75R9954 CAG-D
By Maxey H.B. No. 2055
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2055:
By Rangel C.S.H.B. No. 2055
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to prepaid higher education tuition scholarships for needy
1-3 students.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 54.633(a)-(e), Education Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) To the extent money is available, the board or the board
1-8 of a direct-support organization established by the board under
1-9 Subsection (e) may award a prepaid higher education tuition
1-10 scholarship to a student who meets:
1-11 (1) economic or [and] academic requirements:
1-12 (A) adopted by the board by rule; or
1-13 (B) established by the board of a direct-support
1-14 organization and consistent with board rules; and
1-15 (2) if the scholarship is designated for a specific
1-16 use or purpose or use under Subsection (c), the guidelines
1-17 established for the award of the scholarship.
1-18 (b) A scholarship awarded under this section terminates if
1-19 the student to whom the scholarship is awarded is:
1-20 (1) convicted of, or adjudicated as having engaged in
1-21 delinquent conduct constituting, an offense under Chapter 481,
1-22 Health and Safety Code; [or]
1-23 (2) convicted of, or adjudicated as having engaged in
1-24 delinquent conduct constituting, a felony or Class A misdemeanor;
2-1 or
2-2 (3) determined by the board to have violated a
2-3 condition placed on the scholarship.
2-4 (c) The board shall:
2-5 (1) establish guidelines for receiving money from the
2-6 private sector, including guidelines for accepting contributions
2-7 subject to an agreement with the contributor that the funds be used
2-8 for a scholarship awarded for a specific use or purpose or subject
2-9 to conditions placed on the award of the scholarship, including the
2-10 satisfaction of academic, economic, or other requirements;
2-11 (2) establish guidelines for awarding scholarships,
2-12 including awarding scholarships for a specific use or purpose; and
2-13 (3) ensure that each region of the state is equitably
2-14 represented in the awarding of scholarships under this section
2-15 other than scholarships awarded for a specific use or purpose or
2-16 subject to special conditions.
2-17 (d) Scholarships under this section may be [are] funded by:
2-18 (1) the private sector;
2-19 (2) public funds, if public funds are appropriated
2-20 for that purpose, including funds that may be used for matching
2-21 grants; or
2-22 (3) any combination of public and private funds.
2-23 (e) The board may establish a direct-support organization
2-24 under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et
2-25 seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) to:
2-26 (1) receive, hold, invest, and administer money,
2-27 gifts, grants, loans, or other property for or on behalf of the
3-1 program; [and]
3-2 (2) purchase and award scholarships under this
3-3 section; and
3-4 (3) establish economic and academic eligibility
3-5 requirements consistent with board rules.
3-6 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-7 (b) The Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board shall adopt
3-8 guidelines for receiving money from the private sector and for
3-9 awarding scholarships for a specific use or purpose not later than
3-10 January 1, 1998.
3-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.