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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state support for comprehensive regional universities |
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in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. 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. 62.171. 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 Scholastic Assessment Test |
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(SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) is less than the national |
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mean score of students' scores on that test; or |
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(B) who has previously received a grant under the |
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federal Pell Grant program or met the Expected Family |
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Contribution(EFC) criterion for a grant under that program. |
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(2) "Comprehensive regional university" means an |
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institution of higher education that is designated as a doctoral, |
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comprehensive, or master's university under the coordinating |
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board's accountability system. |
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(3) "Eligible institution" means a comprehensive |
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regional university. |
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Sec. 62.172. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to |
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provide funding to each comprehensive regional university to |
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support their mission to serve at-risk students, help meet the |
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state's workforce needs, and enhance their regional economies. |
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Sec. 62.173. FUNDING. (a) In each state fiscal year, |
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amounts shall be appropriated for purposes of this subchapter to |
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eligible institutions as follows: |
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(1) a base amount of $500,000 or a greater amount |
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provided by appropriation to each eligible institution; and |
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(2) $1,000 or a greater amount provided by |
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appropriation for each degree awarded to an at-risk student by an |
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eligible institution. |
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(b) The number of degrees awarded under Subsection (a)(2) is |
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determined by using the average number of degrees awarded to |
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at-risk students annually by each institution in the three |
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preceding state fiscal years. |
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(c) An alternative allocation method for this funding may be |
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provided by appropriation. |
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Sec. 62.174. 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 of the funding methodology |
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established under Section 62.173 to determine its 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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written report that includes the study's findings and any |
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recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The funding for this Act for the state fiscal |
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years ending in 2022 and 2023 is contingent on the legislature |
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providing a specific appropriation for the implementation of this |
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Act in the general appropriations act of the 87th legislature. |
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(b) This Act takes effect immediately if this Act receives |
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the votes of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, those |
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sections take effect September 1, 2021. |