81R2394 JSA-D
By: Shapiro S.B. No. 172
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to financial incentives and other assistance to develop
and maintain excellence in specific programs and fields of study at
public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:
(o) In addition to the other funding recommendations
required by this section, biennially the board shall determine the
amount that the board considers appropriate for purposes of
providing funding under Section 61.0596 in the following state
fiscal biennium to carry out the purposes of that section and shall
make recommendations to the governor and the Legislative Budget
Board for funding those programs in that biennium. To the extent
the board considers appropriate, the board may include funding to
be provided under Section 61.0596 in the formulas established under
this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0596 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0596. INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPECIFIC
PROGRAMS AND FIELDS. (a) The board shall administer this section
to encourage and assist institutions of higher education to develop
and maintain specific programs or fields of study of the highest
national rank or recognition for that type of program or field.
(b) From money available for the purpose, the board shall
award incentive grants to institutions of higher education the
board considers to have demonstrated the greatest commitment to
success in developing or improving a designated program or field of
study toward attaining the highest national rank or recognition.
An institution must use money received under this section to
develop, improve, or maintain the quality of the program or field
for which the grant is awarded.
(c) An institution of higher education may designate only
one program at a time for consideration for new funding under this
section. The institution may change its designation with the
consent of the board. If the board determines that an institution
has met all the applicable benchmarks for the institution's
designated program or field of study, the institution may designate
another program or field of study for consideration for new funding
under this section.
(d) The board shall establish a series of benchmarks
applicable to each program or field of study designated by an
institution of higher education under this section. The
institution becomes eligible for funding for each benchmark the
board determines that the institution has met. The board shall
establish the amount of funding for each benchmark met in a manner
that provides an effective incentive and reasonable financial
support to assist the institution to continue its efforts to meet
the remaining benchmarks for its designated program or field.
(e) Unless the board determines that a different number of
benchmarks is appropriate, the board shall establish three
benchmarks for each designated program or field of study. The board
shall employ or contract with one or more persons who have relevant
expertise and do not reside in this state to assist the board in
establishing the benchmarks and associated funding levels for each
type of program or field of study designated by an institution of
higher education under this section.
(f) In addition to supporting the programs designated by
institutions of higher education for consideration to receive
incentive funding under this section, from money available for the
purpose, the board shall provide additional money as the board
determines appropriate to assist institutions in maintaining the
excellence of programs or fields of study that have achieved the
highest national ranking or recognition for that type of program or
field.
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.