86R13671 SCL-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2398
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishment of the higher education pilot program for
foster youth and former foster youth.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is
amended by adding Section 264.1218 to read as follows:
Sec. 264.1218. HIGHER EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "pilot program" means the higher education pilot program
established under this section.
(b) The department shall establish a higher education pilot
program that provides foster youth and former foster youth in Bexar
County with:
(1) intensive outreach and support to:
(A) improve the understanding and preparation of
foster youth and former foster youth for enrollment in institutions
of higher education;
(B) increase the number of foster youth and
former foster youth who apply to institutions of higher education;
and
(C) increase the number of foster youth and
former foster youth enrollments at institutions of higher
education;
(2) education on:
(A) the benefits and opportunities of
postsecondary education;
(B) planning for postsecondary education;
(C) financial aid opportunities for enrollment
at institutions of higher education;
(D) the federal and state services and benefits,
including health and mental health care services, available to
foster youth and former foster youth while enrolled at an
institution of higher education;
(E) career exploration; and
(F) financial literacy training, including
security from identity theft;
(3) assistance with submitting applications for:
(A) enrollment at an institution of higher
education;
(B) financial aid for enrollment at an
institution of higher education; and
(C) scholarships available for foster youth and
former foster youth, including a state educational and training
voucher program under Section 477(i), Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Section 677(i)); and
(4) a program, including transportation, provided at
no charge to socially and academically prepare foster youth and
former foster youth for postsecondary education during the summer
before a youth first attends an institution of higher education.
(c) The department shall collaborate with the Alamo
Community College District, The University of Texas at San Antonio,
and Texas A&M University--San Antonio to establish and operate the
pilot program. An institution of higher education participating in
the pilot program shall:
(1) provide foster youth and former foster youth with
flexibility and assistance in completing an application for
enrollment;
(2) coordinate programs with relevant interested
persons, both at the institution and outside the institution, to
increase the enrollment of foster youth and former foster youth at
the institution and align services for the youth;
(3) adjust the cost of attendance for foster youth and
former foster youth to include the cost of housing during periods of
non-enrollment;
(4) provide institutional aid to foster youth and
former foster youth to meet any cost of attendance not covered by
other federal or state educational grants;
(5) provide outreach to foster youth and former foster
youth to ensure the youth are aware of housing resources available
during periods of non-enrollment;
(6) subsidize any fees associated with orientation and
offer transportation at no charge to the foster youth or former
foster youth to orientation or for moving to the institution;
(7) hire and provide training for at least one
full-time employee, who has an advanced degree and at least two
years of relevant experience, to serve as a contact to provide case
management services and monthly face-to-face meetings with
students who are foster youth or former foster youth;
(8) establish or enhance campus support programs to
provide students who are foster youth or former foster youth with a
wide range of on-campus services, including:
(A) financial aid assistance;
(B) career advice; and
(C) leadership development;
(9) ensure the availability of robust physical and
mental student health services that meet the specific needs of
foster youth or former foster youth;
(10) establish or expand early alert systems to
identify and support foster youth or former foster youth who may be
struggling academically; and
(11) collect, review, and monitor information for
program improvement.
(d) The department shall complete an evaluation of the pilot
program not later than the second anniversary of the date the pilot
program begins.
(e) The department shall submit a written report on the
evaluation of the pilot program to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. The report
must include:
(1) the number of foster youth or former foster youth
who participate in the pilot program;
(2) the number of foster youth or former foster youth
enrolled in an institution of higher education before and after the
pilot program; and
(3) a recommendation on whether to expand the pilot
program statewide.
(f) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to
implement this section.
(g) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department of
Family and Protective Services shall establish the pilot program
required by Section 264.1218, Family Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.