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