88R17670 JTZ-F
By: Burns, González of El Paso, VanDeaver, H.B. No. 1590
Collier, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Leadership Scholars
Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter T-3 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER T-3. TEXAS LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Sec. 61.891. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"
means the Texas Leadership Scholars Program established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.892. ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The Texas
Leadership Scholars Program is established to serve as a
merit-based scholarship and leadership opportunity program for
high-achieving, emerging leaders with financial need.
(b) The board shall administer the program.
(c) Using money appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, the board shall award scholarships and provide academic
achievement support and leadership development to eligible
students under the program.
Sec. 61.893. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY. To be initially eligible
to participate in the program, a student must:
(1) have graduated from a public high school in this
state;
(2) either:
(A) have qualified for automatic admission to a
general academic teaching institution under Section 51.803; or
(B) be nominated by the student's high school for
participation in the program and hold another academic distinction
recognized by the board;
(3) be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a
general academic teaching institution;
(4) be economically disadvantaged, as determined by
board rule; and
(5) comply with any additional requirement adopted by
the board.
Sec. 61.894. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY. After establishing
initial eligibility to participate in the program under Section
61.893, a student may continue participating in the program only if
the student:
(1) is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a
general academic teaching institution;
(2) maintains a minimum overall grade point average
determined by board rule; and
(3) complies with any additional requirement adopted
by the board.
Sec. 61.895. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT. The board may enter into agreements with general
academic teaching institutions or other institutions of higher
education to provide students participating in the program with:
(1) research-based support to make satisfactory
academic progress and graduate on time; and
(2) leadership development opportunities, including:
(A) program cohort learning communities;
(B) mentoring, research, and internship
opportunities;
(C) networking with state government, business,
and civic leaders; and
(D) statewide cohort learning institutes or
seminars.
Sec. 61.896. GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any
public or private source for the purposes of the program.
Sec. 61.897. RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the
administration of the program, including rules providing for the
amount and permissible uses of a scholarship awarded under the
program.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-3, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of 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, 2023.