Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1050 by Zaffirini (Relating to the administration of the work-study student mentorship program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill relates to the administration of the work-study student mentorship program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Under provisions of the bill, the Higher Education Coordinating Board would administer a work-study student mentorship program under which students who are enrolled in their junior or senior years at participating eligible institutions and who meet the eligibility requirements for employement in the Texas college work-study program under Section 56.075 of the Education Code may be employed by participating entities under the Texas college work-study program to mentor students and counsel high school students at GO Centers or similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to improve student access to higher education. Institutions interested in jointly participating in the program shall file with the Higher Educaton Coordinating Board a joint memorandum of understanding detailing their the roles and responsibilities. The Higher Education Coordinating Board would develop a standard contract establishing the roles and responsibilities to be used as a model for a memorandum of understanding.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to develop criteria to ensure that the institution's contribution toward the wages and benefits of a student employed as a mentor is matched by funds provided by the entity benefiting from the services of the student employee in an amount that is at least equal to the institution's contribution. The Higher Education Coordinating Board may accept appropriate in-kind contributions to satisfy the matching funds requirement and may waive the requirement for an entity that meets criteria established by the board for a waiver. Costs associated with implementing the bill, for both the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the institutions of higher education, would be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration