89R3071 AND-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 1324
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a housing assistance pilot program
to assist certain students enrolled in public junior colleges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter N to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER N. HOUSING ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 130.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "pilot
program" means the housing assistance pilot program established
under this subchapter.
Sec. 130.402. PILOT PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the
pilot program is to provide needs-based grants to assist eligible
students in the payment of the cost of maintaining housing,
including payments for eviction prevention, rental payments, and
deposit fees for rental units.
Sec. 130.403. ADMINISTRATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall administer the
pilot program in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, the
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and the Texas
Interagency Council for the Homeless. The coordinating board
shall:
(1) create a housing assistance fund for the duration
of the pilot program; and
(2) deposit in the fund for each academic year of the
pilot program an amount equal to the amount of any gifts, grants,
donations, or appropriations designated for the program.
(b) If the pilot program is not continued by law as of August
31, 2029, any money remaining in the fund shall be credited to the
general revenue fund on that date.
Sec. 130.404. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. A junior college
district with an enrollment of 40,000 students or more is eligible
to participate in the pilot program.
Sec. 130.405. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. (a) The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the staff of the
participating public junior colleges, including student support
specialists, the Texas Homeless Network, and homeless response
system leads for the areas in which participating junior colleges
are located, shall establish eligibility criteria for students to
receive a grant under the pilot program. The eligibility criteria
must:
(1) require an applicant to be enrolled at a
participating public junior college; and
(2) allow for the consideration of an applicant's
FAFSA application data or other relevant information.
(b) The coordinating board may apply the eligibility
criteria to create a formula for the disbursement of money under the
pilot program.
Sec. 130.406. THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board may contract with a third party
to design and administer the pilot program in consultation with the
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
Interagency Council for the Homeless.
(b) A third party administrator shall report to the
coordinating board and the Texas Education Agency in the manner
agreed to under a contract entered into under this section.
Sec. 130.407. REPORTS. (a) Not later than October 1 of
each even-numbered year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of the pilot
program. The report must include a recommendation regarding
whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or
terminated.
(b) The coordinating board shall deliver a copy of the
report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature
having primary jurisdiction over higher education.
Sec. 130.408. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
September 1, 2029.
SECTION 2. Subchapter N, Chapter 130, Education Code, as
added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic
year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.