81R8687 JRJ-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 3930
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing scholarships for children of public school
teachers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter M-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER M-1. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS
Sec. 61.721. SCHOLARSHIPS. The board shall establish and
administer, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules,
scholarships for students who are:
(1) dependent children of public school classroom
teachers; and
(2) enrolled in an institution of higher education.
Sec. 61.722. FACTORS. (a) The scholarships shall be
established and administered in a manner that the board determines
best serves the public purpose of the scholarships.
(b) In determining what best serves the public purpose, the
board shall consider the following factors relating to each person
applying for a scholarship under this section:
(1) the financial need of the applicant and the
applicant's family;
(2) the scholastic ability and performance of the
applicant; and
(3) other factors the board considers relevant, such
as the applicant's responsibilities to others, the applicant's
involvement in community service, the applicant's commitment to the
applicant's education, and any hardships or disabilities affecting
the applicant.
Sec. 61.723. RULES. The board shall adopt rules as
necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including
rules providing eligibility criteria and the manner in which the
amount of a scholarship is determined.
Sec. 61.724. SCHOLARSHIP REGULATIONS. (a) The board shall
determine the maximum amount of a scholarship awarded under this
subchapter. The scholarship may be spent by the recipient only to
cover all or part of the costs of attendance, including tuition,
fees, expenses for books and supplies, and living expenses,
incurred by the recipient in connection with enrollment at an
institution of higher education.
(b) To be eligible for consideration to receive a
scholarship, a person must have an annual household income of less
than $150,000.
(c) A scholarship under this subchapter shall be paid to the
recipient in the form of periodic partial payments throughout the
academic year. The board by rule shall determine the manner in
which the payments are made.
Sec. 61.725. FUNDING. The board shall administer this
subchapter using available appropriations and gifts, grants, and
donations made for the purposes of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules required by Subchapter M-1, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may
adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for 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.