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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a digital textbook and learning materials |
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subscription pilot program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0667 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0667. DIGITAL TEXTBOOK AND LEARNING MATERIALS |
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SUBSCRIPTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Digital textbook and learning materials |
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subscription program" means a subscription program to a platform |
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that includes unrestricted access to digital textbooks, study |
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tools, online homework platforms, and other educational resources |
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used to improve student outcomes. |
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(2) "Lower-division institution of higher education" |
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means a public junior college, public state college, or public |
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technical institute. |
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(b) The board shall establish a pilot program under which |
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the board awards grants to participating lower-division |
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institutions of higher education to provide financial assistance to |
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eligible students for the cost of subscribing to the digital |
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textbook and learning materials subscription program selected by |
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the board under Subsection (e). |
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(c) The board shall select lower-division institutions of |
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higher education to participate in the pilot program. In selecting |
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institutions, the board shall, to the extent possible: |
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(1) select institutions in both rural and urban areas |
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of this state; and |
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(2) prioritize institutions with large socially and |
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economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented |
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student populations. |
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(d) A participating lower-division institution of higher |
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education must use grant funds awarded under this section to |
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provide financial assistance to eligible students for all or part |
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of the cost of subscribing to the digital textbook and learning |
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materials subscription program selected by the board under |
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Subsection (e). The participating institution shall determine the |
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eligibility criteria for a student to receive financial assistance |
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under the pilot program and must prioritize providing financial |
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assistance to economically disadvantaged students. |
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(e) The board shall engage in a competitive bidding process |
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to select the digital textbook and learning materials subscription |
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to be used in the pilot program. The subscription selected by the |
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board must provide 24-hour technical support services to |
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subscribers. |
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(f) Not later than September 1, 2026, the board shall |
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prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer |
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of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction |
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over higher education a report that evaluates the effectiveness of |
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the pilot program in improving student outcomes. The report must |
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include a recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should |
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be continued, expanded, or terminated. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt rules to administer the pilot program established |
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under Section 61.0667, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon |
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as practicable after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and |
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participating lower-division institutions of higher education |
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shall award initial grants under Section 61.0667, Education Code, |
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as added by this Act, beginning with the 2024 spring semester. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote 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, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |