Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB8 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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1	1	H.B. No. 8
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to public higher education, including the public junior
6	6	college state finance program.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Section 7.040(a), Education Code, is amended to
9	9	read as follows:
10	10	(a) The agency shall prepare information comparing
11	11	institutions of higher education in this state and post the
12	12	information on the agency's Internet website. Information prepared
13	13	under this section shall be made publicly available in a manner that
14	14	is accessible [given] to any [a] public or private school student
15	15	seeking [who requests] the information. The information shall:
16	16	(1) identify postsecondary education and career
17	17	opportunities, including information that states the benefits of
18	18	four-year and two-year higher education programs, postsecondary
19	19	technical education, skilled workforce careers, and career
20	20	education programs;
21	21	(2) assist prospective postsecondary students in
22	22	assessing the value of a certificate program, associate or
23	23	baccalaureate degree program, or other credential program offered
24	24	by an institution of higher education by comparing [compare] each
25	25	institution [of higher education] with other institutions using
26	26	information included in the electronic tools or platforms developed
27	27	by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section
28	28	61.09022(a) [regarding:
29	29	[(A) the relative cost of tuition;
30	30	[(B) the retention rate of students;
31	31	[(C) the graduation rate of students;
32	32	[(D) the average student debt;
33	33	[(E) the loan repayment rate of students; and
34	34	[(F) the employment rate of students];
35	35	(3) identify the state's future workforce needs, as
36	36	projected by the Texas Workforce Commission; [and]
37	37	(4) include annual starting wage information and
38	38	educational requirements for the top 25 [10] highest demand jobs in
39	39	this state, as identified by the Texas Workforce Commission;
40	40	(5) identify the 40 baccalaureate degree programs with
41	41	the highest average annual wages following graduation; and
42	42	(6) identify the 20 associate degree or certificate
43	43	programs with the highest average annual wages following
44	44	graduation.
45	45	SECTION 2. Section 28.009(b-2), Education Code, is amended
46	46	to read as follows:
47	47	(b-2) Any agreement, including a memorandum of
48	48	understanding or articulation agreement, between a school district
49	49	and public institution of higher education to provide a dual credit
50	50	program described by Subsection (b-1) must:
51	51	(1) include specific program goals aligned with the
52	52	statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1);
53	53	(2) establish common advising strategies and
54	54	terminology related to dual credit and college readiness;
55	55	(3) provide for the alignment of endorsements
56	56	described by Section 28.025(c-1) offered by the district, and dual
57	57	credit courses offered under the agreement that apply towards those
58	58	endorsements, with postsecondary pathways and credentials at the
59	59	institution and industry certifications;
60	60	(4) identify tools, including tools developed by the
61	61	agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the Texas
62	62	Workforce Commission, to assist school counselors, students, and
63	63	families in selecting endorsements offered by the district and dual
64	64	credit courses offered under the agreement;
65	65	(5) establish, or provide a procedure for
66	66	establishing, the course credits that may be earned under the
67	67	agreement, including by developing a course equivalency crosswalk
68	68	or other method for equating high school courses with college
69	69	courses and identifying the number of credits that may be earned for
70	70	each course completed through the program;
71	71	(6) describe the academic supports and, if applicable,
72	72	guidance that will be provided to students participating in the
73	73	program;
74	74	(7) establish the district's and the institution's
75	75	respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and
76	76	ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program;
77	77	(8) state the sources of funding for courses offered
78	78	under the program, including, at a minimum, the sources of funding
79	79	for tuition, transportation, and any required fees or textbooks for
80	80	students participating in the program;
81	81	(9) require the district and the institution to
82	82	consider the use of free or low-cost open educational resources in
83	83	courses offered under the program;
84	84	(10) ensure the accurate and timely exchange of
85	85	information necessary for an eligible student to enroll at no cost
86	86	in a dual credit course as provided by Section 28.0095;
87	87	(11) be posted each year on the district's and the
88	88	institution's respective Internet websites; and
89	89	(12) [(11)] designate at least one employee of the
90	90	district or institution as responsible for providing academic
91	91	advising to a student who enrolls in a dual credit course under the
92	92	program before the student begins the course.
93	93	SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
94	94	amended by adding Section 28.0095 to read as follows:
95	95	Sec. 28.0095. FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER (FAST)
96	96	PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
97	97	(1) "Charter school" means a charter school operating
98	98	under Chapter 12.
99	99	(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
100	100	Education Coordinating Board.
101	101	(3) "Dual credit course" includes a course offered for
102	102	joint high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008
103	103	or another course offered by an institution of higher education for
104	104	which a high school student may earn credit toward satisfaction of:
105	105	(A) a requirement necessary to obtain an
106	106	industry-recognized credential or certificate or an associate
107	107	degree;
108	108	(B) a foreign language requirement at an
109	109	institution of higher education;
110	110	(C) a requirement in the core curriculum, as that
111	111	term is defined by Section 61.821, at an institution of higher
112	112	education; or
113	113	(D) a requirement in a field of study curriculum
114	114	developed by the coordinating board under Section 61.823.
115	115	(4) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
116	116	assigned by Section 61.003.
117	117	(b) The agency and the coordinating board shall jointly
118	118	establish the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program to
119	119	allow eligible students to enroll at no cost to the student in dual
120	120	credit courses at participating institutions of higher education.
121	121	(c) A student is eligible to enroll at no cost in a dual
122	122	credit course under the program if the student:
123	123	(1) is enrolled:
124	124	(A) in high school in a school district or
125	125	charter school; and
126	126	(B) in a dual credit course at a participating
127	127	institution of higher education; and
128	128	(2) was educationally disadvantaged at any time during
129	129	the four school years preceding the student's enrollment in the
130	130	dual credit course described by Subdivision (1)(B).
131	131	(d) An institution of higher education is eligible to
132	132	participate in the program only if the institution charges for each
133	133	dual credit course offered by the institution an amount of tuition
134	134	that does not exceed the amount prescribed by coordinating board
135	135	rule.
136	136	(e) Each school district or charter school shall:
137	137	(1) on a high school student's enrollment in a dual
138	138	credit course, determine whether the student meets the criteria for
139	139	the program under Subsection (c)(2); and
140	140	(2) notify the institution of higher education that
141	141	offers the dual credit course in which the student is enrolled of
142	142	the district's or school's determination under Subdivision (1).
143	143	(f) A school district or charter school may make the
144	144	determination under Subsection (e)(1) based on the district's or
145	145	school's records, the agency's records, or any other method
146	146	authorized by commissioner or coordinating board rule. If the
147	147	district or school bases the determination on a method other than
148	148	the agency's records, the district or school shall report the
149	149	method used and the data on which the method is based to the agency
150	150	for purposes of verification.
151	151	(g) At least once each year, a participating institution of
152	152	higher education shall certify to the agency and the coordinating
153	153	board the student's eligibility for the program. Notwithstanding
154	154	Section 54.051, a participating institution of higher education may
155	155	not charge tuition or fees for the enrollment in a dual credit
156	156	course at the institution of a student for whom the institution
157	157	receives notice under Subsection (e)(2).
158	158	(h) The coordinating board shall distribute money
159	159	transferred to the coordinating board under Section 48.308 to the
160	160	participating institutions of higher education in proportion to the
161	161	number of dual credit courses in which eligible students are
162	162	enrolled at the institution.
163	163	(i) The commissioner and the commissioner of higher
164	164	education shall coordinate as necessary to:
165	165	(1) confirm an eligible student's enrollment in a
166	166	participating institution of higher education; and
167	167	(2) obtain or share data necessary to verify a
168	168	student's eligibility under Subsection (c)(2).
169	169	(j) The commissioner and the coordinating board shall adopt
170	170	rules as necessary to implement this section. Notwithstanding
171	171	Section 61.033, the coordinating board is not required to use
172	172	negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government
173	173	Code, for the adoption of rules under this section.
174	174	SECTION 4. Section 28.010(a), Education Code, is amended to
175	175	read as follows:
176	176	(a) Each school year, a school district shall notify the
177	177	parent of each district student enrolled in grade nine or above of:
178	178	(1) the availability of:
179	179	(A) programs in the district under which a
180	180	student may earn college credit, including advanced placement
181	181	programs, dual credit programs, joint high school and college
182	182	credit programs, and international baccalaureate programs;
183	183	(B) career and technology education programs or
184	184	other work-based education programs in the district, including any
185	185	internship, externship, or apprenticeship programs or a P-TECH
186	186	program under Subchapter N, Chapter 29; [and]
187	187	(C) subsidies based on financial need available
188	188	for fees paid to take college advanced placement tests or
189	189	international baccalaureate examinations under Section 28.054; and
190	190	(D) funding for enrollment in dual credit courses
191	191	under Section 28.0095; and
192	192	(2) the qualifications for:
193	193	(A) enrolling in programs described by
194	194	Subdivision (1)(A) or (B); or
195	195	(B) funding described by Subdivision (1)(D).
196	196	SECTION 5. Section 28.0253(a)(2), Education Code, is
197	197	amended to read as follows:
198	198	(2) "Eligible institution" means an institution of
199	199	higher education [that is designated as a research university or
200	200	emerging research university under the coordinating board's
201	201	accountability system].
