certify the amount of the grant awarded to the student.
(b) The grant shall be paid to the student through the eligible
institution in which the student is enrolled.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.028. ADOPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF RULES. (a) The
commission may adopt reasonable rules to administer and enforce
this chapter.
(b) The commission shall distribute a copy of the rules to each
eligible institution.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.
Sec. 305.029. ANNUAL REPORT. The commission shall prepare and
deliver to the legislature an annual report regarding the grant
program established under this chapter. The report shall include
for the period covered by the report:
(1) the number of students who received grants under this
chapter; and
(2) the number of those students who attended each eligible
institution, including information on the race or ethnicity of
those students attending each institution.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 713, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.