81R8687 JRJ-D

By: Guillen H.B. No. 3930

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing scholarships for children of public school teachers.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M-1. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN OF PUBLIC SCHOOL

TEACHERS

Sec. 61.721. SCHOLARSHIPS. The board shall establish and administer, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules, scholarships for students who are:

(1) dependent children of public school classroom teachers; and

(2) enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Sec. 61.722. FACTORS. (a) The scholarships shall be established and administered in a manner that the board determines best serves the public purpose of the scholarships.

(b) In determining what best serves the public purpose, the board shall consider the following factors relating to each person applying for a scholarship under this section:

(1) the financial need of the applicant and the applicant's family;

(2) the scholastic ability and performance of the applicant; and

(3) other factors the board considers relevant, such as the applicant's responsibilities to others, the applicant's involvement in community service, the applicant's commitment to the applicant's education, and any hardships or disabilities affecting the applicant.

Sec. 61.723. RULES. The board shall adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including rules providing eligibility criteria and the manner in which the amount of a scholarship is determined.

Sec. 61.724. SCHOLARSHIP REGULATIONS. (a) The board shall determine the maximum amount of a scholarship awarded under this subchapter. The scholarship may be spent by the recipient only to cover all or part of the costs of attendance, including tuition, fees, expenses for books and supplies, and living expenses, incurred by the recipient in connection with enrollment at an institution of higher education.

(b) To be eligible for consideration to receive a scholarship, a person must have an annual household income of less than $150,000.

(c) A scholarship under this subchapter shall be paid to the recipient in the form of periodic partial payments throughout the academic year. The board by rule shall determine the manner in which the payments are made.

Sec. 61.725. FUNDING. The board shall administer this subchapter using available appropriations and gifts, grants, and donations made for the purposes of this subchapter.

SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required by Subchapter M-1, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

SECTION 3. 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.