202	202	SECTION 6. Section 28.0253(e), Education Code, is amended
203	203	to read as follows:
204	204	(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
205	205	shall allow a student to graduate and receive [may issue] a high
206	206	school diploma [to a student] under the program if, using the
207	207	standards established under Subsection (c), the student
208	208	demonstrates mastery of and early readiness for college in each of
209	209	the subject areas described by that subsection and in a language
210	210	other than English, notwithstanding any other local or state
211	211	requirements.
212	212	SECTION 7. Section 29.908(b), Education Code, is amended to
213	213	read as follows:
214	214	(b) The program must:
215	215	(1) provide for a course of study that enables a
216	216	participating student to combine high school courses and
217	217	college-level courses during grade levels 9 through 12;
218	218	(2) allow a participating student to complete high
219	219	school and enroll in a program at an institution of higher education
220	220	that will enable the student to, on or before the fifth anniversary
221	221	of the date of the student's first day of high school, receive a
222	222	high school diploma and either:
223	223	(A) an applied associate degree, as defined by
224	224	Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule; or
225	225	(B) an academic associate degree, as defined by
226	226	Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule, with a completed
227	227	field of study curriculum developed under Section 61.823 that is
228	228	transferable [at least 60 semester credit hours] toward a
229	229	baccalaureate degree at one or more general academic teaching
230	230	institutions, as defined by Section 61.003;
231	231	(3) include articulation agreements with colleges,
232	232	universities, and technical schools in this state to provide a
233	233	participating student access to postsecondary educational and
234	234	training opportunities at a college, university, or technical
235	235	school; and
236	236	(4) provide a participating student flexibility in
237	237	class scheduling and academic mentoring.
238	238	SECTION 8. Subchapter G, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
239	239	amended by adding Section 48.308 to read as follows:
240	240	Sec. 48.308. ALLOTMENT FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER
241	241	(FAST) PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
242	242	(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
243	243	Education Coordinating Board.
244	244	(2) "FAST program" means the Financial Aid for Swift
245	245	Transfer (FAST) program under Section 28.0095.
246	246	(b) An institution of higher education participating in the
247	247	FAST program is entitled to an allotment in an amount equal to the
248	248	amount of tuition set by coordinating board rule under Section
249	249	28.0095(d) for each dual credit course in which a student eligible
250	250	to participate in the FAST program is enrolled at the institution.
251	251	(c) The agency shall transfer the total amount of allotments
252	252	under this section to the coordinating board for distribution in
253	253	accordance with Section 28.0095(h).
254	254	(d) The agency and the coordinating board shall coordinate
255	255	as necessary to implement this section.
256	256	(e) The legislature shall include in amounts appropriated
257	257	for the Foundation School Program an amount of state aid sufficient
258	258	for the agency to make the transfer required under Subsection (c).
259	259	SECTION 9. Section 51.4033, Education Code, is amended to
260	260	read as follows:
261	261	Sec. 51.4033. REPORT OF NONTRANSFERABLE CREDIT. (a) Not
262	262	later than May [March] 1 of each year and in the form prescribed by
263	263	the coordinating board, each general academic teaching institution
264	264	shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a
265	265	report describing any courses in the Lower-Division Academic Course
266	266	Guide Manual or its successor adopted by the coordinating board for
267	267	which a student who transfers to the institution from another
268	268	institution of higher education is not granted:
269	269	(1) academic credit at the receiving institution; or
270	270	(2) if the student has declared a major and has not
271	271	changed majors, academic credit toward the student's major at the
272	272	receiving institution.
273	273	(b) A report required by this section must indicate:
274	274	(1) the course name and type;
275	275	(2) which institution of higher education provided
276	276	academic credit for the course; and
277	277	(3) the reason why the receiving institution did not
278	278	grant academic credit for the course as described by Subsection
279	279	(a), including whether the institution complied with the dispute
280	280	resolution process under Section 61.826.
281	281	SECTION 10. Section 51.4034(a), Education Code, is amended
282	282	to read as follows:
283	283	(a) Not later than May [March] 1 of each year and in the form
284	284	prescribed by the coordinating board, each public junior college
285	285	shall provide to the coordinating board and the legislature a
286	286	report on courses taken by students who, during the preceding
287	287	academic year, transferred to a general academic teaching
288	288	institution or earned an associate degree at the college.
289	289	SECTION 11. Section 51.762(b-1), Education Code, is amended
290	290	to read as follows:
291	291	(b-1) An electronic common admission application form
292	292	adopted under this section must include a prominent link to the
293	293	electronic tools or platforms developed by the board under Section
294	294	61.09022 [comparative gainful employment data regarding
295	295	institutions of higher education, including information described
296	296	by Section 7.040, on a website maintained by the board using data
297	297	compiled by the board in coordination with the Texas Workforce
298	298	Commission].
299	299	SECTION 12. Section 51.763(b), Education Code, is amended
300	300	to read as follows:
301	301	(b) The form must:
302	302	(1) allow each applicant to:
303	303	(A) apply electronically to one or more of the
304	304	general academic teaching institutions within the university
305	305	system; and
306	306	(B) indicate preferences for admission between
307	307	those institutions; and
308	308	(2) include a prominent link to the electronic tools
309	309	or platforms developed by the board under Section 61.09022
310	310	[comparative gainful employment data regarding institutions of
311	311	higher education, including information described by Section
312	312	7.040, on a website maintained by the board using data compiled by
313	313	the board in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission].
314	314	SECTION 13. Section 51.907, Education Code, is amended by
315	315	adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:
316	316	(c-1) An institution of higher education may not count
317	317	toward the number of courses permitted to be dropped under
318	318	Subsection (c) or a policy adopted under Subsection (d) a course
319	319	that a student dropped while enrolled in a baccalaureate degree
320	320	program previously earned by the student.
321	321	(c-2) An institution of higher education may not count
322	322	toward the number of courses permitted to be dropped under
323	323	Subsection (c) or a policy adopted under Subsection (d) a dual
324	324	credit or dual enrollment course that a student dropped before
325	325	graduating from high school.
326	326	SECTION 14. Section 54.3531(b), Education Code, is amended
327	327	to read as follows:
328	328	(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student may not
329	329	receive an exemption under this section for any course if the
330	330	student has previously attempted a number of semester credit hours
331	331	for courses taken at any institution of higher education while
332	332	classified as a resident student for tuition purposes in excess of
333	333	the maximum number of those hours specified by Section 61.0595(a)
334	334	as eligible for funding under the formulas established under
335	335	Section 61.059 or Chapter 130A.
336	336	SECTION 15. Section 56.221(2), Education Code, is amended
337	337	to read as follows:
338	338	(2) "Eligible institution" means an institution of
339	339	higher education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003[, that
340	340	is designated as a research university or emerging research
341	341	university under the coordinating board's accountability system].
342	342	SECTION 16. Section 56.407(g), Education Code, is amended
343	343	to read as follows:
344	344	(g) An institution may use other available sources of
345	345	financial aid, other than a loan [or a Pell grant], to cover any
346	346	difference in the amount of a grant under this subchapter and the
347	347	actual amount of tuition and required fees at the institution.
348	348	SECTION 17. Sections 61.003(2), (11), and (12), Education
349	349	Code, are amended to read as follows:
350	350	(2) "Public junior college" means any junior college
351	351	listed as a public junior college [certified by the board] in
352	352	accordance with Section 61.063 [of this chapter].
353	353	(11) "Degree program" means any grouping of subject
354	354	matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a student,
355	355	will entitle the student [him] to:
356	356	(A) a degree from a public senior college or
357	357	university or a medical or dental unit; or
358	358	(B) an academic associate degree, as defined by
359	359	board rule, or baccalaureate degree from a public junior college.
360	360	(12) "Certificate program" means a grouping of
361	361	subject-matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a
362	362	student, will entitle the student [him] to:
363	363	(A) a certificate;
364	364	(B) an[,] associate degree, other than an
365	365	academic associate degree, as defined by board rule, from a
366	366	technical institute or junior college; or
367	367	(C) [, or] documentary evidence, other than a
368	368	degree, of completion of a course of study at the postsecondary
369	369	level.
370	370	SECTION 18. The heading to Section 61.031, Education Code,
371	371	is amended to read as follows:
372	372	Sec. 61.031. PUBLIC [INTEREST] INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS.
373	373	SECTION 19. Section 61.031, Education Code, is amended by
374	374	adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
375	375	(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, information
376	376	that relates to a current, former, or prospective applicant or
377	377	student of an educational institution and that is obtained,
378	378	received, or held by the board for the purpose of providing
379	379	assistance with access to postsecondary education shall be
380	380	considered confidential and excepted from disclosure under Chapter
381	381	552, Government Code, and may only be released in conformity with
382	382	the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
383	383	Section 1232g). The board may withhold information prohibited from
384	384	being disclosed under this subsection without requesting a decision
385	385	from the attorney general under Subchapter G, Chapter 552,
386	386	Government Code.
387	387	SECTION 20. Section 61.051, Education Code, is amended by
388	388	adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:
389	389	(b) The board may participate in the establishment and
390	390	operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is
391	391	to raise money for or provide services or other benefits to the
392	392	board.
393	393	SECTION 21. Section 61.0571, Education Code, is amended by
394	394	adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
395	395	(c) The board may provide administrative support and
396	396	services to institutions of higher education as necessary to
397	397	implement this chapter, Chapter 130, or Chapter 130A.
