By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1729
(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2011; March 23, 2011, read
first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 11, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 11, 2011,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1729 By: Zaffirini
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter GG to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER GG. TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATHEMATICS (T-STEM) CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9791. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "STEM
program" means a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
program.
Sec. 61.9792. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. The board shall
establish and administer, in accordance with this subchapter and
board rules, the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program under which the
board provides a scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility
criteria prescribed by Section 61.9793.
Sec. 61.9793. ELIGIBLE STUDENT. (a) To receive an initial
scholarship under this subchapter, a student must:
(1) graduate from high school with a grade point
average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale in mathematics and
science courses;
(2) enroll in a STEM program at an eligible
institution; and
(3) agree to work no more than 15 hours a week for a
business participating in the STEM program.
(b) To continue to qualify for a scholarship under this
subchapter, a student must:
(1) remain enrolled in a STEM program at an eligible
institution;
(2) maintain an overall grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a four-point scale;
(3) complete at least 80 percent of all semester
credit hours attempted for each semester;
(4) complete at least 30 semester credit hours per
academic year; and
(5) work no more than 15 hours a week for a business
participating in the STEM program.
Sec. 61.9794. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION. (a) To qualify as an
eligible institution under this subchapter, an institution must:
(1) be a public junior college or public technical
institute;
(2) admit at least 50 students into a STEM program each
academic year; and
(3) develop partnerships with business and industry
to:
(A) identify local employment needs in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and
(B) provide part-time employment for students
enrolled in a STEM program.
(b) To maintain eligibility, beginning with the second year
following implementation of a scholarship program under this
subchapter, an institution must demonstrate to the board that at
least 70 percent of the institution's T-STEM Challenge Scholarship
graduates, within three months after graduation, are:
(1) employed by a business in a Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field; or
(2) enrolled in upper-division courses leading to a
baccalaureate degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) field.
Sec. 61.9795. AMOUNT; FUNDING. (a) Subject to available
funding, the board shall award scholarships, with at least 50
percent of the amount awarded from private funds.
(b) An eligible student may receive a scholarship awarded
under this subchapter for not more than two academic years.
(c) The board may use any available revenue, including
legislative appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts and
grants for purposes of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall award scholarships under Subchapter GG, Chapter 61, Education
Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2011-2012 academic
year. The coordinating board shall adopt the rules required by that
subchapter as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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