81R1777 KSD-D
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 668
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a student mentorship pilot program
at certain institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0593 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0593. STUDENT MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
board shall establish a pilot program under which students enrolled
in their senior year at a participating general academic teaching
institution are paid to mentor incoming freshman students at the
institution in an effort to increase the retention and success of
those students.
(b) The board shall select not more than five general
academic teaching institutions to participate in the pilot program
from among institutions that apply to participate in the manner
prescribed by board rule.
(c) In consultation with general academic teaching
institutions, the board shall adopt rules consistent with this
section as necessary to implement this section, including rules
establishing:
(1) the manner in which:
(A) an institution may apply to participate in
the pilot program; and
(B) institutions and students are selected to
participate in the pilot program;
(2) the requirements for participating in the pilot
program;
(3) general guidelines for the mentoring to be
provided under the pilot program, including guidelines for the
methods and content the board considers most critical to ensuring
student retention and success; and
(4) criteria to ensure that each student providing
mentoring under the pilot program:
(A) receives appropriate training and
supervision; and
(B) is paid at least the minimum wage required by
law.
(d) The pilot program may be funded by:
(1) legislative appropriations; or
(2) gifts, grants, and donations described by
Subsection (e).
(e) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this
section.
(f) Not later than December 1, 2010, the board shall submit
a report to the legislature on:
(1) the progress of and level of participation in the
pilot program; and
(2) the impact of the pilot program on the retention
and success of students receiving mentoring under the program.
(g) This section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.0593, 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.