80R7274 KKA-D

By: Morrison H.B. No. 1748

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration of Texas governor's schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 29.124, Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, redesignated as Section 61.07621, Education Code, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.07621 [29.124]. TEXAS GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS. (a) [In this section, "public senior college or university" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

[(b)] A Texas governor's school is a summer residential program for high-achieving high school students. A governor's school program may include any or all of the following educational curricula:

(1) mathematics and science;

(2) humanities; or

(3) leadership and public policy.

(b) [(c)] A public senior college or university may apply to the board [commissioner] to administer a Texas governor's school program under this section. The board [commissioner] shall give preference to a public senior college or university that applies in cooperation with a nonprofit association. The board [commissioner] shall give additional preference if the nonprofit association receives private foundation funds that may be used to finance the program.

(c) [(d)] The board [commissioner] may approve an application under this section only if the applicant:

(1) applies within the period and in the manner required by rule adopted by the board [commissioner];

(2) submits a program proposal that includes:

(A) a curriculum consistent with Subsection (a) [(b)];

(B) criteria for selecting students to participate in the program;

(C) a statement of the length of the program, which must be at least three weeks; and

(D) a statement of the location of the program;

(3) agrees to use a grant under this section only for the purpose of administering a program; and

(4) satisfies any other requirements established by rule adopted by the board [commissioner].

(d) [(e)] From funds appropriated to the board [agency], the board [commissioner] may make a grant in an amount not to exceed $750,000 each year to public senior colleges or universities whose applications are approved under this section to pay the costs of administering a Texas governor's school program.

(e) [(f)] The board [commissioner] may adopt other rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. (a) On the effective date of this Act:

(1) all functions, activities, rules, forms, money, property, contracts, memoranda of understanding, records, and obligations of the commissioner of education or the Texas Education Agency relating to Texas governor's schools under Section 29.124, Education Code, become functions, activities, rules, forms, money, property, contracts, memoranda of understanding, records, and obligations of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.07621, Education Code, as added by this Act, without a change in status; and

(2) all money appropriated to the Texas Education Agency under Section 29.124, Education Code, including money for providing administrative support, is considered appropriated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.07621, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) A rule adopted by the commissioner of education under Section 29.124, Education Code, is also a rule of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 61.07621, Education Code, as added by this Act, and remains in effect as a rule of the coordinating board until repealed or superseded by a rule adopted by the coordinating board.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the 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.