By Giddings                                            H.B. No. 400
         77R1538 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to establishing a pilot program to assist prospective
 1-3     students in enrolling in institutions of higher education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 61.088 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 61.088.  HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
 1-8     The board shall administer and coordinate the Higher Education
 1-9     Assistance Pilot Program to:
1-10                 (1)  provide to prospective students in the cities of
1-11     Dallas and Houston and in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr,
1-12     and Willacy information related to enrollment in public or private
1-13     or independent institutions of higher education, including
1-14     admissions and financial aid information; and
1-15                 (2)  assist those prospective students in completing
1-16     applications related to enrollment in those institutions, including
1-17     admissions and financial aid applications.
1-18           (b)  The board shall provide the information and assistance
1-19     required by this section at least twice each year at one or more
1-20     appropriate locations in each area served by the pilot program.
1-21           (c)  The board may coordinate with an institution of higher
1-22     education or other entity to provide the information and assistance
1-23     required by this section in each area served by the pilot program.
1-24           (d)  Not later than August 31, 2003, the board shall submit
 2-1     to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the pilot
 2-2     program, including recommendations on whether to implement the
 2-3     program on a statewide basis.
 2-4           (e)  The pilot program ends and this section expires August
 2-5     31, 2003.
 2-6           SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
 2-7     required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates
 2-8     money specifically for that purpose.  If the legislature does not
 2-9     appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the board may
2-10     implement this Act using other appropriations available for the
2-11     purpose.
2-12           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-13     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-14     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-15     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-16     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.