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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration, coordination, and support of public |
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higher education, including the public junior college state finance |
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program and an Advanced Career and Education (ACE) scholarship |
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program for students enrolled in dual credit courses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.009(b-2), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b-2) Any agreement, including a memorandum of |
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understanding or articulation agreement, between a school district |
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and public institution of higher education to provide a dual credit |
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program described by Subsection (b-1) must: |
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(1) include specific program goals aligned with the |
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statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1); |
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(2) establish common advising strategies and |
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terminology related to dual credit and college readiness; |
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(3) provide for the alignment of endorsements |
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described by Section 28.025(c-1) offered by the district, and dual |
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credit courses offered under the agreement that apply towards those |
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endorsements, with postsecondary pathways and credentials at the |
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institution and industry certifications; |
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(4) identify tools, including tools developed by the |
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agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, to assist school counselors, students, and |
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families in selecting endorsements offered by the district and dual |
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credit courses offered under the agreement; |
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(5) establish, or provide a procedure for |
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establishing, the course credits that may be earned under the |
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agreement, including by developing a course equivalency crosswalk |
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or other method for equating high school courses with college |
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courses and identifying the number of credits that may be earned for |
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each course completed through the program; |
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(6) describe the academic supports and, if applicable, |
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guidance that will be provided to students participating in the |
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program; |
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(7) establish the district's and the institution's |
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respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and |
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ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program; |
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(8) state the sources of funding for courses offered |
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under the program, including, at a minimum, the sources of funding |
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for tuition, transportation, and any required fees or textbooks for |
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students participating in the program; |
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(9) require the district and the institution to |
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consider the use of free or low-cost open educational resources in |
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courses offered under the program; |
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(10) ensure the accurate and timely exchange of |
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information necessary for an eligible student to receive a |
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scholarship under Section 28.0095; |
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(11) be posted each year on the district's and the |
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institution's respective Internet websites; and |
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(12) [(11)] designate at least one employee of the |
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district or institution as responsible for providing academic |
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advising to a student who enrolls in a dual credit course under the |
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program before the student begins the course. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0095 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0095. ADVANCED CAREER AND EDUCATION (ACE) |
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SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Dual credit course" includes a course offered for |
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joint high school and junior college credit under Section 130.008. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The agency and the coordinating board shall jointly |
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establish the Advanced Career and Education (ACE) scholarship |
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program to award scholarships to eligible students enrolled in dual |
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credit courses at participating institutions of higher education. |
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(c) A student is eligible to receive a scholarship under the |
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program if the student: |
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(1) is enrolled: |
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(A) in high school in a school district; and |
