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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial support and incentives for comprehensive |
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regional universities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.003(1), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) Except as otherwise provided by Subchapters C, D, |
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E, F, [and] G, and I, "eligible institution" means the eligible |
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agencies and institutions of higher education listed in Article |
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VII, Section 17(b), of the Constitution of Texas, and any |
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institution or agency of higher education that is later made |
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eligible to participate in the disbursement of funds pursuant to |
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Article VII, Section 17(c), of the Constitution of Texas. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 62, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL UNIVERSITY FUNDING |
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Sec. 62.181. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "At-risk student" means an undergraduate student |
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of an eligible institution: |
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(A) whose score on the SAT or ACT assessment test |
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is less than the national mean score of students' scores on that |
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test; or |
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(B) who has previously received a grant under the |
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federal Pell Grant program. |
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(2) "Eligible institution" means an institution of |
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higher education designated as a comprehensive university, |
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doctoral university, or master's university under the coordinating |
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board's accountability system. |
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Sec. 62.182. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to |
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provide funding to each eligible institution to support the |
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institution in serving at-risk students, helping meet the state's |
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workforce needs, and enhancing the institution's regional economy. |
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Sec. 62.183. FUNDING. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), for |
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each state fiscal biennium, an eligible institution is entitled to |
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receive an amount equal to the sum of: |
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(1) a base amount of $500,000 or a greater base amount |
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provided by appropriation; and |
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(2) the product of $1,000 or a greater amount provided |
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by appropriation and the average number of at-risk students awarded |
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a degree by the institution each year during the three state fiscal |
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years preceding the biennium. |
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(b) An alternative method of allocating funding under this |
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section may be provided by appropriation. |
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Sec. 62.184. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) The coordinating board, |
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in consultation with a representative group of eligible |
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institutions, shall conduct a study on the method of funding |
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provided under Section 62.183 to determine that method's |
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effectiveness in: |
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(1) allocating state funds fairly and equitably; and |
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(2) promoting student success at eligible |
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institutions. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2022, the coordinating board |
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shall submit to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board a |
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report on the results of the study and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 3. An eligible institution is entitled to receive |
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funding under Section 62.183, Education Code, as added by this Act, |
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beginning with the first state fiscal biennium for which money is |
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appropriated for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |