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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to financial incentives and other assistance to develop |
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and maintain excellence in specific programs and fields of study at |
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public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.059, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (o) to read as follows: |
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(o) In addition to the other funding recommendations |
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required by this section, biennially the board shall determine the |
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amount that the board considers appropriate for purposes of |
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providing funding under Section 61.0596 in the following state |
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fiscal biennium to carry out the purposes of that section and shall |
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make recommendations to the governor and the Legislative Budget |
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Board for funding those programs in that biennium. To the extent |
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the board considers appropriate, the board may include funding to |
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be provided under Section 61.0596 in the formulas established under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0596 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0596. INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPECIFIC |
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PROGRAMS AND FIELDS. (a) The board shall administer this section |
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to encourage and assist institutions of higher education to develop |
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and maintain specific programs or fields of study of the highest |
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national rank or recognition for that type of program or field. |
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(b) From money available for the purpose, the board shall |
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award incentive grants to institutions of higher education the |
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board considers to have demonstrated the greatest commitment to |
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success in developing or improving a designated program or field of |
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study toward attaining the highest national rank or recognition. |
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An institution must use money received under this section to |
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develop, improve, or maintain the quality of the program or field |
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for which the grant is awarded. |
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(c) An institution of higher education may designate only |
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one program at a time for consideration for new funding under this |
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section. The institution may change its designation with the |
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consent of the board. If the board determines that an institution |
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has met all the applicable benchmarks for the institution's |
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designated program or field of study, the institution may designate |
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another program or field of study for consideration for new funding |
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under this section. |
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(d) The board shall establish a series of benchmarks |
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applicable to each program or field of study designated by an |
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institution of higher education under this section. The |
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institution becomes eligible for funding for each benchmark the |
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board determines that the institution has met. The board shall |
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establish the amount of funding for each benchmark met in a manner |
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that provides an effective incentive and reasonable financial |
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support to assist the institution to continue its efforts to meet |
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the remaining benchmarks for its designated program or field. |
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(e) Unless the board determines that a different number of |
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benchmarks is appropriate, the board shall establish three |
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benchmarks for each designated program or field of study. The board |
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shall employ or contract with one or more persons who have relevant |
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expertise and do not reside in this state to assist the board in |
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establishing the benchmarks and associated funding levels for each |
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type of program or field of study designated by an institution of |
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higher education under this section. |
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(f) In addition to supporting the programs designated by |
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institutions of higher education for consideration to receive |
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incentive funding under this section, from money available for the |
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purpose, the board shall provide additional money as the board |
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determines appropriate to assist institutions in maintaining the |
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excellence of programs or fields of study that have achieved the |
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highest national ranking or recognition for that type of program or |
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field. |
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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. |