The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Affinity--Relationship between individuals based on being married or the fact that the spouse of one of the individuals is related by consanguinity to the other individual. The ending of a marriage ends relationships by affinity unless a child of that marriage is living, in which case the affinity continues as long as a child of that marriage lives. These relationships are named as follows: (A) 1st Degree--Spouse, spouse's child, spouse's mother or father, child's spouse, parent's spouse. (B) 2nd Degree--Spouse's brother or sister, spouse's grandparent, spouse's grandchild, brother or sister's spouse, grandparent's spouse, grandchild's spouse.

(2) Board or Coordinating Board--the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(3) Consanguinity--Relationship between individuals based on being descendants of one another or sharing a common ancestor. An adopted child is considered to be a child of the adoptive parent. These relationships are named as follows: (A) 1st Degree--Mother, father, daughter, son. (B) 2nd Degree--Brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild. (C) 3rd Degree--Great-grandparent, great-grandchild, uncle (brother of parent), aunt (sister of parent), nephew (son of brother or sister), niece (daughter of brother or sister).

(4) Institution of Higher Education--A public institution of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code Chapter 61, §61.003.

(5) Scholarship--An award of gift aid that does not have to be repaid by the student or earned through service or performance.

(6) University System--The association of one or more public senior colleges or universities, medical or dental units or other agencies of higher education under the policy direction of a single governing board.

(7) Within the Second Degree by Affinity--A circumstance in which a person is a spouse, spouse's child, spouse's mother or father, child's spouse, parent's spouse, spouse's brother or sister, spouse's grandparent, spouse's grandchild, brother or sister's spouse, grandparent's spouse, grandchild's spouse.

(8) Within the Third Degree by Consanguinity--A circumstance in which a person is a parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent, great-grandchild, aunt who is a sister of a parent of the individual, uncle who is a brother of a parent of the individual, nephew who is a child of a brother or sister of the individual, or niece who is a child of a brother or sister of the individual of an individual. An adopted child is considered to be a child of the adoptive parent for this purpose.

Source Note: The provisions of this §21.469 adopted to be effective November 27, 2007, 32 TexReg 8498; transferred effective March 1, 2017, as published in the Texas Register February 17, 2017, 42 TexReg 699