| (a) Refunds shall be made in accordance with provisions of these rules and the prepaid tuition contract, in a manner that will not adversely affect the tax status of the program under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. Refunds shall be governed by these rules as amended and as in effect on the date the request for refund is submitted to the board. The amount of any refund shall be the sum of all payments made under the contract for tuition and required fees, less fees due and payable to the program under the board's fee schedule and less any amounts paid by the program pursuant to the prepaid tuition contract prior to the refund. (b) Refunds shall be made to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract unless otherwise designated by the purchaser in writing to the board in the event of the purchaser's death. (c) Should a beneficiary terminate his/her student status on or after the date on which the institution denies refunds to students withdrawing for a particular semester, no refund shall be paid under the prepaid tuition contract for amounts relating to such semester. (d) Examples of circumstances under these rules in which refunds may be made include, but are not limited to, the following. (1) Under any plan if the beneficiary receives a full scholarship for tuition and required fees, the amount of tuition and required fees that would have been paid under the plan selected may be refunded. Under a junior college plan, junior/senior college plan, or a senior college plan, the amount of such refund shall not exceed the tuition scholarship amount. Refund payments may be issued each academic term as long as the scholarship is effective. The purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract shall be entitled to such refund. Proof of scholarship must be submitted in a form acceptable to the board. (2) Under the junior college plan, junior/senior college plan or senior college plan, if a beneficiary receives a partial scholarship for tuition and required fees, the tuition scholarship amount may be refunded. Under the private college plan, if a beneficiary receives a partial scholarship, a refund may be made in an amount equal to the excess of the estimated average private tuition and required fee amounts, over the actual tuition and required fee amounts less the scholarship amount. Refund payments up to the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph may be issued each academic term as long as the scholarship is effective. The purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract shall be entitled to such refund. Proof of scholarship must be submitted in a form acceptable to the board. (3) If the beneficiary dies or becomes disabled while attending an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, the amount of benefits remaining available under the prepaid tuition contract, less any applicable fees, may be refunded. A lump sum refund may be made within 60 days of the date the program is notified of the death or disability to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract, provided proof of death or disability is submitted in a form acceptable to the board. (4) If the beneficiary dies or becomes disabled after having graduated from high school but prior to attending an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, a refund may be issued or the benefits under such contract may be transferred to another qualified beneficiary. If a change of beneficiary is not requested, a lump sum refund may be made within 60 days of the date the program is notified of the death or disability to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract, provided proof of death or disability is submitted in a form acceptable to the board. Under the junior college plan, junior/senior college plan, or senior college plan, the refund will equal the average amount of tuition and required fees in effect at the time the refund is requested. Under the private college plan, the refund will equal the estimated average of private tuition and required fees as determined annually by the board. (5) If the beneficiary dies or becomes disabled before the contract is paid in full, a refund may be issued or the benefits under such contract may be transferred to another qualified beneficiary. If a change of beneficiary is not requested, a lump sum refund may be made within 60 days of the date the program is notified of the death or disability to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract, provided proof of death or disability is submitted in a form acceptable to the board. For junior college plans, junior/senior college plans, or senior college plans, the refund amount will be equal to a pro rata amount of the average amount of tuition and required fees in effect at the time the refund is requested, such pro rata amount determined by the number of payments made under the contract by the purchaser to the number of payments required to pay the contract in full. For private college plans, the refund amount will be equal to a pro rata amount of the estimated amount of private tuition and required fees set forth in the prepaid tuition contract, such pro rata amount determined by the number of payments made under the contract by the purchaser to the number of payments required to pay the contract in full. (6) If a prepaid tuition contract is terminated under §7.82(c) of this title (relating to Termination of Prepaid Tuition Contract), such contract may be refunded in an amount equal to the present lump sum actuarial value, as of the date of termination, of the average amount of tuition or the estimated amount of private tuition and required fees of junior college plans, junior/senior college plans or the estimated amount of private tuition and required fees for the private college plan, less a cancellation fee; and any other applicable fee. In no case shall a refund be made in an amount less than the total amount paid by the purchaser under the contract less any applicable administrative fees or amounts previously distributed. (7) If the purchaser who selected the junior college plan, junior/senior college plan, or senior college plan dies or becomes disabled and payments cease before the contract is paid in full, and unless otherwise directed by the purchaser in writing, a refund may be made. The refund amount will be equal to a percentage of the average amount of tuition and required fees in effect at the time the refund is requested, determined by reference to the percentage of payments made under the contract by the purchaser. If the purchaser who selected the private college plan dies or becomes disabled and payments cease before the contract is paid in full, a refund may be made. The refund amount will be equal to a percentage of the estimated amount of private tuition and required fees set forth in the prepaid tuition contract, determined by reference to the percentage of payments made under the contract by the purchaser. A lump sum refund may be made within 60 days to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract unless otherwise specified in writing by the purchaser as described in this paragraph. In the alternative, contract benefits may be converted to a plan with reduced benefits. Proof of death or disability shall be in a form acceptable to the board. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the purchaser, in a writing to the board, and providing such other information as the board may request, may designate a person who shall have a right of survivorship with respect to purchaser's rights and obligations pursuant to a prepaid tuition contract; provided that such designation shall in no way affect the purchaser's ability to modify or terminate the contract and receive a refund without the consent or authorization of the designee. (8) Refunds may be made for other reasons as approved by the board. By way of example, such refunds may be made in an amount equal to the lowest amount of tuition and required fees of all institutions under the plan selected, less a cancellation fee. Refund payments may be made in semiannual installments to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition contract. |
| Source Note: The provisions of this §7.81 adopted to be effective January 8, 1996, 20 TexReg 11124; amended to be effective November 15, 1996, 21 TexReg 10890; amended to be effective December 3, 1997, 22 TexReg 11716; amended to be effective July 4, 1999, 24 TexReg 5021; amended to be effective July 14, 2002, 27 TexReg 6042; amended to be effective November 1, 2009, 34 TexReg 5958; amended to be effective January 12, 2010, 35 TexReg 253 |
