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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to Tier One Challenge funding to support the development |
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and enhancement of national research universities in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter FF to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER FF. TIER ONE CHALLENGE FUNDING |
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Sec. 61.9771. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Emerging research university" means an |
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institution of higher education designated as an emerging research |
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university under the board's accountability system. |
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(2) "Research university" means an institution of |
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higher education designated as a research university under the |
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board's accountability system. |
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Sec. 61.9772. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to |
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provide funding for the enhancement of research universities and |
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for the development of emerging research universities. |
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Sec. 61.9773. ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), to be eligible to participate in the |
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funding under this subchapter, a research university or emerging |
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research university must: |
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(1) submit to the board, in the form and manner |
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prescribed by the board, a detailed, long-term strategic plan |
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documenting the strategy by which the institution intends to |
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achieve recognition as a research university, or enhance the |
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university's reputation as a research university, as applicable; |
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(2) receive board approval of the university's plan |
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under Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) meet any other criteria the board considers |
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appropriate, including consideration of: |
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(A) the amount of and any increase in externally |
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generated research funds received by the university, including |
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federal money, private gifts and donations, private endowment |
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earnings, and funds from any local or regional source; and |
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(B) the number of doctoral programs offered by |
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the university and any increase in that number. |
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(b) The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, |
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and Prairie View A&M University are not eligible to receive funding |
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under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9774. ALLOCATION OF FUNDING. (a) For each state |
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fiscal year, the board shall allocate any funds appropriated for |
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the purposes of this subchapter, and any other funds made available |
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for the purposes of this subchapter, to research universities and |
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emerging research universities that are eligible to participate in |
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the funding based on an equitable formula developed by the board to |
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further the purposes of this subchapter. |
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(b) The board shall review the equitable formula at the end |
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of each state fiscal biennium and may adjust the formula as the |
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board considers appropriate. |
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Sec. 61.9775. USE OF ALLOCATED AMOUNTS. An institution of |
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higher education may use money received under this subchapter only |
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for the purposes approved by the board to implement the strategic |
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plan submitted to the board under Section 61.9773. |
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Sec. 61.9776. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS OR GRANTS. The board may |
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accept gifts or grants from any public or private source for the |
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purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9777. ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT. (a) The board shall |
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require each institution of higher education receiving funds under |
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this subchapter in a state fiscal year to report to the board not |
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later than the October 1 immediately following that state fiscal |
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year the institution's progress toward implementing the |
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institution's strategic plan submitted under Section 61.9773. |
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(b) Not later than the following January 1, the board shall |
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prepare and submit to the presiding officer of each house of the |
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legislature a written report based on the information received by |
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the board under Subsection (a). |
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Sec. 61.9778. RULES. The board shall adopt rules for the |
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administration of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules relating to the administration of Subchapter FF, |
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Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as |
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practicable after the effective date of this Act. |
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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. |