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. 2-20 * * * * *