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(B) in a dual credit course at a participating |
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institution of higher education; and |
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(2) was educationally disadvantaged at any time during |
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the four school years preceding the student's enrollment in the |
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dual credit course described by Subdivision (1)(B). |
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(d) An institution of higher education is eligible to |
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participate in the program only if the institution charges for each |
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dual credit course offered by the institution an amount of tuition |
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that does not exceed the amount prescribed by coordinating board |
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rule for purposes of this section. |
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(e) The amount of a scholarship under the program is equal |
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to the amount of tuition set by coordinating board rule as described |
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by Subsection (d) for each dual credit course in which an eligible |
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student is enrolled. |
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(f) Each school district shall: |
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(1) on a high school student's enrollment in a dual |
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credit course, determine whether the student meets the criteria for |
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a scholarship under the program under Subsection (c)(2); and |
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(2) notify the institution of higher education that |
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offers the dual credit course in which the student is enrolled of |
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the district's determination under Subdivision (1). |
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(g) A school district may make the determination under |
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Subsection (f)(1) based on the district's records, the agency's |
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records, or any other method authorized by commissioner rule. If |
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the district bases the determination on a method other than the |
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agency's records, the district shall report the method used and the |
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data on which the method is based to the agency for purposes of |
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verification. |
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(h) On receipt of notice under Subsection (f)(2), a |
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participating institution of higher education shall certify to the |
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agency and the coordinating board the student's eligibility for a |
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scholarship under the program. |
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(i) From money appropriated for the Foundation School |
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Program, the agency shall transfer an amount equal to the total |
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amount of scholarships for which students are eligible under this |
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section to the coordinating board for distribution to the |
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participating institutions of higher education in proportion to the |
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number of eligible students enrolled in a dual credit course at the |
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institution. |
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(j) The commissioner and the commissioner of higher |
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education shall coordinate as necessary to: |
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(1) confirm an eligible student's enrollment in a |
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participating institution of higher education; and |
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(2) obtain or share data necessary to verify a |
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student's eligibility under Subsection (c)(2). |
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(k) The commissioner and the coordinating board shall adopt |
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rules as necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.010(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Each school year, a school district shall notify the |
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parent of each district student enrolled in grade nine or above of: |
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(1) the availability of: |
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(A) programs in the district under which a |
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student may earn college credit, including advanced placement |
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programs, dual credit programs, joint high school and college |
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credit programs, and international baccalaureate programs; |
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(B) career and technology education programs or |
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other work-based education programs in the district, including any |
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internship, externship, or apprenticeship programs or a P-TECH |
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program under Subchapter N, Chapter 29; [and] |
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(C) subsidies based on financial need available |
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for fees paid to take college advanced placement tests or |
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international baccalaureate examinations under Section 28.054; and |
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(D) scholarships for dual credit courses under |
