By: Patrick (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2550
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2013;
May 6, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 17, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 17, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the consolidation of the Higher Education Enrollment
Assistance Program and the Higher Education Assistance Plan and the
transfer of certain enrollment assistance duties to institutions of
higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.810 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.810. HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PLANS. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "Institution of higher education" and "private or
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) The institution of higher education in closest
geographic proximity to a public high school in this state
identified by the coordinating board for purposes of this section
as substantially below the state average in the number of graduates
who enroll in higher education institutions shall enter into an
agreement with that high school to develop a plan to increase the
number of students from that high school enrolling in higher
education institutions. Under the plan, the institution shall:
(1) collaborate with the high school to:
(A) provide to prospective students information
related to enrollment in an institution of higher education or a
private or independent institution of higher education, including
admissions, testing, and financial aid information;
(B) assist those prospective students in
completing applications and testing related to enrollment in those
institutions, including admissions and financial aid applications,
and fulfilling testing requirements; and
(C) target efforts to increase the number of
Hispanic students and African American male students enrolled in
higher education institutions; and
(2) actively engage with local school districts to
provide access to rigorous, high-quality dual credit opportunities
for qualified high school students as needed.
(c) An institution of higher education must include a plan
developed by the institution under this section and the results of
that plan in its annual report to the coordinating board under
Section 51.4032.
(d) The coordinating board shall include in its annual
"Closing the Gaps" higher education plan progress report a summary
of the results of the plans developed and administered under this
section.
(e) The coordinating board may adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 2. Sections 61.07622 and 61.088, Education Code,
are repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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