398	398	(d) The board may establish an institutional collaboration
399	399	center within the board to support the implementation of Chapter
400	400	130A and the efficient and effective operations of institutions of
401	401	higher education.
402	402	(e) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the
403	403	purpose, the board may procure goods and services for the direct
404	404	benefit of an institution of higher education and enter into an
405	405	interagency contract under Chapter 771, Government Code, with the
406	406	institution to reimburse the board for the cost of the goods and
407	407	services.
408	408	(f) An affiliated nonprofit organization described by
409	409	Section 61.051(b) may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any
410	410	public or private source to pay for goods or services procured for
411	411	the direct benefit of an institution of higher education under
412	412	Subsection (e).
413	413	SECTION 22. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by
414	414	amending Subsections (b), (b-1), and (r) and adding Subsection (s)
415	415	to read as follows:
416	416	(b) The board shall devise, establish, and periodically
417	417	review and revise formulas for the use of the governor and the
418	418	Legislative Budget Board in making appropriations recommendations
419	419	to the legislature for [all] institutions of higher education other
420	420	than public junior colleges funded under Chapter 130A[, including
421	421	the funding of postsecondary vocational-technical programs]. As a
422	422	specific element of the periodic review, the board shall study and
423	423	recommend changes in the funding formulas based on the role and
424	424	mission statements of those institutions of higher education. In
425	425	carrying out its duties under this section, the board shall employ
426	426	an ongoing process of committee review and expert testimony and
427	427	analysis.
428	428	(b-1) A committee under Subsection (b) must be composed of
429	429	representatives of a cross-section of institutions representing
430	430	each of the institutional groupings under the board's
431	431	accountability system, other than public junior colleges funded
432	432	under Chapter 130A. The commissioner of higher education shall
433	433	solicit recommendations for the committee's membership from the
434	434	chancellor of each university system and from the president of each
435	435	institution of higher education that is not a component of a
436	436	university system. The chancellor of a university system may
437	437	[shall] recommend to the commissioner at least one institutional
438	438	representative for each institutional grouping to which a component
439	439	of the university system is assigned. The president of an
440	440	institution of higher education that is not a component of a
441	441	university system may [shall] recommend to the commissioner at
442	442	least one institutional representative for the institutional
443	443	grouping to which the institution is assigned.
444	444	(r) The board shall exclude contact hours or semester credit
445	445	hours related to a course for which a student is generating formula
446	446	funding for the third time from the contact hours or semester credit
447	447	hours reported for formula funding purposes.
448	448	(s) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may not exclude
449	449	from the number of semester credit hours reported [to the
450	450	Legislative Budget Board] for formula funding under this section or
451	451	Chapter 130A semester credit hours for any course taken up to three
452	452	times by a student who:
453	453	(1) has reenrolled at an institution of higher
454	454	education following a break in enrollment from the institution or
455	455	another institution of higher education covering the 24-month
456	456	period preceding the first class day of the initial semester or
457	457	other academic term of the student's reenrollment; and
458	458	(2) successfully completed at least 50 semester credit
459	459	hours of course work at an institution of higher education before
460	460	that break in enrollment.
461	461	SECTION 23. Sections 61.0595(a), (d), and (f), Education
462	462	Code, are amended to read as follows:
463	463	(a) In the formulas established under Section 61.059 or
464	464	Chapter 130A, the board may not include funding for semester credit
465	465	hours earned by a resident undergraduate student who before the
466	466	semester or other academic session begins has previously attempted
467	467	a number of semester credit hours for courses taken at any
468	468	institution of higher education while classified as a resident
469	469	student for tuition purposes that exceeds the number of semester
470	470	credit hours required for completion of the degree program or
471	471	programs in which the student is enrolled, including minors and
472	472	double majors, and for completion of any certificate or other
473	473	special program in which the student is also enrolled, including a
474	474	program with a study-abroad component, by at least:
475	475	(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or
476	476	(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours.
477	477	(d) The following are not counted for purposes of
478	478	determining whether the student has previously earned the number of
479	479	semester credit hours specified by Subsection (a):
480	480	(1) semester credit hours earned by the student before
481	481	receiving a baccalaureate degree that has previously been awarded
482	482	to the student;
483	483	(2) semester credit hours earned by the student by
484	484	examination or under any other procedure by which credit is earned
485	485	without registering for a course for which tuition is charged;
486	486	(3) credit for a remedial education course, a
487	487	technical course, a workforce education course funded according to
488	488	contact hours, or another course that does not count toward a degree
489	489	program at the institution;
490	490	(4) semester credit hours earned by the student at a
491	491	private institution or an out-of-state institution;
492	492	(5) semester credit hours earned by the student before
493	493	graduating from high school and used to satisfy high school
494	494	graduation requirements; [and]
495	495	(6) the first additional 15 semester credit hours
496	496	earned toward a degree program by a student who:
497	497	(A) has reenrolled at an institution of higher
498	498	education following a break in enrollment from the institution or
499	499	another institution of higher education covering the 24-month
500	500	period preceding the first class day of the initial semester or
501	501	other academic term of the student's reenrollment; and
502	502	(B) successfully completed at least 50 semester
503	503	credit hours of course work at an institution of higher education
504	504	before that break in enrollment; and
505	505	(7) semester credit hours earned by the student before
506	506	receiving an associate degree that has been previously awarded to
507	507	the student.
508	508	(f) In the formulas established under Section 61.059 or
509	509	Chapter 130A, the board shall include without consideration of
510	510	Subsection (a) funding for semester credit hours earned by a
511	511	student who initially enrolled as an undergraduate student in any
512	512	institution of higher education before the 1999 fall semester.
513	513	SECTION 24. Section 61.063, Education Code, is amended to
514	514	read as follows:
515	515	Sec. 61.063. LISTING [AND CERTIFICATION] OF PUBLIC JUNIOR
516	516	COLLEGES; ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The
517	517	commissioner of higher education shall file with the [state]
518	518	comptroller and the state auditor on or before September [October]
519	519	1 of each year a list of each [the] public junior college [colleges]
520	520	in this state that has certified to the board under Section 130.003
521	521	that the college is in compliance with the requirements of
522	522	Subsection (b) of that section.
523	523	(b) [The commissioner shall certify the names of those
524	524	colleges that have complied with the standards, rules, and
525	525	regulations prescribed by the board.] Only a public junior college
526	526	included on the list under Subsection (a) is [those colleges which
527	527	are so certified shall be] eligible for and may receive money
528	528	appropriated [any appropriation made] by the legislature to public
529	529	junior colleges.
530	530	SECTION 25. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
531	531	amended by adding Section 61.09022 to read as follows:
532	532	Sec. 61.09022. INFORMATION TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN ASSESSING
533	533	VALUE OF POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS. (a) From money appropriated
534	534	or otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall develop one
535	535	or more electronic tools or platforms to provide information to
536	536	assist prospective postsecondary students in assessing the value of
537	537	a certificate program, associate or baccalaureate degree program,
538	538	or other credential program offered by an institution of higher
539	539	education or private or independent institution of higher education
540	540	by comparing each institution with other institutions regarding:
541	541	(1) the relative cost of obtaining the certificate,
542	542	degree, or other credential, based on the most recent data
543	543	available to the board from the Texas Workforce Commission,
544	544	institutions of higher education, the federal government, or any
545	545	other source from which the board may obtain reliable data,
546	546	including:
547	547	(A) the cost for each of the following at the 25th
548	548	percentile, the median, and the 75th percentile:
549	549	(i) total cost of attendance;
550	550	(ii) tuition and fees;
551	551	(iii) room and board;
552	552	(iv) books and supplies;
553	553	(v) transportation; and
554	554	(vi) other costs; and
555	555	(B) the estimated net cost remaining after
556	556	subtracting from the amount described by Paragraph (A) the average
557	557	amount of scholarship and grant aid awarded to the typical student
558	558	for the program;
559	559	(2) the value of the certificate, degree, or other
560	560	credential as measured by comparing:
561	561	(A) the median wage earned by students who
562	562	graduated with the certificate, degree, or other credential from
563	563	the institution; and
564	564	(B) the median student debt of students who
565	565	graduated with the certificate, degree, or other credential from
566	566	the institution as compared to the median student debt of all
567	567	students who graduated with the certificate, degree, or other
568	568	credential, based on the most recent data available to the board
569	569	from the Texas Workforce Commission, institutions of higher
570	570	education, the federal government, or any other source from which
571	571	the board may obtain reliable data;
572	572	(3) the average student debt-to-income ratio of
573	573	students who graduated with the certificate, degree, or other
574	574	credential from the institution and have student debt, including
575	575	the estimated monthly student loan payment, computed using the
576	576	standard 10-year repayment plan;
577	577	(4) progress on repaying student loans by students who
578	578	graduated with the certificate, degree, or other credential from
579	579	the institution; and
580	580	(5) educational outcomes for students seeking the
581	581	certificate, degree, or other credential, including:
582	582	(A) for a program designed to be completed in
583	583	more than one year, the percentage of students who continue in the
584	584	program after the first year of study;
585	585	(B) the completion rate;
586	586	(C) the percentage of students who withdraw or
587	587	transfer from the institution and subsequently graduate with the
588	588	certificate, degree, or other credential from another institution
589	589	of higher education or private or independent institution of higher
590	590	education;
591	591	(D) the percentage of students who withdraw from
592	592	the institution and do not enroll in the program at another
593	593	institution of higher education or private or independent
594	594	institution of higher education within three years of the
595	595	withdrawal; and
596	596	(E) the percentage of graduates employed in the
597	597	top five industries in this state, as identified by the Texas
598	598	Workforce Commission, by certificate program, degree program, or
599	599	other credential program within one year of graduation.
600	600	(c) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
601	601	donations from any public or private source to implement this
602	602	section.
603	603	(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
604	604	this section.
605	605	SECTION 26. Section 7.040(c), Education Code, is
606	606	transferred to Section 61.09022, Education Code, as added by this
607	607	Act, redesignated as Section 61.09022(b), Education Code, and
608	608	amended to read as follows:
609	609	(b) [(c)] Each institution of higher education shall
610	610	include on its Internet website, in a prominent location that is not
611	611	more than three hyperlinks from the website's home page, a link to
612	612	the electronic tools or platforms developed by the board
613	613	[information posted on the agency's Internet website] under
614	614	Subsection (a).
615	615	SECTION 27. Sections 61.822(b) and (c), Education Code, are
616	616	amended to read as follows:
617	617	(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a core
618	618	curriculum of no less than 42 semester credit hours, including
619	619	specific courses comprising the curriculum. The core curriculum
620	620	shall be consistent with the common course numbering system
621	621	approved by the board and with the statement, recommendations, and
622	622	rules issued by the board. An institution may have a core
623	623	curriculum of other than 42 semester credit hours only if approved
624	624	by the board. The board by rule may approve a core curriculum of
625	625	fewer than 42 semester credit hours for an associate degree program
626	626	if the board determines that the approval would facilitate the
627	627	award of a degree or transfer of credit consistent with this
628	628	subchapter.
629	629	(c) If a student successfully completes the [42-hour] core
630	630	curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of
631	631	courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher
632	632	education and must be substituted for the receiving institution's
633	633	core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each
634	634	of the courses transferred and may not be required to take
635	635	additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution
636	636	unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at the
637	637	institution.
638	638	SECTION 28. Section 61.823, Education Code, is amended by
639	639	adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
640	640	follows:
641	641	(a-1) The board by rule may authorize a general academic
642	642	teaching institution to adopt, for each field of study curriculum
643	643	developed by the board for which the institution offers a degree
644	644	program, a set of courses specific to that field of study, for a
645	645	total of at least six semester credit hours or the equivalent, that
646	646	must be completed as part of the field of study curriculum for that
647	647	institution. Each general academic teaching institution that
648	648	adopts a set of courses for a field of study curriculum under this
649	649	subsection shall post on the institution's Internet website in a
650	650	manner easily accessible to students the set of courses with the
651	651	associated course numbers under the common course numbering system.
652	652	(b) If a student successfully completes a field of study
653	653	curriculum developed by the board, that block of courses may be
654	654	transferred to a general academic teaching institution and, subject
655	655	to completion of the set of courses adopted by the institution for
656	656	that field of study under Subsection (a-1), must be substituted for
657	657	that institution's lower division requirements for the degree
658	658	program for the field of study into which the student transfers, and
659	659	the student shall receive full academic credit toward the degree
660	660	program for the block of courses transferred.
661	661	SECTION 29. Sections 61.826(c), (d), and (e), Education
662	662	Code, are amended to read as follows:
663	663	(c) If an institution of higher education proposes to deny
664	664	the application toward the institution's core curriculum or a field
665	665	of study curriculum developed by the board under Section 61.823 of
666	666	[does not accept] course credit earned by a student at another
667	667	institution of higher education in the other institution's core
668	668	curriculum or in a field of study curriculum, that institution
669	669	must:
670	670	(1) [shall] give written notice to the student and the
671	671	other institution of that institution's intent to deny [that] the
672	672	application [transfer] of the course credit to the institution's
673	673	core curriculum or field of study curriculum and the reasons for the
674	674	proposed denial;
675	675	(2) [is denied. The two institutions and the student
676	676	shall] attempt to resolve the application [transfer] of the course
677	677	credit to the institution's core curriculum or field of study
678	678	curriculum with the other institution and the student in accordance
679	679	with this section and board rules;
680	680	(3) resolve the dispute not later than the 45th day
681	681	after the date on which the student enrolls in that institution; and
682	682	(4) if[. If] the [transfer] dispute is not resolved to
683	683	the satisfaction of the student or the institution at which the
684	684	credit was earned, [within 45 days after the date the student
685	685	received written notice of the denial, the institution that denies
686	686	the transfer of the course credit shall] notify the commissioner of
687	687	higher education of its denial to apply the course credit to the
688	688	institution's core curriculum or field of study curriculum and the
689	689	reasons for the denial.
690	690	(d) Not later than the 20th business day after the date the
691	691	commissioner of higher education receives notice of a dispute
692	692	concerning the application of course credit to an institution of
693	693	higher education's core curriculum or field of study curriculum
694	694	under Subsection (c)(4), the [The] commissioner [of higher
695	695	education] or the commissioner's designee shall make the final
696	696	determination about the [a] dispute [concerning the transfer of
697	697	course credit] and give written notice of the determination to the
698	698	involved student and institutions. If the commissioner or the
699	699	commissioner's designee determines that the institution may not
700	700	deny the application of course credit described by Subsection (c)
701	701	to the institution's core curriculum or field of study curriculum,
702	702	the institution shall apply that course credit toward the
703	703	institution's core curriculum or field of study curriculum, as
704	704	applicable. A determination by the commissioner or the
705	705	commissioner's designee under this subsection is final and may not
706	706	be appealed.
707	707	(e) The board shall:
708	708	(1) collect data on the types of transfer disputes
709	709	that are reported and the disposition of each case that is
710	710	considered by the commissioner of higher education or the
711	711	commissioner's designee; and
712	712	(2) post on the board's Internet website a list of each
713	713	case that is considered by the commissioner of higher education or
714	714	the commissioner's designee under this section, including the
715	715	disposition of the case.
716	716	SECTION 30. Section 61.827(b), Education Code, is amended
717	717	to read as follows:
718	718	(b) In adopting rules regarding the recommended core
719	719	curriculum developed under Section 61.822, the board shall appoint
720	720	a committee to advise the board [use the negotiated rulemaking
721	721	procedures] under Section 2001.031 [Chapter 2008], Government
722	722	Code.
723	723	SECTION 31. Subchapter S, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
724	724	amended by adding Section 61.834 to read as follows:
725	725	Sec. 61.834. TEXAS DIRECT ASSOCIATE DEGREE. A public
726	726	junior college, public state college, or public technical institute
727	727	shall award a student a "Texas Direct" associate degree and include
728	728	an appropriate notation on the student's transcript if the student
729	729	completes a field of study curriculum developed by the board under
730	730	Section 61.823 and:
731	731	(1) the college's core curriculum; or
732	732	(2) an abbreviated core curriculum related to a
733	733	specific approved field of study curriculum transferable to one or
734	734	more general academic teaching institutions.
735	735	SECTION 32. Section 61.882(d), Education Code, is amended
736	736	to read as follows:
737	737	(d) In awarding grants under this subchapter, the board:
738	738	(1) shall, to the greatest extent practicable:
739	739	(A) award grants to at least one eligible entity
740	740	in each region of the state; and
741	741	(B) ensure that each training program:
742	742	(i) matches regional workforce needs;
743	743	(ii) is supported by a labor market
744	744	analysis of job postings and employers hiring roles with the skills
745	745	developed by the program; and
746	746	(iii) does not duplicate existing program
747	747	offerings except as necessary to accommodate regional demand; and
748	748	(2) may give preference to applicants that:
749	749	(A) represent a consortium of lower-division
750	750	institutions of higher education;
751	751	(B) prioritize training to displaced workers;
752	752	(C) offer affordable training programs to
753	753	students; or
754	754	(D) partner with employers, local chambers of
755	755	commerce, trade associations, economic development corporations,
756	756	and local workforce boards to analyze job postings and identify
757	757	employers hiring roles with the skills developed by the training
758	758	programs.
759	759	SECTION 33. Section 130.001(b), Education Code, is amended
760	760	to read as follows:
761	761	(b) The coordinating board shall have the responsibility
762	762	for adopting policies, enacting regulations, and establishing
763	763	general rules necessary for carrying out the duties with respect to
764	764	public junior colleges as prescribed by the legislature, and with
765	765	the advice and assistance of the commissioner of higher education,
766	766	shall have authority to:
767	767	(1) authorize the creation of public junior college
768	768	districts as provided in the statutes, giving particular attention
769	769	to the need for a public junior college in the proposed district and
770	770	the ability of the district to provide adequate local financial
771	771	support;
772	772	(2) dissolve any public junior college district which
773	773	has failed to establish and maintain a junior college within three
774	774	years from the date of its authorization;
775	775	(3) adopt standards for the operation of public junior
776	776	colleges and prescribe the rules and regulations for such colleges;
777	777	(4) require of each public junior college such reports
778	778	as deemed necessary in accordance with the coordinating board's
779	779	rules and regulations; and
780	780	(5) establish a standing advisory committee
781	781	[commissions] composed of representatives of public junior
782	782	colleges [and other citizens of the state] to provide advice and
783	783	counsel to the coordinating board with respect to the funding of
784	784	public junior colleges necessary to carry out this chapter and
785	785	Chapter 130A.
786	786	SECTION 34. Sections 130.003(a), (b), (e), and (f),
787	787	Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
788	788	(a) There shall be appropriated biennially from money in the
789	789	state treasury not otherwise appropriated an amount sufficient to
790	790	supplement local funds for the proper support, maintenance,
791	791	operation, and improvement of those public junior colleges of Texas
792	792	that meet the standards prescribed by this chapter. The sum shall
793	793	be allocated in accordance with Chapter 130A [on the basis of
794	794	contact hours within categories developed, reviewed, and updated by
795	795	the coordinating board].
796	796	(b) To be eligible for and to receive money appropriated
797	797	under Subsection (a) [a proportionate share of the appropriation],
798	798	a public junior college must certify to the coordinating board, in
799	799	the manner prescribed by coordinating board rule, that the college:
800	800	(1) offers [be certified as a public junior college as
801	801	prescribed in Section 61.063;
802	802	[(2) offer] a minimum of 24 semester hours of
803	803	vocational and/or terminal courses;
804	804	(2) collects [(3) have complied with all existing
805	805	laws, rules, and regulations governing the establishment and
806	806	maintenance of public junior colleges;
807	807	[(4) collect], from each full-time and part-time
808	808	student enrolled, tuition [matriculation] and other [session] fees
809	809	in the amounts required by law or in the amounts set by the
810	810	governing board of the junior college district as authorized by
811	811	this title;
812	812	(3) grants [(5) grant], when properly applied for,
813	813	the scholarships and tuition exemptions provided for in this code;
814	814	(4) [and
815	815	[(6)] for a public junior college established on or
816	816	after September 1, 1986, levies and collects [levy and collect] ad
817	817	valorem taxes as provided by law for the operation and maintenance
818	818	of the [public junior] college; and
819	819	(5) has complied with all laws and coordinating board
820	820	rules for the establishment and operation of a public junior
821	821	college.
822	822	(e) The primary purpose of each public junior [community]
823	823	college shall be to provide:
824	824	(1) technical programs up to two years in length
825	825	leading to associate degrees or certificates;
826	826	(2) vocational programs leading directly to
827	827	employment in semi-skilled and skilled occupations;
828	828	(3) [freshman and sophomore] courses in the core
829	829	curriculum or a field of study curriculum, as those terms are
830	830	defined by Section 61.821 [arts and sciences];
831	831	(4) continuing adult education programs for
832	832	occupational or cultural upgrading;
833	833	(5) compensatory education programs designed to
834	834	fulfill the commitment of an admissions policy allowing the
835	835	enrollment of disadvantaged students;
836	836	(6) a continuing program of counseling and guidance
837	837	designed to assist students in achieving their individual
838	838	educational goals;
839	839	(7) work force development programs designed to meet
840	840	local and statewide needs;
841	841	(8) adult literacy and other basic skills programs for
842	842	adults; and
843	843	(9) such other purposes as may be prescribed by the
844	844	coordinating board [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board] or
845	845	local governing boards in the best interest of post-secondary
846	846	education in this state [Texas].
847	847	(f) This section does not affect the application of [alter,
848	848	amend, or repeal] Section 54.231 [54.060 of this code].
849	849	SECTION 35. Section 130.0031, Education Code, is amended to
850	850	read as follows:
851	851	Sec. 130.0031. TRANSFERS: WHEN MADE. (a) In consultation
852	852	with the advisory committee established under Section
853	853	130.001(b)(5), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by
854	854	rule shall adopt a payment schedule by which money appropriated to
855	855	junior college districts under this chapter and Chapter 130A is
856	856	distributed to those districts [In this section:
857	857	[(1) "Category 1 junior college" means a junior
858	858	college having not more than 2,500 students in fall head count
859	859	enrollment for the previous fiscal year and not more than $300,000
860	860	of local taxes collected, excluding taxes for debt service, in the
861	861	previous fiscal year.
862	862	[(2) "Category 2 junior college" means a junior
863	863	college having more than 2,500 students in fall head count
864	864	enrollment for the previous fiscal year or more than $300,000 of
865	865	local taxes collected, excluding taxes for debt service, in the
866	866	previous fiscal year].
867	867	(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may
868	868	modify the [Money appropriated for payment to junior colleges under
869	869	the authority of Section 130.003 of this code shall be paid to each
870	870	eligible category 1 junior college out of the public junior college
871	871	reimbursement fund as follows:
872	872	[(1) 24 percent of the yearly entitlement of the
873	873	junior college shall be paid in two equal installments to be made on
874	874	or before the 25th day of September and October; and
875	875	[(2) 76 percent of the yearly entitlement of the
876	876	junior college shall be paid in eight equal installments to be made
877	877	on or before the 25th day of November, December, January, February,
878	878	March, April, May, and June.
879	879	[(c) Money appropriated for payment to junior colleges
880	880	under the authority of Section 130.003 of this code shall be paid to
881	881	each eligible category 2 junior college out of the public junior
882	882	college reimbursement fund as follows:
883	883	[(1) 24 percent of the yearly entitlement of the
884	884	junior college shall be paid in two equal installments to be made on
885	885	or before the 25th day of September and October; and
886	886	[(2) 76 percent of the yearly entitlement of the
887	887	junior college shall be paid in eight equal installments to be made
888	888	on or before the 25th day of November, December, March, April, May,
889	889	June, July, and August.
890	890	[(d) The] amount of any installment required under the
891	891	payment schedule adopted under Subsection (a) [by this section may
892	892	be modified] to, in accordance with this chapter, Chapter 130A, the
893	893	General Appropriations Act, or coordinating board rule:
894	894	(1) provide the junior college district with the
895	895	proper amount to which the junior college district may be entitled
896	896	by law; and
897	897	(2) [to] correct errors in the allocation or
898	898	distribution of funds.
899	899	(c) If the amount of an installment under the payment
900	900	schedule adopted under Subsection (a) [this section] is required to
901	901	be equal to the amount of another installment [other installments],
902	902	the amount of the other installment [installments] may be adjusted
903	903	to provide for that equality. A payment under this section is not
904	904	invalid because it is not equal to other installments.
905	905	SECTION 36. Section 130.0033(c), Education Code, is amended
906	906	to read as follows:
907	907	(c) Charging tuition at a reduced rate under this section
908	908	does not affect the right of the public junior college to an
909	909	allocation [a proportionate share] of state appropriations under
910	910	this chapter and Chapter 130A [Section 130.003] for the contact
911	911	hours attributable to students paying tuition at the reduced rate.
912	912	SECTION 37. Section 130.0034(a), Education Code, is amended
913	913	to read as follows:
914	914	(a) The governing board of a [public] junior college
915	915	district may charge a student a higher rate of tuition than the
916	916	tuition that would otherwise be charged for a course in which the
917	917	student enrolls if:
918	918	(1) the student has previously enrolled in the same
919	919	course or a course of substantially the same content and level two
920	920	or more times; and
921	921	(2) the student's enrollment in the course is not
922	922	included in the contact hours used to determine the junior
923	923	college's allocation [proportionate share] of state appropriations
924	924	under this chapter and Chapter 130A [Section 130.003].
925	925	SECTION 38. Section 130.0051(a), Education Code, is amended
926	926	to read as follows:
927	927	(a) The board of trustees of a junior college district by
928	928	resolution may change the name of the district or a college within
929	929	the district [by eliminating the words "community" or "junior" from
930	930	the name of the district or college], unless the change would cause
931	931	the district or college to have the same or substantially the same
932	932	name as an existing district, college, or other public or private
933	933	institution of higher education in this state.
934	934	SECTION 39. Section 130.008(c), Education Code, is amended
935	935	to read as follows:
936	936	(c) The contact hours attributable to the enrollment of a
937	937	high school student in a course offered for joint high school and
938	938	junior college credit under this section, excluding a course for
939	939	which the student attending high school may receive course credit
940	940	toward the physical education curriculum requirement under Section
941	941	28.002(a)(2)(C), shall be included in the contact hours used to
942	942	determine the junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of
943	943	the state money appropriated and distributed to public junior
944	944	colleges under this chapter and Chapter 130A [Sections 130.003 and
945	945	130.0031], even if the junior college waives all or part of the
946	946	tuition or fees for the student under Subsection (b).
947	947	SECTION 40. Section 130.085(b), Education Code, is amended
948	948	to read as follows:
949	949	(b) This action by the board of trustees does not affect
950	950	their authority under Section 130.123 [of this code], nor does this
951	951	section in any way supersede that section. This action of the board
952	952	does not affect the right of the college to an allocation [a
953	953	proportionate share] of state appropriations under this chapter and
954	954	Chapter 130A [Section 130.003 of this code].
955	955	SECTION 41. Section 130.090(c), Education Code, is amended
956	956	to read as follows:
957	957	(c) The grant of an exemption from tuition under Subsection
958	958	(b) does not affect the right of a junior college to an allocation
959	959	[a proportionate share] of state appropriations under this chapter
960	960	and Chapter 130A [Section 130.003] attributable to the contact
961	961	hours of the junior college with the student receiving the
962	962	exemption.
