81R9531 KJM-F
By: Gallego H.B. No. 3135
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a TEXAS grant pilot project to provide incentives for
students to attend certain underutilized public institutions of
higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.3011 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3011. PILOT PROJECT TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR
ATTENDANCE AT UNDERUTILIZED PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. (a) The
coordinating board shall establish a TEXAS grant pilot project as
provided by this section to encourage students to attend eligible
public institutions of higher education that offer extensive
baccalaureate degree program options and that have sufficient
facilities, administrative infrastructure, and faculty to serve
additional students in order to reduce the need for this state to
construct additional facilities or hire additional faculty at other
institutions of higher education.
(b) From money available under Section 56.310 for purposes
of this subchapter and money available under Section 56.464 for
purposes of Subchapter Q, the coordinating board shall set aside
sufficient money to provide TEXAS grants for the 2009-2010 and
2010-2011 academic years to students who are initially eligible for
a grant under Section 56.304 or 56.3041 in either of those years as
follows:
(1) for a total of not more than 1,000 students
enrolling for the first time at Angelo State University; and
(2) for a total of not more than 600 students enrolling
for the first time at Sul Ross State University.
(c) To the extent money set aside under Subsection (b) is
available for the purpose, a person awarded a grant as provided by
Subsection (b) who continues to be eligible for a grant under
Section 56.305 may receive a grant from the money set aside. If
money set aside under Subsection (b) is not available to pay for a
grant for a person awarded a grant as provided by Subsection (b) who
continues to be eligible for a grant under Section 56.305, the
person may receive a grant from the money available under Section
56.310 on the same basis as other TEXAS grant applicants.
(d) A person awarded a grant under this section is eligible
for financial aid under a federal program or program of an eligible
institution to the extent authorized under that program.
(e) The coordinating board shall reallocate for grants
under this subchapter or for loans under Subchapter Q, as
applicable, any money set aside for purposes of the TEXAS grant
pilot project that is not used in the academic year for which the
money is set aside. Money reallocated under this subsection may be
used at any eligible institution under this subchapter or
Subchapter Q.
(f) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
section, this subchapter applies to a TEXAS grant awarded under
this section.
(g) The coordinating board shall develop criteria for
evaluating the TEXAS grant pilot project and, based on that
evaluation, not later than February 1, 2011, shall report to the
82nd Legislature the coordinating board's recommendations
concerning whether to continue, expand to other underutilized
eligible public institutions of higher education, or discontinue
the TEXAS grant pilot project.
(h) The coordinating board shall include in any board
publication concerning financial aid on the board's Internet
website information concerning the TEXAS grant pilot project
established under this section.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules to administer Section 56.3011, Education Code, as
added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the date this Act
takes effect. For that purpose, the board may adopt the initial
rules in the manner provided by law for adoption of emergency rules.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.