82R606 JRJ-D

By: Howard of Travis H.B. No. 1520

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the determination of student priority in awarding TEXAS grants.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56.303, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows:

(d) In determining who should receive a TEXAS grant, the coordinating board [and the eligible institutions] shall give highest priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need.

(e) In determining who should receive a TEXAS grant, each eligible institution shall give highest priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who:

(1) demonstrate the greatest financial need; and

(2) beginning with grants awarded for the 2015-2016 academic year, meet the merit criteria adopted by the eligible institution under Subsection (f).

(f) Subject to coordinating board approval in accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (h), each eligible institution shall adopt merit criteria for determining student priority in awarding TEXAS grants. The merit criteria must promote the participation goals and targets of the most recent revision of "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education, and be based on at least two of the following achievement standards for each student:

(1) percentile rank according to high school graduating class standing based on grade point average;

(2) grade point average;

(3) completion of the advanced high school program or an international baccalaureate program;

(4) achievement of a score on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) that qualifies the student for an exemption under Section 51.3062(p); or

(5) demonstration of the performance standard for college readiness as provided by Section 39.024 on the Algebra II and English III end-of-course assessment instruments.

(g) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year beginning in 2016, each eligible institution shall submit to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the presiding officer of the standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education, and the coordinating board a report addressing the impact of using the merit criteria adopted by the institution under Subsection (f) for determining priority in awarding TEXAS grants on the state's goal of closing college access and achievement gaps under "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education.

(h) The coordinating board shall adopt rules for the approval and implementation of the use of merit criteria adopted by an eligible institution under Subsection (f).

SECTION 2. 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, 2011.