AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 1999, the legislature created the TEXAS (Toward EXcellence and Success) grant program to help open the doors to college and close the gaps in higher education participation. TEXAS grants pay the tuition and fees for eligible students at a public college or university. Since 1999, over 310,000 young Texans have received 653,000 TEXAS grants totaling over $2 billion to help them pay for college.
Unfortunately, due to the impact of tuition deregulation and continued limited funding by the Texas Legislature, fewer and fewer eligible students are receiving a TEXAS grant. In fiscal year 2003, every eligible student received a TEXAS grant, while in fiscal year 2010, approximately 70 percent of the eligible students received a TEXAS grant. Under the current budget proposal, that number would plummet to less than 40 percent.
If the legislature is not going to meet its funding responsibility, other sources must be explored.
In 2005, the legislature passed an amendment to S.B. 1227, which authorized the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source and dedicate those funds to the TEXAS grant program. S.B. 1067 expands that authority to allow any eligible institution to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source and dedicate those funds to TEXAS grants at the institution level.
As proposed, S.B. 1067 amends current law relating to funding the TEXAS grant program at public institutions of higher education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 56.310, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(d) Authorizes an eligible institution to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purpose of awarding a TEXAS grant under this subchapter to a person enrolled in the institution. Authorizes the institution to develop and implement an appropriate process for the naming and sponsoring of an individual grant awarded under this subchapter to a person enrolled in the institution or any gift, grant, or donation received by the institution under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.