1-1     By:  Olivo (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)               H.B. No. 3470
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 1999;
 1-3     May 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Human
 1-4     Services; May 13, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the creation of a Parents as Scholars pilot program for
 1-9     certain persons eligible to receive TANF benefits.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
1-12     is amended by adding Section 31.045 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 31.045.  PARENTS AS SCHOLARS PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)
1-14     Subject to available funding, the department shall by rule
1-15     establish a student financial aid pilot program to be entitled the
1-16     Parents as Scholars pilot program.  A person eligible for financial
1-17     assistance who participates in the program shall receive, in lieu
1-18     of financial assistance, a package of benefits designed to assist
1-19     the person in obtaining a postsecondary degree from an institution
1-20     of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
1-21     The benefits provided may include assistance with payment of
1-22     tuition and fees, payment of the cost of textbooks and other
1-23     educational supplies, and payment of other costs associated with
1-24     enrollment in the institution.
1-25           (b)  The department by rule shall establish eligibility
1-26     criteria for the program.  The criteria must:
1-27                 (1)  require that the person satisfy the eligibility
1-28     criteria for financial assistance;
1-29                 (2)  prohibit a person who possesses a bachelor's
1-30     degree from any public or private institution of higher education
1-31     from participating in the program;
1-32                 (3)  require that the person seek a postsecondary
1-33     degree that the department considers likely to improve the person's
1-34     ability to obtain employment in the person's local labor market;
1-35     and
1-36                 (4)  be designed to result in the selection of  persons
1-37     who:
1-38                       (A)  are currently unable, due to a lack of
1-39     skills and training, to obtain employment at a compensation level
1-40     equal to at least 85 percent of the area median income; and
1-41                       (B)  demonstrate the aptitude to successfully
1-42     complete the requirements for obtaining a postsecondary degree.
1-43           (c)  A program participant is eligible for medical assistance
1-44     under Chapter 32 and support services under Section 31.010 in the
1-45     same manner as a person receiving financial assistance.
1-46           (d)  The department by rule shall establish time limits and
1-47     other conditions applicable to a program participant, provided that
1-48     the department may not provide assistance to a program participant
1-49     for more than 48 months, and the department must require a program
1-50     participant to demonstrate satisfactory educational progress to
1-51     remain eligible for assistance.
1-52           (e)  The department shall fund the program from state funds
1-53     specifically appropriated for that purpose or from other state
1-54     funds otherwise available to the department for the program. The
1-55     department may accept gifts and grants from public or private
1-56     sources to be used to fund the program.  The department shall
1-57     establish and administer the program in such a manner that money
1-58     spent under the program is included in determining the state's
1-59     compliance with federal maintenance of effort requirements under
1-60     Part A, Title IV, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et
1-61     seq.).
1-62           (f)  Not later than January 15, 2003, the department shall
1-63     submit to the legislature a report relating to the program
1-64     established under this section. The report must include:
 2-1                 (1)  an evaluation of the program's effectiveness in
 2-2     improving employability of persons eligible for Temporary
 2-3     Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; and
 2-4                 (2)  recommendations from the department concerning
 2-5     termination, continuation, or expansion of the program.
 2-6           (g)  This section expires September 1, 2003.
 2-7           SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
 2-8     a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
 2-9     federal agency is necessary for implementation, the state agency
2-10     shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay
2-11     implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is
2-12     granted.
2-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19     passage, and it is so enacted.
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