85R1660 KEL-D
By: Clardy, Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 796
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the work-study student mentorship program administered
by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 56.079(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (i),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) In accordance with this section and coordinating board
rules, the coordinating board shall administer a work-study student
mentorship program under which students who are enrolled at
participating eligible institutions and who meet the eligibility
requirements for employment in the Texas college work-study program
under Section 56.075 may be employed by participating entities
under the Texas college work-study program to:
(1) mentor students at participating eligible
institutions or high school students in participating school
districts; [or]
(2) counsel high school students at GO Centers or
similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to improve
student access to higher education; or
(3) support student interventions at participating
eligible institutions that are focused on increasing completion of
degrees or certificates, such as interventions occurring through
advising or supplemental instruction.
(c) To participate in the work-study student mentorship
program under Subsection (b)(1) or (2), an eligible institution and
one or more school districts or nonprofit organizations interested
in jointly participating in the program shall file with the
coordinating board a joint memorandum of understanding detailing
the roles and responsibilities of the participating entities.
(d) The coordinating board shall develop, when applicable
and in consultation with eligible institutions, school districts,
and nonprofit organizations that express interest in participating
in the work-study student mentorship program, [shall develop] a
standard contract establishing the roles and responsibilities of
participating entities to be used as a model for a memorandum of
understanding entered into by participating entities under
Subsection (c).
(e) The coordinating board:
(1) shall establish criteria to ensure that the
participating eligible institution's contribution toward the wages
and benefits of a student employed [as a mentor] under the
work-study student mentorship program as provided by Subsection
(b)(1) or (2) is matched by funds provided by the participating
entity benefiting from the services of the employed student in an
amount that is at least equal to the amount of the participating
eligible institution's contribution;
(2) may accept appropriate in-kind contributions from
participating nonprofit organizations to satisfy the matching
funds requirement of this subsection; and
(3) may waive the matching funds requirement of this
subsection for a participating entity that meets criteria
established by the coordinating board for a waiver.
(f) The coordinating board may [shall] partner with
participating nonprofit organizations to establish additional GO
Centers or similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to
improve student access to and success in higher education in this
state.
(i) An eligible institution participating in the work-study
student mentorship program under this section may require students
who are on academic probation at the institution to be matched with
a student mentor or advisor employed under the program.
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.