963	963	SECTION 42. Section 130.310(a), Education Code, is amended
964	964	to read as follows:
965	965	(a) A [Except as provided by Subsection (b), a] degree
966	966	program created under this subchapter shall [may] be funded solely
967	967	by a public junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of
968	968	state appropriations under this chapter and Chapter 130A [Section
969	969	130.003], local funds, and private sources. [This subsection does
970	970	not require the legislature to appropriate state funds to support a
971	971	degree program created under this subchapter.] The coordinating
972	972	board shall weigh contact hours attributable to students enrolled
973	973	in a junior-level or senior-level course offered under this
974	974	subchapter used to determine a public junior college's allocation
975	975	[proportionate share] of state appropriations under this chapter
976	976	and Chapter 130A [Section 130.003] in the same manner as a lower
977	977	division course in a corresponding field.
978	978	SECTION 43. Section 130.352, Education Code, is amended to
979	979	read as follows:
980	980	Sec. 130.352. FORMULA FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE CONTINUING
981	981	EDUCATION COURSES. Notwithstanding Section 130.003 or any other
982	982	law, contact hours attributable to the enrollment of a student in a
983	983	workforce continuing education course offered by a public junior
984	984	college shall be included in the contact hours used to determine the
985	985	college's allocation [proportionate share] of state money
986	986	appropriated and distributed to public junior colleges under this
987	987	chapter and Chapter 130A [Sections 130.003 and 130.0031],
988	988	regardless of whether the college waives all or part of the tuition
989	989	or fees for the course under Section 130.354.
990	990	SECTION 44. Section 130.355, Education Code, is amended to
991	991	read as follows:
992	992	Sec. 130.355. RULES. The coordinating board shall adopt
993	993	any rules the coordinating board considers necessary for the
994	994	administration of this subchapter. [In adopting those rules, the
995	995	coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures
996	996	under Chapter 2008, Government Code.]
997	997	SECTION 45. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
998	998	adding Subchapter O to read as follows:
999	999	SUBCHAPTER O. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM
1000	1000	Sec. 130.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1001	1001	(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1002	1002	Education Coordinating Board.
1003	1003	(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
1004	1004	meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
1005	1005	(3) "Program," unless the context indicates
1006	1006	otherwise, means the Opportunity High School Diploma program
1007	1007	established under this subchapter.
1008	1008	Sec. 130.452. PURPOSE. The purpose of the program is to
1009	1009	provide an alternative means by which adult students enrolled in a
1010	1010	workforce education program at a public junior college may earn a
1011	1011	high school diploma at the college through concurrent enrollment in
1012	1012	a competency-based education program that enables students to
1013	1013	demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to the knowledge
1014	1014	required to earn a high school diploma in this state.
1015	1015	Sec. 130.453. ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating board shall
1016	1016	administer the program in consultation with the Texas Education
1017	1017	Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission.
1018	1018	Sec. 130.454. APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
1019	1019	PROGRAM. (a) A public junior college may submit to the
1020	1020	coordinating board an application to participate in the program.
1021	1021	The application must propose an alternative competency-based high
1022	1022	school diploma program to be offered for concurrent enrollment to
1023	1023	adult students without a high school diploma who are enrolled in a
1024	1024	workforce education program at the college. The proposed program
1025	1025	may include any combination of instruction, curriculum,
1026	1026	achievement, internships, or other means by which a student may
1027	1027	attain knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for
1028	1028	postsecondary education or additional workforce education.
1029	1029	(b) A public junior college may submit an application under
1030	1030	Subsection (a) together with one or more public junior colleges,
1031	1031	general academic teaching institutions, public school districts,
1032	1032	or nonprofit organizations with whom the proposed program described
1033	1033	by that subsection will be offered as provided by Subsection (e).
1034	1034	(c) The coordinating board may approve not more than five
1035	1035	public junior colleges to participate in the program.
1036	1036	(d) Subject to Subsection (c), the coordinating board shall
1037	1037	review and approve a public junior college's application to
1038	1038	participate in the program if the board determines that the
1039	1039	college's proposed program described by Subsection (a) will provide
1040	1040	instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student
1041	1041	who successfully completes the proposed program demonstrates
1042	1042	levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student
1043	1043	for postsecondary education or additional workforce education. The
1044	1044	coordinating board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency
1045	1045	as necessary to make a determination under this subsection.
1046	1046	(e) A public junior college approved to participate in the
1047	1047	program may:
1048	1048	(1) enter into an agreement with one or more public
1049	1049	junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, public
1050	1050	school districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program
1051	1051	described by Subsection (a); and
1052	1052	(2) offer the program described by Subsection (a) at
1053	1053	any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has
1054	1054	entered into an agreement under Subdivision (1).
1055	1055	Sec. 130.455. AWARD OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a) A public
1056	1056	junior college participating in the program may award a high school
1057	1057	diploma to a student enrolled in the alternative competency-based
1058	1058	high school diploma program offered by the college under the
1059	1059	program if the student performs satisfactorily on assessment
1060	1060	instruments prescribed by coordinating board rule.
1061	1061	(b) A high school diploma awarded under the program is
1062	1062	equivalent to a high school diploma awarded under Section 28.025.
1063	1063	Sec. 130.456. FUNDING. (a) The coordinating board and the
1064	1064	Texas Workforce Commission shall coordinate to jointly identify
1065	1065	funding mechanisms, including grants, interagency contracts,
1066	1066	financial aid, or subsidies, available to public junior colleges
1067	1067	and students to encourage and facilitate participation in the
1068	1068	program.
1069	1069	(b) A public junior college participating in the program is
1070	1070	entitled to receive funding under Section 130.003 for the program
1071	1071	in the manner provided by coordinating board rule.
1072	1072	Sec. 130.457. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the
1073	1073	coordinating board shall submit to the legislature a progress
1074	1074	report on the effectiveness of the program and any recommendations
1075	1075	for legislative or other action. This section expires September 1,
1076	1076	2027.
1077	1077	Sec. 130.458. RULES. The coordinating board may adopt
1078	1078	rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
1079	1079	SECTION 46. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
1080	1080	by adding Chapter 130A to read as follows:
1081	1081	CHAPTER 130A. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE STATE FINANCE PROGRAM
1082	1082	SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1083	1083	Sec. 130A.001. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the
1084	1084	legislature that, as public junior colleges are locally governed
1085	1085	institutions, providing foundational funding for instruction and
1086	1086	operations of public junior colleges should be primarily a local
1087	1087	responsibility, supported through a combination of tuition, fees,
1088	1088	and local property taxes, with state funding focused primarily on
1089	1089	rewarding outcomes aligned with regional and state education and
1090	1090	workforce needs.
1091	1091	Sec. 130A.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of the public junior
1092	1092	college state finance program established under this chapter is to
1093	1093	provide a modern and dynamic finance system that ensures that each
1094	1094	public junior college has access to adequate state appropriations
1095	1095	and local resources to support the education and training of the
1096	1096	workforce of the future.
1097	1097	Sec. 130A.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1098	1098	(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of higher
1099	1099	education.
1100	1100	(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1101	1101	Education Coordinating Board.
1102	1102	(3) "Program" means the public junior college state
1103	1103	finance program established under this chapter.
1104	1104	(4) "Public junior college" has the meaning assigned
1105	1105	by Section 61.003.
1106	1106	Sec. 130A.004. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. The program consists
1107	1107	of:
1108	1108	(1) a base tier of state and local funding determined
1109	1109	in accordance with Subchapter B that ensures each public junior
1110	1110	college has access to a defined level of base funding for
1111	1111	instruction and operations; and
1112	1112	(2) a performance tier of state funding determined in
1113	1113	accordance with Subchapter C that constitutes the majority of state
1114	1114	funding and is distributed based on measurable outcomes aligned
1115	1115	with:
1116	1116	(A) regional and state workforce needs; and
1117	1117	(B) state goals aligned to the state's long-range
1118	1118	master plan for higher education developed under Section 61.051.
1119	1119	Sec. 130A.005. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The
1120	1120	coordinating board may adopt rules, require reporting, and take
1121	1121	other actions consistent with Chapter 61, Chapter 130, and this
1122	1122	chapter as necessary to implement and administer the program.
1123	1123	(b) In adopting rules under this section, the coordinating
1124	1124	board shall consult with the advisory committee established under
1125	1125	Section 130.001(b)(5).
1126	1126	(c) Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the coordinating board
1127	1127	is not required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under
1128	1128	Chapter 2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this
1129	1129	section.
1130	1130	Sec. 130A.006. REQUIRED REPORTING. The coordinating board
1131	1131	by rule shall require each junior college district to report to the
1132	1132	coordinating board through the Education Data System, Community
1133	1133	College Annual Reporting and Analysis Tool, Report of Fundable
1134	1134	Operating Expenses, or any successor program, data necessary to:
1135	1135	(1) calculate funding under this chapter;
1136	1136	(2) provide timely data and analyses to inform
1137	1137	management decisions by the governing body of each junior college
1138	1138	district;
1139	1139	(3) administer or evaluate the effectiveness of the
1140	1140	program; or
1141	1141	(4) audit the program.
1142	1142	Sec. 130A.007. COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY TO RESOLVE DATA
1143	1143	REPORTING ERRORS AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM FUNDING
1144	1144	FORMULAS. (a) The commissioner may review the accuracy of data
1145	1145	reported to the coordinating board by junior college districts.
