1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of a Parents as Scholars pilot program for 1-3 certain persons eligible to receive TANF benefits. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 31.045 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 31.045. PARENTS AS SCHOLARS PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The 1-8 department may by rule establish a student financial aid pilot 1-9 program, entitled the Parents as Scholars pilot program, under 1-10 which the department, with the cooperation of the Texas Higher 1-11 Education Coordinating Board, assists certain recipients of 1-12 financial assistance in obtaining student financial aid available 1-13 under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code. If the department 1-14 establishes the program, the department and the coordinating board 1-15 must comply with the requirements of this section. 1-16 (b) The department by rule shall establish eligibility 1-17 criteria for the program. The criteria must: 1-18 (1) require that a program participant meet: 1-19 (A) the eligibility criteria for financial 1-20 assistance at the time that the person begins participation in the 1-21 program; and 1-22 (B) the eligibility requirements for a TEXAS 1-23 grant under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code; 1-24 (2) require that the program participant seek an 2-1 undergraduate degree or certificate that the department, in 2-2 cooperation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2-3 considers likely to improve the participant's ability to obtain 2-4 employment in the participant's local labor market; and 2-5 (3) be designed to result in the selection of program 2-6 participants who: 2-7 (A) are currently unable, due to a lack of 2-8 skills and training, to obtain employment at a compensation level 2-9 equal to at least 85 percent of the area median income; and 2-10 (B) demonstrate the aptitude to successfully 2-11 complete the requirements for obtaining an undergraduate degree or 2-12 certificate. 2-13 (c) Under the program, the department shall: 2-14 (1) advise recipients of financial assistance of: 2-15 (A) the availability of financial aid under 2-16 Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, and the eligibility 2-17 requirements for that aid; 2-18 (B) the need for recipients who are high school 2-19 students to make informed curriculum choices to be prepared for 2-20 success beyond high school; 2-21 (C) sources of information on higher education 2-22 admissions and financial aid; and 2-23 (D) eligibility criteria and application 2-24 procedures for participation in the program; and 2-25 (2) assist a recipient chosen to participate in the 2-26 program in obtaining financial aid available under Subchapter M, 2-27 Chapter 56, Education Code. 3-1 (d) A program participant who obtains financial aid 3-2 available under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, may 3-3 continue to receive financial aid as provided by that subchapter, 3-4 regardless of whether the participant ceases to receive financial 3-5 assistance. 3-6 (e) The department may cooperate with the Legislative 3-7 Oversight Committee under Section 56.311, Education Code, by 3-8 providing information relating to program participants receiving 3-9 financial aid under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, that 3-10 is necessary for the committee to perform its duty of monitoring 3-11 the financial aid programs established under that subchapter. 3-12 (f) The department and the Texas Higher Education 3-13 Coordinating Board shall jointly develop procedures necessary for 3-14 administration of the program, including procedures for: 3-15 (1) determining and monitoring a program participant's 3-16 initial and continuing eligibility for financial aid under 3-17 Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code; 3-18 (2) providing appropriate information to financial aid 3-19 officers of institutions of higher education; and 3-20 (3) exchanging all necessary information between the 3-21 department and the coordinating board, including copies of rules 3-22 adopted by the coordinating board relating to the administration of 3-23 the financial aid programs under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, 3-24 Education Code. 3-25 (g) Not later than January 15, 2001, the department shall 3-26 submit to the legislature a report relating to the program 3-27 established under this section. The report must include: 4-1 (1) an evaluation of the program's effectiveness in 4-2 improving employability of persons eligible for financial 4-3 assistance; and 4-4 (2) recommendations from the department concerning 4-5 termination, continuation, or expansion of the program. 4-6 (h) This section takes effect only if H.B. 713, Acts of the 4-7 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, is enacted and becomes 4-8 law. If this section takes effect, it expires September 1, 2003. 4-9 SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act 4-10 a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a 4-11 federal agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency 4-12 shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay 4-13 implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is 4-14 granted. 4-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 4-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 4-20 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its 4-21 terms, and it is so enacted. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3470 was passed by the House on May 11, 1999, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3470 on May 27, 1999, and requested the appointment of a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3470 on May 29, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 2, 1 present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3470 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 24, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3470 on May 30, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor