(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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §208.12 adopted to be effective December 7, 2014, 39 TexReg 9365; amended to be effective December 9, 2015, 40 TexReg 8801