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Section 28.0095; and |
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(2) the qualifications for: |
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(A) enrolling in programs described by |
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Subdivision (1)(A) or (B); or |
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(B) receiving a scholarship described by |
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Subdivision (1)(D). |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.003(2), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(2) "Public junior college" means any junior college |
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listed as a public junior college [certified by the board] in |
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accordance with Section 61.063 [of this chapter]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 61.0571, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows: |
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(c) The board may provide administrative support and |
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services to institutions of higher education as necessary to |
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implement this chapter, Chapter 130, or Chapter 130A. |
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(d) The board may establish an institutional collaboration |
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center within the board to support the implementation of Chapter |
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130A and the efficient and effective operations of institutions of |
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higher education. |
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(e) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the |
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purpose, the board may procure goods and services for the direct |
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benefit of an institution of higher education and enter into an |
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interagency contract under Chapter 771, Government Code, with the |
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institution to reimburse the board for the cost of the goods and |
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services. |
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(f) The board may accept gifts, grants, or donations from |
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any public or private source to pay for goods or services procured |
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for the direct benefit of an institution of higher education under |
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Subsection (e). |
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SECTION 6. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows: |
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(b-3) In carrying out its duties under this section in |
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regard to formulas used for appropriations recommendations for |
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public junior colleges, the board shall ensure that the formulas |
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are devised in accordance with Chapter 130A. |
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SECTION 7. Section 61.063, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.063. LISTING [AND CERTIFICATION] OF PUBLIC JUNIOR |
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COLLEGES; ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The |
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commissioner of higher education shall file with the [state] |
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comptroller on or before September [October] 1 of each year a list |
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of each [the] public junior college [colleges] in this state that |
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has certified to the board under Section 130.003 that the college is |
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in compliance with the requirements of Subsection (b) of that |
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section. [The commissioner shall certify the names of those |
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colleges that have complied with the standards, rules, and |
|
regulations prescribed by the board.] |
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(b) Only a public junior college included on the list under |
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Subsection (a) is [those colleges which are so certified shall be] |
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eligible for and may receive money appropriated [any appropriation |
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made] by the legislature to public junior colleges. |
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SECTION 8. Sections 130.003(a), (b), (e), and (f), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) There shall be appropriated biennially from money in the |
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state treasury not otherwise appropriated an amount sufficient to |
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supplement local funds for the proper support, maintenance, |
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operation, and improvement of those public junior colleges of Texas |
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that meet the standards prescribed by this chapter. The sum shall |
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be allocated in accordance with Chapter 130A [on the basis of |
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contact hours within categories developed, reviewed, and updated by |
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the coordinating board]. |
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(b) To be eligible for and to receive money appropriated |
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under Subsection (a) [a proportionate share of the appropriation], |
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a public junior college must certify to the coordinating board, in |
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the manner prescribed by coordinating board rule, that the college: |
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(1) offers [be certified as a public junior college as |
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prescribed in Section 61.063; |
