| 1 | 1 | | 88R2699 JTZ-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.B. No. 1935 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to a study on best practices in STEM programs at |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | minority-serving public institutions of higher education and to a |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | grant program to implement those practices. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 61.081 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 61.081. STEM PROGRAMS AT MINORITY-SERVING |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | INSTITUTIONS: STUDY AND GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (1) "Minority-serving institution" means an |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | institution of higher education designated by the United States |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Department of Education as a minority-serving institution. |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (2) "STEM program" means a science, technology, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | engineering, or mathematics program at a minority-serving |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | institution. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (b) Not later than January 1, 2024, the board shall conduct |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | a study on best practices in STEM programs offered by |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | minority-serving institutions. The study must identify best |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | practices in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of members |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | of racial and ethnic minority groups in STEM programs. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (c) For the 2024-2025 academic year, from funds |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the board |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | shall award grants to minority-serving institutions to implement |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | the best practices identified by the study conducted under |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | Subsection (b). The board shall develop a competitive application |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | process to award the grants. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (d) This section expires September 1, 2025. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|