By: Turner of Tarrant, et al. H.B. No. 2030
(Senate Sponsor - West, Powell)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021;
May 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 21, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0;
May 21, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2030 By: West
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board of a grant program for regional postsecondary
education collaboratives.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter W to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER W. REGIONAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
COLLABORATIVES GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 61.931. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Low-income student" means a student who is
eligible to receive a grant under the federal Pell Grant program or
has equivalent need, as determined by board rule.
(2) "Regional postsecondary education collaborative"
means a partnership or other collaboration between stakeholders in
education that is focused on improving postsecondary educational
outcomes in a region of the state.
Sec. 61.932. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall establish
and administer a competitive grant program under which the board
awards grants to eligible regional postsecondary education
collaboratives to improve postsecondary educational outcomes for
low-income students in the state.
(b) In awarding grants under the program, the board shall
give priority to eligible regional postsecondary education
collaboratives that:
(1) focus on supporting low-income students; or
(2) have a demonstrated connection to targeted
workforce fields, as determined by the board.
Sec. 61.933. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subchapter, a regional postsecondary education
collaborative must:
(1) include at least one school district and public
junior college;
(2) raise a minimum amount of funding from other
sources for the collaborative's costs, as established by board
rule;
(3) develop and submit to the board a plan detailing
how the collaborative would use grant funds awarded under this
subchapter in a manner permitted under Section 61.935;
(4) build partnerships committed to changing
postsecondary education systems and improving postsecondary
educational outcomes through the use of data, mutual
accountability, and engagement between a student and the student's
community;
(5) measure the collaborative's success by achievement
of increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion at any
institution of higher education or private or independent
institution of higher education and career entry for all students
the collaborative assists;
(6) provide personalized outreach to students and
parents or caregivers;
(7) provide proactive, holistic supports to assist
students in postsecondary persistence and completion and in
connecting with employers; and
(8) satisfy any additional requirements established
by board rule.
Sec. 61.934. GRANT AMOUNT. (a) A grant awarded to an
eligible regional postsecondary education collaborative under the
program must be made for a period sufficient to cover the enrollment
in, persistence in, and timely completion of a certificate or
degree program for two consecutive cohorts of students.
(b) Each grant consists of, for each cohort:
(1) an initial amount at the beginning of the first
academic year for which the grant is awarded equal to $1,000 for
each low-income student who:
(A) graduated in the preceding school year from a
high school participating in the collaborative; and
(B) enrolls at an institution of higher education
or a private or independent institution of higher education for
that academic year; and
(2) at the end of each academic year for which the
grant is awarded, a bonus for each student described by Subdivision
(1) who:
(A) persists, as determined by board rule, at an
institution of higher education or a private or independent
institution of higher education; or
(B) timely completes a certificate or degree
program, as determined by board rule, at an institution of higher
education or a private or independent institution of higher
education.
(c) Subject to Subsection (e), the bonus per student under
Subsection (b)(2)(A) is an amount equal to $25 million divided by
the total number of students who qualify for the bonus.
(d) Subject to Subsection (e), the bonus per student under
Subsection (b)(2)(B) is an amount equal to $20 million divided by
the total number of students who qualify for the bonus.
(e) The amount of a bonus under Subsection (b)(2)(A) or (B)
may not exceed $2,000 per student.
Sec. 61.935. GRANT USE. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), a
grant awarded to an eligible regional postsecondary education
collaborative under this subchapter may be used only for:
(1) staff support for the collaborative;
(2) student services designed to increase
postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion;
(3) student financial assistance;
(4) programs that provide training for jobs in
targeted workforce fields, as determined by the board; and
(5) other expenses approved by the board.
(b) A grant awarded under this subchapter may not be used to
pay for a student's tuition at an institution of higher education or
a private or independent institution of higher education.
Sec. 61.936. REPORTING. (a) Each regional postsecondary
education collaborative that receives a grant under this subchapter
shall collect and report to the board information regarding
postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion,
disaggregated by category and semester or term, as required by the
board to assist the board in fulfilling its duties under this
subchapter.
(b) Not later than December 1 of each year, the board shall
submit to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the grant
program established under this subchapter and any recommendations
for legislative or other action.
Sec. 61.937. RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary
to implement this subchapter.
Sec. 61.938. FEDERAL FUNDING CONTINGENCY. The board is
required to implement the grant program established under this
subchapter only if federal funding is provided to the board for that
purpose as part of any federal coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
relief spending appropriated on or after January 1, 2021. If such
funding is not provided for that purpose, the board may, but is not
required to, implement the grant program using other money
available to the board for that purpose.
Sec. 61.939. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires October
1, 2024.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter W, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
begin awarding grants under Subchapter W, Chapter 61, Education
Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which
federal funding is appropriated for that purpose.
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, 2021.
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