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[(2) offer] a minimum of 24 semester hours of |
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vocational and/or terminal courses; |
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(2) collects [(3) have complied with all existing |
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laws, rules, and regulations governing the establishment and |
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maintenance of public junior colleges; |
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[(4) collect], from each full-time and part-time |
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student enrolled, tuition [matriculation] and other [session] fees |
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in the amounts required by law or in the amounts set by the |
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governing board of the junior college district as authorized by |
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this title; |
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(3) grants [(5) grant], when properly applied for, |
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the scholarships and tuition exemptions provided for in this code; |
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(4) [and |
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[(6)] for a public junior college established on or |
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after September 1, 1986, levies and collects [levy and collect] ad |
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valorem taxes as provided by law for the operation and maintenance |
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of the [public junior] college; and |
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(5) has complied with all laws and coordinating board |
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rules for the establishment and operation of a public junior |
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college. |
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(e) The primary purpose of each public junior [community] |
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college shall be to provide: |
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(1) technical programs up to two years in length |
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leading to associate degrees or certificates; |
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(2) vocational programs leading directly to |
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employment in semi-skilled and skilled occupations; |
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(3) [freshman and sophomore] courses in the core |
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curriculum and field of study curriculum, as those terms are |
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defined by Section 61.821 [arts and sciences]; |
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(4) continuing adult education programs for |
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occupational or cultural upgrading; |
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(5) compensatory education programs designed to |
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fulfill the commitment of an admissions policy allowing the |
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enrollment of disadvantaged students; |
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(6) a continuing program of counseling and guidance |
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designed to assist students in achieving their individual |
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educational goals; |
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(7) work force development programs designed to meet |
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local and statewide needs; |
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(8) adult literacy and other basic skills programs for |
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adults; and |
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(9) such other purposes as may be prescribed by the |
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coordinating board [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board] or |
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local governing boards in the best interest of post-secondary |
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education in this state [Texas]. |
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(f) This section does not affect the application of [alter, |
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amend, or repeal] Section 54.231 [54.060 of this code]. |
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SECTION 9. Section 130.0033(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
|
(c) Charging tuition at a reduced rate under this section |
|
does not affect the right of the public junior college to an |
|
allocation [a proportionate share] of state appropriations under |
|
Section 130.003 for the contact hours attributable to students |
|
paying tuition at the reduced rate. |
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SECTION 10. Section 130.0034(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) The governing board of a [public] junior college |
|
district may charge a student a higher rate of tuition than the |
|
tuition that would otherwise be charged for a course in which the |
|
student enrolls if: |
|
(1) the student has previously enrolled in the same |
|
course or a course of substantially the same content and level two |
|
or more times; and |
|
(2) the student's enrollment in the course is not |
|
included in the contact hours used to determine the junior |
|
college's allocation [proportionate share] of state appropriations |
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under Section 130.003. |
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SECTION 11. Section 130.0051(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) The board of trustees of a junior college district by |
|
resolution may change the name of the district or a college within |
|
the district [by eliminating the words "community" or "junior" from |
|
the name of the district or college], unless the change would cause |
|
the district or college to have the same or substantially the same |
|
name as an existing district, college, or other public or private |
|
institution of higher education in this state. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 130.008(c), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(c) The contact hours attributable to the enrollment of a |
|
high school student in a course offered for joint high school and |
|
junior college credit under this section, excluding a course for |
|
which the student attending high school may receive course credit |
|
toward the physical education curriculum requirement under Section |
|
28.002(a)(2)(C), shall be included in the contact hours used to |
|
determine the junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of |
|
the state money appropriated and distributed to public junior |
|
colleges under Sections 130.003 and 130.0031, even if the junior |
|
college waives all or part of the tuition or fees for the student |
|
under Subsection (b). |
|
SECTION 13. Section 130.085(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(b) This action by the board of trustees does not affect |
|
their authority under Section 130.123 [of this code], nor does this |
|
section in any way supersede that section. This action of the board |
|
does not affect the right of the college to an allocation [a |
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proportionate share] of state appropriations under Section 130.003 |
|
[of this code]. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 130.090(c), Education Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(c) The grant of an exemption from tuition under Subsection |
|
(b) does not affect the right of a junior college to an allocation |
|
[a proportionate share] of state appropriations under Section |
|
130.003 attributable to the contact hours of the junior college |
|
with the student receiving the exemption. |
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SECTION 15. Sections 130.310(a) and (b), Education Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a degree program |
|
created under this subchapter may be funded solely by a public |
|
junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of state |
|
appropriations under Section 130.003, local funds, and private |
|
sources. This subsection does not require the legislature to |
|
appropriate state funds to support a degree program created under |
|
this subchapter. The coordinating board shall weigh contact hours |
|
attributable to students enrolled in a junior-level or senior-level |
|
course offered under this subchapter used to determine a public |
|
junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of state |
|
appropriations under Section 130.003 in the same manner as a lower |
|
division course in a corresponding field. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), in its recommendations |
|
to the legislature relating to state funding for public junior |
|
colleges, the coordinating board shall recommend that a public |
|
junior college authorized to offer baccalaureate degree programs |
|
under Section 130.303(a) or 130.304 receive substantially the same |
|
state support for junior-level and senior-level courses in the |
|
fields of applied science, applied technology, dental hygiene, and |
|
nursing offered under this subchapter as that provided to a general |
|
academic teaching institution for substantially similar courses. |
|
For purposes of this subsection, in determining the contact hours |
|
attributable to students enrolled in a junior-level or senior-level |
|
course in the field of applied science, applied technology, dental |
|
hygiene, or nursing offered under this subchapter used to determine |
|
a public junior college's allocation [proportionate share] of state |
|
appropriations under Section 130.003, the coordinating board shall |
|
weigh those contact hours as necessary to provide the junior |
|
college the appropriate level of state support to the extent state |
|
funds for those courses are included in the appropriations. This |
|
subsection does not prohibit the legislature from directly |
|
appropriating state funds to support junior-level and senior-level |
|
courses to which this subsection applies. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 130.352, Education Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 130.352. FORMULA FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE CONTINUING |
|
EDUCATION COURSES. Notwithstanding Section 130.003 or any other |
|
law, contact hours attributable to the enrollment of a student in a |
|
workforce continuing education course offered by a public junior |
|
college shall be included in the contact hours used to determine the |
|
college's allocation [proportionate share] of state money |
|
appropriated and distributed to public junior colleges under |
|
Sections 130.003 and 130.0031, regardless of whether the college |
|
waives all or part of the tuition or fees for the course under |
|
Section 130.354. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 130.355, Education Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 130.355. RULES. The coordinating board shall adopt |
|
any rules the coordinating board considers necessary for the |
|
administration of this subchapter. [In adopting those rules, the |
|
coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures |
|
under Chapter 2008, Government Code.] |
|
SECTION 18. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended |
|
by adding Chapter 130A to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 130A. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE STATE FINANCE PROGRAM |
|
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
Sec. 130A.001. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the |
|
legislature that, as public junior colleges are locally governed |
|
institutions, providing foundational funding for instruction and |
|
operations of public junior colleges should be primarily a local |
|
responsibility, supported through a combination of tuition, fees, |
|
and local property taxes, with state funding focused primarily on |
|
rewarding outcomes aligned with regional and state education and |
|
workforce needs. |
|
Sec. 130A.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of the public junior |
|
college state finance program established under this chapter is to |
|
provide a modern and dynamic finance system that ensures that each |
|
public junior college has access to adequate state appropriations |
|
and local resources to support the education and training of the |
|
workforce of the future. |
|
Sec. 130A.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of higher |
|
education. |
|
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
|
Education Coordinating Board. |
|
(3) "Program" means the public junior college state |
|
finance program established under this chapter. |
|
(4) "Public junior college" has the meaning assigned |
|
by Section 61.003. |
|
Sec. 130A.004. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. The program consists |
|
of: |
|
(1) a base tier of state and local funding determined |
