By: Williams S.B. No. 1778
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation and administration of a grant program to
reward eligible students at elementary and secondary schools for
continuing academic progress.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The legislature determines that the economic
future of the state requires continuing efforts to create a
well-educated workforce capable of high degrees of achievement and
innovation and of competing successfully globally. This
determination is a commitment to the future workforce of the state
and will reward the state with cost savings and increased revenue,
now and in the future.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.0306 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.0306. GRANT PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING ACADEMIC PROGRESS. (a) The comptroller
shall establish and administer a grant program to reward eligible
students enrolled in Texas elementary or secondary schools for
continuing academic progress.
(b) The comptroller shall adopt rules for the providing of
grants under the program. The rules must specify eligibility
standards for receipt of a grant under the program, the duration of
a grant, appropriate reporting requirements to determine
eligibility and prevent fraud, and conditions for use of a grant.
The rules may contain other elements the comptroller determines
necessary or advisable.
(c) The comptroller may make a grant from the program
created by this section only if the comptroller determines that the
awarding of the grant will produce cost savings to the state,
immediately and in the foreseeable future.
(d) The comptroller may solicit or accept gifts or grants of
money on behalf of the program from any public or private source.
The legislature may make appropriations for the purposes of the
program.
SECTION 3. The comptroller shall adopt initial rules for
the grant program authorized by Section 403.0306, Government Code,
as added by this Act, not later than the 60th day after the
effective date of this Act. The comptroller may adopt initial rules
as emergency rules under Section 2001.034, Government Code.
Section 2001.029(b), Government Code, does not apply to the
adoption of initial rules under this section.
SECTION 4. 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, 2011.