| (a) Applicability. This section establishes standards
applicable to all program participants.
(b) Eligibility and reimbursement. An employee must
meet the following requirements to be eligible for an assistance program.
The employee must:
(1) be a full-time, regular status employee who has
been continuously employed for one year at the time of application;
(2) maintain satisfactory job performance;
(3) not have any disciplinary action for six months
prior to applying or during the program; and
(4) sign a commitment to employment for six months
to begin the month following reimbursement.
(c) Scope of assistance.
(1) Eligible expenses.
(A) The department may pay the cost of fees on a per-hour
basis, in an amount equal to the latest average semester hour cost
for Texas public colleges and universities, as reported by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board. The participant will be responsible
for paying the difference in cost.
(B) The department may provide reimbursement for mandatory
fees.
(2) Use of state property. A program participant may
not use duty hours for attending classes, studying, or other activities
associated with the program. A program participant may use state equipment
for activities related to coursework with supervisor approval.
(3) Retaken courses. The department will not reimburse
a program participant for a course taken more than once.
(d) Conditions of reimbursement.
(1) Within four weeks of receipt of grades, a program
participant shall provide the department with:
(A) a passing grade report or transcript verifying
the passing course credit; and
(B) an itemized statement of tuition and mandatory
fees.
(2) The department may require an employee to reimburse
the department for tuition if the employee does not complete the employment
commitment.
(3) The executive director shall adopt policies related
to education and training for employees.
(4) Before a program participant may be reimbursed
under this section, the executive director must authorize the reimbursement
payment.
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