H.B. No. 1590
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. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Leadership scholarship" means a scholarship
awarded to an undergraduate student under the program.
(2) "Program" means the Texas Leadership Scholars
Program established under this subchapter.
(3) "Research scholarship" means a scholarship
awarded to a graduate student under the program.
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) 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.
(c) The board shall administer the program. The board may
contract with one or more institutions of higher education to
assist in administering the program, including receiving and
reviewing applications, recommending the distribution of funds to
institutions of higher education, and developing criteria for the
selection of students for the program.
(d) The board may establish one or more advisory committees
for the purpose of recommending rules for the administration of the
program.
Sec. 61.893. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be initially
eligible for the award of a leadership scholarship, an
undergraduate 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.
(b) To be initially eligible for the award of a research
scholarship, a graduate student must:
(1) be enrolled in a research doctoral degree program
at a general academic teaching institution;
(2) either:
(A) have graduated from a public high school in
this state during the 10 years preceding the date of the student's
application to the program; or
(B) have graduated from an institution of higher
education or a private or independent institution of higher
education;
(3) be economically disadvantaged, as determined by
board rule;
(4) be nominated by the institution at which the
student is enrolled on the basis of the student's academic merit and
leadership potential; and
(5) comply with any additional requirements 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) remains:
(A) for a leadership scholarship, enrolled in a
baccalaureate degree program at a general academic teaching
institution; or
(B) for a research scholarship, enrolled in a
research doctoral 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. (a) The board, in consultation with
general academic teaching institutions, 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. The rules must provide that:
(1) the amount of a research scholarship is at least
150 percent of the amount of a leadership scholarship; and
(2) a student may not receive a scholarship under the
program for more than four years.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the board is not
required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter
2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this
subchapter.
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1590 was passed by the House on April
13, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 21, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1590 on May 25, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 120, Nays 19,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1590 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor