BILL ANALYSIS
By: Morrison
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In order to remain competitive on a national and global level, we need to encourage children to take more math and science courses. Texas presently lags behind most of its key competitor states in the number of engineering and computer science degrees awarded.
H.B. 2978, establishes a one-week summer program to take place on the campus of each institution that offers an engineering degree program and also requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish an engineering scholarship program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as specified under SECTION 1 and SECTION 2 of this Bill.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61 of the Education Code by adding Subchapter Q, establishing Engineering Recruitment Programs. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to establish and administer a one-week program in the summer on the campus of each general academic teaching institution that offers an engineering degree program. Requires that the summer program must be designed to expose middle and high school students to math, science, and engineering concepts that a student might encounter in an engineering degree program. Requires that the board shall establish admission requirements for the summer program, and the institutions shall cooperate with the board in the administration of these requirements.
Requires that the board establish and administer scholarships for students pursuing a degree in engineering at one of the general academic teaching institutions. To qualify for a scholarship, a student must have graduated from high school with a grade point average in the top 20 percent of their class, have received a score of at least 1,875 out of 2,400 on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or an equivalent score on the ACT test, and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale in the engineering program in which they are enrolled. Requires that the board adopt rules for the administration of this section, including rules providing for the determination of the amount of each scholarship.
Requires the board to administer this subchapter using available appropriations and gifts, grants, and donations.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Q, Chapter 61 of the Education Code, as added, applies beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year. Requires that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopt rules for the administration of this Act as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. Provides that the board may adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
SECTION 3. Effective Date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.