SRC-SLL S.B. 1535 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1535
76R7241 JSA-DBy: West
Higher Education
4/9/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, many students enter higher education through public and private
junior colleges and the state's technical colleges. S.B.1535 would create
the Texas Rising Star Scholarship Program for public junior college
students. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1535 creates the Texas Rising Star Scholarship Program
for public junior college students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the comptroller of public accounts in
SECTION 1 (Section 56.308(d), Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 56, Education Code, by adding Subchapter M, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER M.  TEXAS RISING STAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

 Sec.  56.301.  DEFINITION.  Defines "eligible institution."

Sec.  56.302.  PROGRAM NAME; PURPOSE.  Provides that the student financial
assistance program authorized by this subchapter is known as the Texas
Rising Star Scholarship Program (program), and an individual scholarship
awarded under this subchapter is known as a rising star scholarship
(scholarship).  Provides that the purpose of this subchapter is to provide
a grant of money to enable qualified students to attend public junior
colleges in this state. 

Sec.  56.303.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.  Provides that the governing
board of each eligible institution administers the program for its students
and determines to which students a scholarship is awarded. 

Sec.  56.304.  ELIGIBLE PERSON.  Requires a person to meet certain criteria
in order to be initially eligible for a rising star scholarship.  Provides
that a person is not eligible to receive a scholarship if the person has
been granted a baccalaureate degree.  Prohibits a person from receiving a
scholarship for more than 75 semester credit hours or the equivalent. 

Sec.  56.305.  ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.  Authorizes a person,
after initially qualifying for a scholarship, to continue to receive a
scholarship during each semester or term in which the person is enrolled at
an eligible institution only if the person meets certain academic criteria.
Prohibits a person from receiving a scholarship during the next semester or
term in which the person enrolls if the person fails to meet the academic
criteria.  Authorizes a person to become eligible to receive a scholarship
in a subsequent semester or term if the person meets certain requirements. 

Sec.  56.306.  SCHOLARSHIP USE.  Authorizes a person receiving a
scholarship to use the  money for any usual and customary education-related
expenses incurred by the student, including payment for certain items.
Prohibits an eligible institution from requiring a person to use the money
to pay tuition and fees. 

Sec.  56.307.  SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.  Provides that the amount of a
scholarship is determined by the governing board of the eligible
institution.  Authorizes the amount of a scholarship to be reduced by any
gift aid the person receives from another source. 

Sec.  56.308.  FUNDING.  Provides that the program is funded by a
combination of local funds and state appropriations as provided by this
section.  Sets forth provisions regarding funding of the program, including
the solicitation and acceptance of gifts, grants, and donations, and
procedures for obtaining state funds.  Authorizes an eligible institution
to use state funds received under this section for a fiscal year only to
the extent the institution awards at least twice that amount in
scholarships in the same fiscal year from gifts, grants, and donations.
Requires the comptroller to establish procedures for the administration of
this section, including procedures to ensure that state funds appropriated
for the program are used exclusively to provide scholarships in accordance
with this subchapter and to recover funds not used in accordance with this
subchapter. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2000-2001
fiscal year.  Requires the Comptroller of Public Accounts to establish
procedures for the administration of Section 56.308, Education Code, not
later than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.