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