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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a TEXAS grant pilot project to provide incentives for |
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students to attend certain underutilized public institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 56.3011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.3011. PILOT PROJECT TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR |
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ATTENDANCE AT UNDERUTILIZED PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. (a) The |
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coordinating board shall establish a TEXAS grant pilot project as |
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provided by this section to encourage students to attend eligible |
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public institutions of higher education that offer extensive |
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baccalaureate degree program options and that have sufficient |
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facilities, administrative infrastructure, and faculty to serve |
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additional students in order to reduce the need for this state to |
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construct additional facilities or hire additional faculty at other |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(b) From money available under Section 56.310 for purposes |
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of this subchapter and money available under Section 56.464 for |
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purposes of Subchapter Q, the coordinating board shall set aside |
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sufficient money to provide TEXAS grants for the 2009-2010 and |
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2010-2011 academic years to students who are initially eligible for |
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a grant under Section 56.304 or 56.3041 in either of those years as |
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follows: |
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(1) for a total of not more than 1,000 students |
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enrolling for the first time at Angelo State University; and |
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(2) for a total of not more than 600 students enrolling |
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for the first time at Sul Ross State University. |
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(c) To the extent money set aside under Subsection (b) is |
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available for the purpose, a person awarded a grant as provided by |
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Subsection (b) who continues to be eligible for a grant under |
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Section 56.305 may receive a grant from the money set aside. If |
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money set aside under Subsection (b) is not available to pay for a |
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grant for a person awarded a grant as provided by Subsection (b) who |
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continues to be eligible for a grant under Section 56.305, the |
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person may receive a grant from the money available under Section |
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56.310 on the same basis as other TEXAS grant applicants. |
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(d) A person awarded a grant under this section is eligible |
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for financial aid under a federal program or program of an eligible |
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institution to the extent authorized under that program. |
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(e) The coordinating board shall reallocate for grants |
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under this subchapter or for loans under Subchapter Q, as |
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applicable, any money set aside for purposes of the TEXAS grant |
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pilot project that is not used in the academic year for which the |
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money is set aside. Money reallocated under this subsection may be |
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used at any eligible institution under this subchapter or |
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Subchapter Q. |
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(f) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this |
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section, this subchapter applies to a TEXAS grant awarded under |
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this section. |
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(g) The coordinating board shall develop criteria for |
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evaluating the TEXAS grant pilot project and, based on that |
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evaluation, not later than February 1, 2011, shall report to the |
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82nd Legislature the coordinating board's recommendations |
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concerning whether to continue, expand to other underutilized |
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eligible public institutions of higher education, or discontinue |
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the TEXAS grant pilot project. |
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(h) The coordinating board shall include in any board |
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publication concerning financial aid on the board's Internet |
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website information concerning the TEXAS grant pilot project |
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established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules to administer Section 56.3011, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the date this Act |
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takes effect. For that purpose, the board may adopt the initial |
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rules in the manner provided by law for adoption of emergency rules. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |