By: Lucio III, et al. Senate Sponsor-Lucio H.B. No. 2383

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2007; May 15, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 21, 2007, reported favorably, as amended, by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of certain subsidies and scholarships to particular public school students or graduates.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.190 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.190. SUBSIDY FOR CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION. (a) A student is entitled to a subsidy under this section if the student:

(1) successfully completes the career and technology program of a school district in which the student receives training and instruction for employment in a certain trade or occupation;

(2) passes a certification examination to qualify for a license or certificate for the trade or occupation; and

(3) demonstrates financial need.

(b) The commissioner shall adopt guidelines for determining financial need consistent with the definition of financial need adopted by the College Board and Education Testing Service.

(c) On approval by the commissioner, the agency shall pay each eligible student an amount equal to the cost paid by the student for the certification examination. To obtain a subsidy under this section, a student must:

(1) pay the fee for the examination; and

(2) submit to the commissioner a written application on a form prescribed by the commissioner demonstrating financial need and the amount of the fee paid by the student for the certification examination.

(d) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Section 56.203, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(a) To be eligible for an award through the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program, a person must:

(1) have graduated from a public high school in this state:

(A) in not more than 41 consecutive months and successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025, if the person graduated on or after September 1, 2005;

(B) in not more than 45 consecutive months, with at least 30 hours of college credit, and successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025, if the person graduated on or after September 1, 2005; or

(C) in not more than 36 consecutive months after successfully completing the requirements for a high school diploma, if the person graduated before September 1, 2005, regardless of whether the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025; and

(2) have attended [high school exclusively in] one or more public high schools in this state for the majority of time the person attended high school[; and

[(3) be a Texas resident as defined by coordinating board rule].

(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules for determining whether a person attended public high school in this state as required by Subsection (a)(2).

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act to Section 56.203, Education Code, apply only to a student who graduates from a public high school in this state on or after the effective date of this Act. A student who graduates from a public high school in this state before the effective date of this Act and the student's eligibility to participate in the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

SECTION 5. 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.

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