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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of certain programs to assist |
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certain foster children in obtaining postsecondary education and |
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training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services. |
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(2) "Program" means the education training and voucher |
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program component of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence |
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Program (42 U.S.C. Section 677). |
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(b) The department shall undertake a comprehensive review |
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of the program as provided by this section. |
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(c) The department shall develop a program improvement plan |
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to streamline and improve the administration of the program by: |
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(1) simplifying the application for participation in |
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the program by requiring: |
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(A) proof of enrollment at an institution; |
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(B) a mid-semester attendance verification; and |
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(C) only those additional criteria that are |
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essential to the proper expenditure of funds under the program; |
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(2) ensuring that program funds are made available to |
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students before the start of each term, quarter, or semester for |
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which the funds are needed so that the students are able to use the |
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funds to secure housing and purchase textbooks; |
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(3) improving support for students eligible for |
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program benefits who are struggling financially or academically; |
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and |
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(4) providing comprehensive transition planning for: |
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(A) extended school holidays; or |
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(B) life after higher education is completed. |
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(d) In developing the program improvement plan, the |
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department shall solicit the input of students, the Texas Education |
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Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, community |
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colleges, the statewide Youth Leadership Council, and other |
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interested persons. |
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(e) The department shall consider contracting with an |
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outside contractor to assist the department in streamlining the |
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administration of the program. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2010, the department shall |
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prepare a report to the legislature regarding the implementation |
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and success of the program. The report must include the following |
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information for the two preceding fiscal years: |
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(1) an analysis of program costs, including: |
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(A) the amounts appropriated to the department |
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for the program; |
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(B) the costs of administering and overseeing the |
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program; |
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(C) the total amount of program funds disbursed |
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to students; |
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(D) the average amount of program funds disbursed |
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per student; |
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(E) the amount of lapsed funds, if any; and |
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(F) the estimated amount of financial need for |
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the average student participating in the program not covered by |
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program funds; and |
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(2) student data, including: |
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(A) the number of students eligible for the |
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program; |
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(B) the number of students who received program |
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funds; |
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(C) the percentage of students receiving program |
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funds who made satisfactory grades each semester; and |
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(D) the number of students each year who: |
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(i) reapplied for program funding; and |
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(ii) graduated from an institution of |
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higher education. |
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(g) The department, with assistance from the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission, |
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shall develop a method to track the outcomes of former foster youth |
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who participate in the program, including an analysis of the number |
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of students who received program funds who enter the workforce |
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after graduation in the field for which they were educated. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2011. |
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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. |