83R9667 KEL-D
By: Villarreal H.B. No. 1868
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to conditioning certain TEXAS grant awards on a grant
recipient's participation in a student engagement program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 56.301, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
(2-a) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
SECTION 2. Section 56.305(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) After initially qualifying for a TEXAS grant, a person
may continue to receive a TEXAS grant during each semester or term
in which the person is enrolled at an eligible institution only if
the person:
(1) meets financial need requirements as defined by
the coordinating board;
(2) is enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program at an eligible institution;
(3) is enrolled for at least three-fourths of a full
course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the
coordinating board;
(4) makes satisfactory academic progress toward an
undergraduate degree or certificate;
(5) if applicable under Section 56.3055, participates
in a student engagement program as required by that section; and
(6) [(5)] complies with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board.
SECTION 3. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 56.3055 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.3055. ADDITIONAL CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENT: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. (a) Each person who
enrolls as an entering undergraduate student at a general academic
teaching institution and receives a TEXAS grant from that
institution must participate in a student engagement program
sponsored by the institution and selected for the person by the
institution. Subject to Subsection (e), the person must complete
the program during the person's first academic year at the
institution.
(b) Before each academic year begins, a general academic
teaching institution awarding TEXAS grants shall:
(1) develop one or more student engagement programs
designed to increase student persistence, retention, and
graduation rates; and
(2) determine the degree of program participation
necessary for a grant recipient to satisfy Subsection (a) and the
manner in which to document that participation.
(c) Not later than the seventh class day of the fall
semester, the institution shall communicate to each applicable
grant recipient information regarding the program or programs
developed by the institution under Subsection (b) and the manner in
which the recipient may satisfy the requirements of this section.
(d) A student engagement program may be operated through any
appropriate means, including:
(1) mentoring activity;
(2) a small group seminar or other learning community;
or
(3) an undergraduate research project.
(e) The coordinating board may adopt rules to administer
this section, including a rule to allow a person to receive a TEXAS
grant without participating in a student engagement program or
after delaying that participation if the person is able to show
hardship or other good cause that affects the person's ability to
satisfy the requirements of this section. For purposes of this
subsection, hardship or other good cause includes a severe illness
or other debilitating condition, responsibility for the care of a
sick, injured, or needy person, or active duty or other service in
the United States armed forces.
(f) In adopting rules under Subsection (e), the
coordinating board shall appoint and consult with an advisory
committee composed of institutional business officers, financial
aid administrators, recognized student engagement experts, student
engagement program administrators, and undergraduate students.
(g) This section does not apply to a person who first
receives a TEXAS grant for a semester or term before the 2014 fall
semester.
(h) Not later than December 31, 2018, each general academic
teaching institution shall submit to the coordinating board a
report that contains the following:
(1) the rate of participation of the institution's
TEXAS grant recipients in student engagement programs;
(2) persistence, retention, and graduation rates for
its TEXAS grant recipients, as compared to those rates for other
students at the institution with similar characteristics, such as
college readiness, income, or racial or ethnic background; and
(3) the institution's plans for improving persistence,
retention, and graduation rates for its TEXAS grant recipients.
(i) Each general academic teaching institution shall
attempt to consolidate the report required by Subsection (h) with
its other relevant reports to the coordinating board regarding the
TEXAS grant program.
(j) Subsections (g), (h), and (i) and this subsection expire
December 31, 2019.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Subchapter
M, Chapter 56, Education Code, applies beginning with grants
awarded for the 2014-2015 academic year, but does not affect the
amount of or entitlement to any grant awarded before the effective
date of this Act.
SECTION 5. 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, 2013.