By: Morrison, Branch H.B. No. 3795
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the public awareness campaign promoting higher
  education and to additional financial aid for higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.9701(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board, in conjunction with the Texas Education
  Agency, shall establish a statewide public awareness campaign to
  promote the value and availability of higher education.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 61.9702 and 61.9703, Education Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9702.  TARGET AUDIENCE. (a)  The campaign
  established by the board must target [primary and secondary school]
  students in the 6th through 12th grade levels.
         (b)  The board shall give priority to reaching [primary and
  secondary school] students from groups or backgrounds that are
  traditionally underrepresented in higher education, especially
  students who are educationally disadvantaged, as defined by Section
  5.001.
         (c)  The campaign established by the board may target
  students in elementary grades, including grade six.
         Sec. 61.9703.  COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES [AGENCIES].
  The board shall [may] coordinate with the Texas Education Agency,
  the P-16 Council established under Section 61.076, and other
  appropriate entities, including businesses, [other agencies as
  necessary] to develop and implement the public awareness campaign
  in order to send a strong message concerning the importance of
  higher education.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter CC, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.97031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.97031.  CAMPAIGN DESIGN CRITERIA. The board, in
  conjunction with those entities with which the board coordinates
  under Section 61.9703, shall:
               (1)  annually hold meetings of students described by
  Section 61.9702 and their parents, at locations likely to be easily
  accessible to them, to explain:
                     (A)  financial aid opportunities that may make
  attending an institution of higher education affordable;
                     (B)  the reasons that higher education is
  important; and
                     (C)  secondary education courses that may help to
  prepare students to succeed at institutions of higher education;
  and
               (2)  develop support mechanisms for parents of students
  described by Section 61.9702 to:
                     (A)  assist the parents with understanding and
  completing the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA);
  and
                     (B)  familiarize the parents with the actions
  necessary for students to be prepared for, apply to, and attend
  institutions of higher education.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter CC, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.9706 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9706.  EVALUATION. (a) The board shall evaluate the
  effectiveness of the public awareness campaign.
         (b)  In evaluating the effectiveness of the public awareness
  campaign, the board shall:
               (1)  use appropriate commonly accepted methodologies
  and evaluation criteria; and
               (2)  spend existing funds available to the board that
  may be used for the purpose.
         (c)  Not later than December 31, 2010, the board shall submit
  a written report concerning the results of the evaluation to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and presiding officers of the legislative
  standing committees with primary jurisdiction over public
  education and higher education.
         (d)  This section expires January 31, 2011.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 56.005 to read as follows:
         Sec. 56.005.  ADDITIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM. The
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the
  Texas Education Agency, shall develop a plan for a student
  financial aid program designed:
               (1)  to provide financial aid in addition to:
                     (A)  any aid provided under other state financial
  aid programs;
                     (B)  any aid provided under federal financial aid
  programs; and
                     (C)  any contributions from parents; and
               (2)  to provide financial aid to students who:
                     (A)  have met the curriculum requirements for the
  recommended or advanced high school program as determined under
  Section 28.025; and
                     (B)  have not been convicted of a felony or an
  offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled
  Substances Act), or under the law of another jurisdiction involving
  a controlled substance as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety
  Code, unless the student has:
                           (i)  received a certificate of discharge by
  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or a correctional facility
  or completed a period of community supervision ordered by a court,
  and at least two years have elapsed from the date of the receipt or
  completion; or
                           (ii)  been pardoned or had the record of the
  offense expunged from the person's record.
         SECTION 6.  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, 2009.