|
in accordance with Subchapter B that ensures each public junior |
|
college has access to a consistent level of base funding for |
|
instruction and operations; and |
|
(2) a performance tier of state funding determined in |
|
accordance with Subchapter C that constitutes the majority of state |
|
funding and is distributed based on measurable outcomes aligned |
|
with: |
|
(A) regional and state workforce needs; and |
|
(B) state goals aligned to the state's long-range |
|
master plan for higher education developed under Section 61.051. |
|
Sec. 130A.005. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The |
|
coordinating board may adopt rules, require reporting, and take |
|
other actions consistent with Chapter 61, Chapter 130, and this |
|
chapter as necessary to implement and administer the program. |
|
(b) The coordinating board may adopt rules under this |
|
section in consultation with public junior colleges. |
|
(c) Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the coordinating board |
|
is not required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under |
|
Chapter 2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this |
|
section. |
|
Sec. 130A.006. REQUIRED REPORTING. The coordinating board |
|
by rule shall require each junior college district to report to the |
|
coordinating board through the Education Data System, Community |
|
College Annual Reporting and Analysis Tool, or any successor |
|
program, data necessary to: |
|
(1) calculate funding under this chapter; |
|
(2) provide timely data and analyses to inform |
|
management decisions by the governing body of each junior college |
|
district; or |
|
(3) administer or evaluate the effectiveness of the |
|
program. |
|
Sec. 130A.007. COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY TO RESOLVE DATA |
|
REPORTING ERRORS AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM FUNDING |
|
FORMULAS. (a) The commissioner may review the accuracy of contact |
|
hour and semester credit hour data reported to the coordinating |
|
board by junior college districts. |
|
(b) The commissioner may adjust: |
|
(1) the distribution of funding under this chapter for |
|
a state fiscal year as necessary to correct errors in data reporting |
|
identified through the commissioner's review under Subsection (a); |
|
and |
|
(2) a junior college district's funding under this |
|
chapter if the funding formulas used to determine the district's |
|
entitlement would result in an unanticipated loss or gain for the |
|
district that would have a substantial negative impact on the |
|
district's operations. |
|
(c) Before making an adjustment under this section, the |
|
commissioner must request and receive written approval from the |
|
Legislative Budget Board and the office of the governor. A request |
|
to make an adjustment is considered approved unless the Legislative |
|
Budget Board or the office of the governor issues a written |
|
disapproval within 60 business days after the date on which the |
|
request is received. |
|
(d) If the commissioner makes an adjustment under |
|
Subsection (b), the commissioner shall provide to the legislature |
|
an explanation regarding the changes necessary to resolve the data |
|
reporting errors or the unintended consequences, as applicable. |
|
Sec. 130A.008. CENSUS DATE ELIGIBILITY. A junior college |
|
district may report a student in attendance on the district's |
|
approved course census date for the purpose of funding under this |
|
chapter. |
|
Sec. 130A.009. RECOVERY OF OVERALLOCATED FUNDS. (a) If a |
|
junior college district has received an overallocation of state |
|
funds, the coordinating board shall recover from the district an |
|
amount equal to the overallocation by withholding from subsequent |
|
allocations of state funds for the current or subsequent academic |
|
year or by requesting and obtaining a refund from the district. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the coordinating board |
|
may recover an overallocation of state funds over a period not to |
|
exceed the subsequent five academic years if the commissioner |
|
determines that the overallocation was the result of exceptional |
|
circumstances reasonably caused by statutory changes to Chapter 130 |
|
or this chapter and related reporting requirements. |
|
(c) If a junior college district fails to comply with a |
|
request for a refund under Subsection (a), the coordinating board |
|
shall certify to the comptroller that the amount constitutes a debt |
|
for purposes of Section 403.055, Government Code. The coordinating |
|
board shall provide to the comptroller the amount of the |
|
overallocation and any other information required by the |
|
comptroller. The comptroller may certify the amount of the debt to |
|
the attorney general for collection. The junior college district's |
|
governmental immunity is waived to the extent necessary to collect |
|
the debt owed under this section. |
|
(d) Subject to Subsection (e), the coordinating board may |
|
review a junior college district as necessary to determine if the |
|
district qualifies for each amount received by the district under |
|
this chapter. If the coordinating board determines that a junior |
|
college district received an amount to which the district was not |
|
entitled, the coordinating board may establish a corrective action |
|
plan or withhold the applicable amount of funding from the |
|
district. |
|
(e) The coordinating board may not review junior college |
|
district expenditures that occurred seven or more years before the |
|
review. |
|
Sec. 130A.010. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. Except as |
|
provided by other law, the coordinating board may solicit and |
|
accept gifts, grants, or donations of personal property from any |
|
public or private source to implement or administer this chapter. |
|
SUBCHAPTER B. STATE FUNDING: BASE TIER |
|
Sec. 130A.051. BASE TIER FORMULA. The amount of base tier |
|
state funding to which a junior college district is entitled for |
|
instruction and operations under this subchapter for a state fiscal |
|
year is an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the |
|
district's guaranteed instruction and operations funding, as |
|
determined under Section 130A.052, exceeds the district's local |
|
share of base tier funding, as determined under Section 130A.056. |
|
Sec. 130A.052. GUARANTEED INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS |
|
FUNDING FORMULA. The amount of a junior college district's |
|
guaranteed instruction and operations funding for a state fiscal |
|
year is equal to the sum of: |
|
(1) the product of: |
|
(A) the district's basic allotment under Section |
|
130A.053; and |