1146	1146	(b) The commissioner may adjust:
1147	1147	(1) the distribution of funding under this chapter for
1148	1148	a state fiscal year as necessary to correct errors in data reporting
1149	1149	identified through the commissioner's review under Subsection (a);
1150	1150	and
1151	1151	(2) a junior college district's funding under this
1152	1152	chapter if the funding formulas used to determine the district's
1153	1153	entitlement would result in an unanticipated loss or gain for the
1154	1154	district that would have a substantial negative impact on the
1155	1155	district's operations.
1156	1156	(c) Before making an adjustment under this section, the
1157	1157	commissioner must request and receive written approval from the
1158	1158	Legislative Budget Board and the office of the governor. A request
1159	1159	to make an adjustment is considered approved unless the Legislative
1160	1160	Budget Board or the office of the governor issues a written
1161	1161	disapproval within 60 business days after the date on which the
1162	1162	request is received.
1163	1163	(d) If the commissioner makes an adjustment under
1164	1164	Subsection (b), the commissioner shall provide to the legislature
1165	1165	an explanation regarding the changes necessary to resolve the data
1166	1166	reporting errors or the unintended consequences, as applicable.
1167	1167	Sec. 130A.008. CENSUS DATE ELIGIBILITY. A junior college
1168	1168	district may report a student in attendance on the district's
1169	1169	approved course census date for the purpose of funding under this
1170	1170	chapter.
1171	1171	Sec. 130A.009. RECOVERY OF OVERALLOCATED FUNDS. (a) If a
1172	1172	junior college district has received an overallocation of state
1173	1173	funds, the coordinating board shall recover from the district an
1174	1174	amount equal to the overallocation by withholding from subsequent
1175	1175	allocations of state funds for the current or subsequent academic
1176	1176	year or by requesting and obtaining a refund from the district.
1177	1177	(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the coordinating board
1178	1178	may recover an overallocation of state funds over a period not to
1179	1179	exceed the subsequent five academic years if the commissioner
1180	1180	determines that the overallocation was the result of exceptional
1181	1181	circumstances reasonably caused by statutory changes to Chapter 130
1182	1182	or this chapter and related reporting requirements.
1183	1183	(c) If a junior college district fails to comply with a
1184	1184	request for a refund under Subsection (a), the coordinating board
1185	1185	shall report to the comptroller that the amount constitutes a debt
1186	1186	for purposes of Section 403.055, Government Code. The coordinating
1187	1187	board shall provide to the comptroller the amount of the
1188	1188	overallocation and any other information required by the
1189	1189	comptroller. The comptroller may certify the amount of the debt to
1190	1190	the attorney general for collection. The junior college district's
1191	1191	governmental immunity is waived to the extent necessary to collect
1192	1192	the debt owed under this section.
1193	1193	(d) Subject to Subsection (e), the coordinating board may
1194	1194	review a junior college district as necessary to determine if the
1195	1195	district qualifies for each amount received by the district under
1196	1196	this chapter. If the coordinating board determines that a junior
1197	1197	college district received an amount to which the district was not
1198	1198	entitled, the coordinating board may establish a corrective action
1199	1199	plan or withhold the applicable amount of funding from the
1200	1200	district.
1201	1201	(e) The coordinating board may not review junior college
1202	1202	district expenditures that occurred seven or more years before the
1203	1203	review.
1204	1204	Sec. 130A.010. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. Except as
1205	1205	provided by other law, an affiliated nonprofit organization
1206	1206	described by Section 61.051(b) may solicit and accept gifts,
1207	1207	grants, or donations of personal property from any public or
1208	1208	private source to implement or administer this chapter.
1209	1209	SUBCHAPTER B. STATE FUNDING: BASE TIER
1210	1210	Sec. 130A.051. BASE TIER FORMULA. The amount of base tier
1211	1211	state funding to which a junior college district is entitled for
1212	1212	instruction and operations under this subchapter for a state fiscal
1213	1213	year is an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the
1214	1214	district's guaranteed instruction and operations funding, as
1215	1215	determined under Section 130A.052, exceeds the district's local
1216	1216	share of base tier funding, as determined under Section 130A.056.
1217	1217	Sec. 130A.052. GUARANTEED INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS
1218	1218	FUNDING FORMULA. The amount of a junior college district's
1219	1219	guaranteed instruction and operations funding for a state fiscal
1220	1220	year is equal to the sum of:
1221	1221	(1) the product of:
1222	1222	(A) the district's basic allotment under Section
1223	1223	130A.053; and
1224	1224	(B) the number of weighted full-time equivalent
1225	1225	students enrolled at the district determined in accordance with
1226	1226	Section 130A.054; and
1227	1227	(2) the district's contact hour funding under Section
1228	1228	130A.055.
1229	1229	Sec. 130A.053. BASIC ALLOTMENT. The basic allotment for a
1230	1230	junior college district for a state fiscal year is an amount per
1231	1231	weighted full-time equivalent student set by the General
1232	1232	Appropriations Act or other legislative appropriation.
1233	1233	Sec. 130A.054. WEIGHTED FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENT;
1234	1234	SCALE ADJUSTMENT. (a) The coordinating board by rule shall
1235	1235	establish student weights for purposes of this chapter that reflect
1236	1236	the higher cost of educating certain students.
1237	1237	(b) The student weights must be established in a manner that
1238	1238	results in appropriate funding to a junior college district for the
1239	1239	education of a student enrolled in an eligible credit or non-credit
1240	1240	program who is:
1241	1241	(1) 25 years of age or older;
1242	1242	(2) economically disadvantaged, as defined by
1243	1243	coordinating board rule; or
1244	1244	(3) academically disadvantaged, as defined by
1245	1245	coordinating board rule.
1246	1246	(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the number of weighted
1247	1247	full-time equivalent students enrolled at a junior college district
1248	1248	for purposes of this subchapter is equal to the sum of:
1249	1249	(1) the number of full-time equivalent students
1250	1250	enrolled in the district; and
1251	1251	(2) the sum of the weights assigned to students
1252	1252	enrolled in the district.
1253	1253	(d) The coordinating board by rule shall establish an
1254	1254	equitable adjustment to the number of weighted full-time equivalent
1255	1255	students determined under this section for each junior college
1256	1256	district with a total enrollment of fewer than 5,000 full-time
1257	1257	equivalent students.
1258	1258	(e) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, a
1259	1259	junior college district that receives an adjustment under
1260	1260	Subsection (d) shall submit to the commissioner a report on the
1261	1261	district's participation in institutional partnerships and shared
1262	1262	services available under Section 61.0571 or other partnerships to
1263	1263	reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
1264	1264	Sec. 130A.055. CONTACT HOUR FUNDING. (a) The legislature
1265	1265	shall set by appropriation the amount of funding to be provided to a
1266	1266	junior college district under this subchapter per contact hour.
1267	1267	(b) The amount of funding per contact hour must be weighted
1268	1268	by discipline to reflect the cost of providing the applicable
1269	1269	course.
1270	1270	(c) The coordinating board shall determine the total amount
1271	1271	of contact hour funding to which each junior college district is
1272	1272	entitled under this section.
1273	1273	Sec. 130A.056. LOCAL SHARE. A junior college district's
1274	1274	local share of base tier funding is an amount equal to the sum of the
1275	1275	amounts of revenue estimated to be generated by:
1276	1276	(1) imposing a maintenance and operations ad valorem
1277	1277	tax in the district at a rate of $0.05; and
1278	1278	(2) assessing an amount of tuition and fees to each
1279	1279	full-time equivalent student enrolled in the district equal to the
1280	1280	statewide average amount of tuition and fees assessed by junior
1281	1281	college districts to a full-time equivalent student, determined as
1282	1282	provided by coordinating board rule.
1283	1283	SUBCHAPTER C. STATE FUNDING: PERFORMANCE TIER
1284	1284	Sec. 130A.101. PERFORMANCE TIER. (a) A junior college
1285	1285	district is entitled to performance tier funding for a state fiscal
1286	1286	biennium in an amount equal to the sum of the amounts determined
1287	1287	under Subsection (b) for each measurable outcome described by
1288	1288	Subsection (c).
1289	1289	(b) The amount of performance tier funding for each
1290	1290	measurable outcome described by Subsection (c) is equal to the
1291	1291	product of:
1292	1292	(1) the sum of:
1293	1293	(A) the number of times that outcome was achieved
1294	1294	by the junior college district, determined as provided by
1295	1295	coordinating board rule; and
1296	1296	(B) for an outcome described by Subsection (c)(1)
1297	1297	or (2), the sum of the applicable student weights established by
1298	1298	coordinating board rule for the students who achieved the outcome
1299	1299	at the junior college district as determined under Paragraph (A) of
1300	1300	this subdivision; and
1301	1301	(2) the amount set by the General Appropriations Act
1302	1302	or other legislative appropriation for the outcome.
