85R12265 JRJ-D
By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 3396
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a pilot project to offer student loans for
certain courses offered by a public junior college.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 130.0037 to read as follows:
Sec. 130.0037. PILOT PROJECT: STUDENT LOANS FOR CONTINUING
EDUCATION COURSES. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall establish a pilot project to measure the impact of
providing student loans for continuing education courses not
designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification in order to
promote greater access to higher education and more efficient use
of junior college facilities and resources. The coordinating board
shall select the Tarrant County Junior College District to
participate in the pilot project.
(b) The governing board of the Tarrant County Junior College
District may establish and offer, from local funds available to the
district, a student loan program for students pursuing a continuing
education program not designed to lead to a degree, license, or
certification.
(c) A student loan offered under this section may not be
used to pay for courses subject to a performance funding formula
established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
Section 51.3062(m).
(d) Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall report its findings on the
effectiveness of the student loan program and any recommendation
regarding extending the program to other junior college districts
to the committees of each house of the legislature with
jurisdiction over higher education. This subsection expires
September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.