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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring prior approval by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board to offer a degree or certificate program to |
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certain persons who are incarcerated or subject to involuntary |
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civil commitment. |
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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 61.05123 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.05123. BOARD APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR ACADEMIC |
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PROGRAMS OFFERED TO CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO ARE INCARCERATED OR |
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SUBJECT TO INVOLUNTARY CIVIL COMMITMENT. (a) In this section, |
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"penal institution" has the meaning assigned by Article 62.001, |
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Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(b) An entity that seeks to offer a degree or certificate |
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program to a person confined in a penal institution or required to |
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reside in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas |
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Civil Commitment Office under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code, |
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must obtain the board's prior approval to offer the program if |
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enrollment in the program would make the person eligible to receive |
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a grant under the federal Pell Grant program. |
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(c) The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.05123, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with degree and certificate programs |
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offered for the 2023-2024 academic year. |
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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. |