1303	1303	(c) The measurable outcomes considered for purposes of
1304	1304	performance tier funding are:
1305	1305	(1) the number of credentials of value awarded, as
1306	1306	determined by the coordinating board based on analyses of wages and
1307	1307	costs associated with the credential, including degrees,
1308	1308	certificates, and other credentials from credit and non-credit
1309	1309	programs that equip students for continued learning and greater
1310	1310	earnings in the state economy, with an additional weight for
1311	1311	placement of students who earn that credential in a high-demand
1312	1312	occupation, as defined by coordinating board rule, or an
1313	1313	appropriate proxy determined by the coordinating board based on
1314	1314	available data;
1315	1315	(2) the number of students who earn at least 15
1316	1316	semester credit hours or the equivalent at the junior college
1317	1317	district and:
1318	1318	(A) subsequently transfer to a general academic
1319	1319	teaching institution, as that term is defined by Section 61.003; or
1320	1320	(B) are enrolled in a structured co-enrollment
1321	1321	program, as authorized by coordinating board rule; and
1322	1322	(3) the number of students who complete a sequence of
1323	1323	at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit
1324	1324	or dual enrollment courses, as defined by coordinating board rule,
1325	1325	that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the
1326	1326	postsecondary level.
1327	1327	SECTION 47. Section 136.001, Education Code, is amended by
1328	1328	amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as
1329	1329	follows:
1330	1330	(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1331	1331	Education Coordinating Board.
1332	1332	(1-a) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization
1333	1333	exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal
1334	1334	Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section
1335	1335	501(c)(3) of that code.
1336	1336	SECTION 48. Section 136.005(a), Education Code, is amended
1337	1337	to read as follows:
1338	1338	(a) The coordinating board [grant administrator] shall
1339	1339	establish and administer the Texas Innovative Adult Career
1340	1340	Education (ACE) Grant Program to provide grants to:
1341	1341	(1) eligible nonprofit workforce intermediary and job
1342	1342	training organizations; and
1343	1343	(2) eligible nonprofit organizations providing job
1344	1344	training to veterans.
1345	1345	SECTION 49. Section 136.006, Education Code, is amended to
1346	1346	read as follows:
1347	1347	Sec. 136.006. ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS. (a) To be eligible
1348	1348	for a grant under the program, a nonprofit workforce intermediary
1349	1349	and job training organization must:
1350	1350	(1) apply to the coordinating board [grant
1351	1351	administrator] in the manner prescribed by the coordinating board
1352	1352	[grant administrator];
1353	1353	(2) provide to eligible low-income students, in
1354	1354	partnership with public junior colleges, public state colleges, or
1355	1355	public technical institutes:
1356	1356	(A) job training; and
1357	1357	(B) a continuum of services designed to move a
1358	1358	program participant from application to employment, including
1359	1359	outreach, assessment, case management, support services, and
1360	1360	career placement;
1361	1361	(3) be governed by a board or other governing
1362	1362	structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
1363	1363	community organizations and executive-level or managerial-level
1364	1364	members of the local business community;
1365	1365	(4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
1366	1366	coordinating board [program advisory board] that the
1367	1367	organization's program has achieved or will achieve the following
1368	1368	measures of success among program participants:
1369	1369	(A) above-average completion of developmental
1370	1370	education among participating public junior college, public state
1371	1371	college, or public technical institute students;
1372	1372	(B) above-average persistence rates among
1373	1373	participating public junior college, public state college, or
1374	1374	public technical institute students;
1375	1375	(C) above-average certificate or degree
1376	1376	completion rates by participating students within a three-year
1377	1377	period compared to demographically comparable public junior
1378	1378	college, public state college, and public technical institute
1379	1379	students; and
1380	1380	(D) entry into careers with significantly higher
1381	1381	earnings for program participants than previously achieved; and
1382	1382	(5) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
1383	1383	adopted under this chapter.
1384	1384	(a-1) To be eligible for a grant under the program, a
1385	1385	nonprofit organization providing job training services to veterans
1386	1386	must:
1387	1387	(1) apply to the coordinating board [grant
1388	1388	administrator] in the manner prescribed by the coordinating board
1389	1389	[grant administrator];
1390	1390	(2) provide to veterans, in partnership with public
1391	1391	junior colleges, public state colleges, or public technical
1392	1392	institutes:
1393	1393	(A) job training; and
1394	1394	(B) a continuum of services designed to move a
1395	1395	program participant from application to employment, including
1396	1396	outreach, assessment, case management, support services, and
1397	1397	career placement;
1398	1398	(3) be governed by a board or other governing
1399	1399	structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
1400	1400	community organizations and executive-level or managerial-level
1401	1401	members of the local business community;
1402	1402	(4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
1403	1403	coordinating board [program advisory board] that the
1404	1404	organization's program has achieved or will achieve the following
1405	1405	measures of success among program participants:
1406	1406	(A) the measures prescribed by Subsections
1407	1407	(a)(4)(A)-(C);
1408	1408	(B) rapid attainment of civilian workforce
1409	1409	credentials; and
1410	1410	(C) entry into careers with significantly higher
1411	1411	earnings for program participants than previously achieved; and
1412	1412	(5) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
1413	1413	adopted under this chapter.
1414	1414	(b) The matching funds required under Subsection (a)(5) or
1415	1415	(a-1)(5) may be obtained from any source available to the
1416	1416	organization, including in-kind contributions, community or
1417	1417	foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
1418	1418	governmental agency operating funds. The coordinating board [grant
1419	1419	administrator] may adopt rules requiring an organization to
1420	1420	demonstrate compliance with the matching funds requirement before
1421	1421	the payment of the next installment under an awarded grant.
1422	1422	SECTION 50. Section 136.007, Education Code, is amended to
1423	1423	read as follows:
1424	1424	Sec. 136.007. RULES. [(a)] The coordinating board [grant
1425	1425	administrator] shall adopt rules as necessary for the
1426	1426	administration of this chapter, including [in the manner provided
1427	1427	by Chapter 2001, Government Code, for a state agency.
1428	1428	[(b) The grant administrator, with recommendations of the
1429	1429	program advisory board, shall adopt] rules regarding eligibility,
1430	1430	program tuition and fees, administrative costs, matching funds, and
1431	1431	case management and other supports for the program. The rules may
1432	1432	include provisions for the payment in periodic installments of
1433	1433	grant awards.
1434	1434	SECTION 51. Section 2308A.007, Government Code, is amended
1435	1435	by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
1436	1436	(a-1) A credential library established under this section
1437	1437	must include the information included in the electronic tools or
1438	1438	platforms developed by the coordinating board under Section
1439	1439	61.09022(a), Education Code.
1440	1440	SECTION 52. Sections 61.0593, 61.884(d), 130.003(d),
1441	1441	130.310(b), 136.002, 136.004, and 136.005(a-1), Education Code,
1442	1442	are repealed.
1443	1443	SECTION 53. Sections 28.009(b-2), 28.010(a), and
1444	1444	29.908(b), Education Code, as amended by this Act, and Section
1445	1445	28.0095, Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with
1446	1446	the 2023-2024 school year.
1447	1447	SECTION 54. Sections 51.4033, 51.4034(a), 61.822(b) and
1448	1448	(c), 61.823, 61.826(c), (d), and (e), and 61.827(b), Education
1449	1449	Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 61.834, Education Code, as
1450	1450	added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2023-2024 academic
1451	1451	year.
1452	1452	SECTION 55. The change in law made by this Act to Section
1453	1453	56.407(g), Education Code, applies beginning with Texas
1454	1454	Educational Opportunity Grants awarded for the 2024 fall semester.
1455	1455	Grants awarded for a semester or term before the 2024 fall semester
1456	1456	are governed by the applicable law in effect immediately before the
1457	1457	effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
1458	1458	effect for that purpose.
1459	1459	SECTION 56. The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher
1460	1460	Education Coordinating Board may identify rules required by the
1461	1461	passage of this Act that must be adopted on an emergency basis for
1462	1462	purposes of the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2023, and
1463	1463	may use the procedures established under Section 2001.034,
1464	1464	Government Code, for adopting those rules. The agency and the
1465	1465	coordinating board are not required to make the finding described
1466	1466	by Section 2001.034(a), Government Code, to adopt emergency rules
1467	1467	under this section.
1468	1468	SECTION 57. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
1469	1469	this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023, and applies
1470	1470	to the allocation of state funding to junior college districts
1471	1471	beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
1472	1472	2023.
1473	1473	(b) Sections 7.040(a), 28.009(b-2), 28.010(a), 29.908(b),
1474	1474	51.4033, 51.4034(a), 51.762(b-1), 51.763(b), 61.031, 61.823, and
1475	1475	61.826(c), (d), and (e), Education Code, as amended by this Act, and
1476	1476	Sections 28.0095, 61.09022, and 61.834 and Subchapter O, Chapter
1477	1477	130, Education Code, and Section 2308A.007(a-1), Government Code,
1478	1478	as added by this Act, take effect immediately if this Act receives a
1479	1479	vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1480	1480	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1481	1481	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, those
1482	1482	provisions take effect September 1, 2023.
1483	1483	______________________________ ______________________________
1484	1484	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
1485	1485	I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the House on April 12,
1486	1486	2023, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 1, 2 present, not
1487	1487	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
1488	1488	No. 8 on May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1
1489	1489	present, not voting.
1490	1490	______________________________
1491	1491	Chief Clerk of the House
1492	1492	I certify that H.B. No. 8 was passed by the Senate, with
1493	1493	amendments, on May 19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
1494	1494	0.
1495	1495	______________________________
1496	1496	Secretary of the Senate
1497	1497	APPROVED: __________________
1498	1498	Date
1499	1499	__________________
1500	1500	Governor