|
(B) the number of weighted full-time equivalent |
|
students enrolled at the district determined in accordance with |
|
Section 130A.054; and |
|
(2) the district's contact hour funding under Section |
|
130A.055. |
|
Sec. 130A.053. BASIC ALLOTMENT. (a) The basic allotment |
|
for a junior college district for a state fiscal year is an amount |
|
per weighted full-time equivalent student set by the General |
|
Appropriations Act or other legislative appropriation. |
|
(b) The coordinating board by rule shall establish an |
|
equitable adjustment to the basic allotment for each junior college |
|
district with a total enrollment of fewer than 5,000 full-time |
|
equivalent students. |
|
(c) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, a |
|
junior college district that receives an adjustment under |
|
Subsection (b) shall submit to the commissioner a report on the |
|
district's participation in institutional partnerships and shared |
|
services available under Section 61.0571 or other partnerships to |
|
reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. |
|
Sec. 130A.054. WEIGHTED FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENT. (a) |
|
The coordinating board by rule shall establish student weights for |
|
purposes of this chapter that reflect the higher cost of educating |
|
certain students. |
|
(b) The student weights must be established in a manner that |
|
results in appropriate funding to a junior college district for the |
|
education of a student enrolled in an eligible credit or non-credit |
|
program who is: |
|
(1) 25 years of age or older; |
|
(2) economically disadvantaged, as defined by |
|
coordinating board rule; or |
|
(3) academically disadvantaged, as defined by |
|
coordinating board rule. |
|
(c) The number of weighted full-time equivalent students |
|
enrolled at a junior college district for purposes of this |
|
subchapter is equal to the product of: |
|
(1) the number of full-time equivalent students |
|
enrolled in the district; and |
|
(2) the sum of the weights assigned to students |
|
enrolled in the district. |
|
Sec. 130A.055. CONTACT HOUR FUNDING. (a) The coordinating |
|
board by rule shall establish the amount of funding to be provided |
|
to a junior college district under this subchapter per contact |
|
hour. |
|
(b) The amount of funding per contact hour must be weighted |
|
by discipline to reflect the cost of providing the applicable |
|
course. |
|
Sec. 130A.056. LOCAL SHARE. (a) A junior college |
|
district's local share of base tier funding is an amount equal to |
|
the sum of the amounts of revenue that would be generated by: |
|
(1) imposing a maintenance and operations ad valorem |
|
tax in the district at a rate of $0.05; and |
|
(2) assessing an amount of tuition and fees to each |
|
student enrolled in the district equal to the statewide average |
|
amount of tuition and fees assessed by junior college districts to |
|
an equivalent student, determined as provided by coordinating board |
|
rule. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commissioner by |
|
rule may provide that a junior college district that imposes a |
|
maintenance and operations ad valorem tax at a rate of less than |
|
$0.05 may substitute the amount of revenue generated by the |
|
district at that tax rate for the amount of revenue required under |
|
Subsection (a)(1). |
|
SUBCHAPTER C. STATE FUNDING: PERFORMANCE TIER |
|
Sec. 130A.101. PERFORMANCE TIER. (a) A junior college |
|
district is entitled to performance tier funding for a state fiscal |
|
biennium in an amount equal to the sum of the amounts determined |
|
under Subsection (b) for each measurable outcome described by |
|
Subsection (c). |
|
(b) The amount of performance tier funding for each |
|
measurable outcome described by Subsection (c) is equal to the |
|
product of: |
|
(1) the number of times that outcome was achieved by |
|
the junior college district during the preceding state fiscal |
|
biennium; |
|
(2) for an outcome described by Subsection (c)(1) or |
|
(2), the sum of the applicable student weights established by |
|
coordinating board rule under Section 130A.054 for the students who |
|
achieved the outcome at the junior college district during the |
|
preceding state fiscal biennium; and |
|
(3) the amount set by the General Appropriations Act |
|
or other legislative appropriation for the outcome. |
|
(c) The measurable outcomes considered for purposes of |
|
performance tier funding are: |
|
(1) the number of credentials of value awarded, |
|
including degrees, certificates, and other credentials from credit |
|
and non-credit programs that equip students for continued learning |
|
and greater earnings in the state economy, with an additional |
|
weight for credentials in a high-demand field, as defined by |
|
coordinating board rule; |
|
(2) the number of students who earn at least 15 |
|
semester credit hours or the equivalent at the junior college |
|
district and subsequently transfer to a general academic teaching |
|
institution, as that term is defined by Section 61.003; and |
|
(3) the number of students who complete a sequence of |
|
at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit |
|
courses that apply toward academic and workforce program |
|
requirements at the postsecondary level. |
|
SECTION 19. Sections 61.0593 and 130.003(d), Education |
|
Code, are repealed. |
|
SECTION 20. Sections 28.009(b-2) and 28.010(a), Education |
|
Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 28.0095, Education Code, |
|
as added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2023-2024 school |
|
year. |
|
SECTION 21. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
|
may identify rules required by the passage of Chapter 130A, |
|
Education Code, as added by this Act, that must be adopted on an |
|
emergency basis for purposes of the state fiscal year beginning |
|
September 1, 2023, and may use the procedures established under |
|
Section 2001.034, Government Code, for adopting those rules. The |
|
coordinating board is not required to make the finding described by |
|
Section 2001.034(a), Government Code, to adopt emergency rules |
|
under this section. |
|
SECTION 22. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
|
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023, and applies |
|
to the allocation of state funding to junior college districts |
|
beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
2023. |
|
(b) Sections 28.009(b-2) and 28.010(a), Education Code, as |
|
amended by this Act, and Section 28.0095, Education Code, as added |
|
by this Act, take effect immediately if this Act 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, those provisions |
|
take effect September 1, 2023. |