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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program. |
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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 GG to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER GG. TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND |
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MATHEMATICS (T-STEM) CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
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Sec. 61.9791. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "STEM |
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program" means a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics |
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program. |
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Sec. 61.9792. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. The board shall |
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establish and administer, in accordance with this subchapter and |
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board rules, the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program under which the |
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board provides a scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility |
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criteria prescribed by Section 61.9793. |
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Sec. 61.9793. ELIGIBLE STUDENT. (a) To receive an initial |
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scholarship under this subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) graduate from high school with a grade point |
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average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale in mathematics and |
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science courses; |
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(2) enroll in a STEM program at an eligible |
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institution; and |
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(3) agree to work no more than 15 hours a week for a |
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business participating in the STEM program. |
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(b) To continue to qualify for a scholarship under this |
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subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) remain enrolled in a STEM program at an eligible |
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institution; |
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(2) maintain an overall grade point average of at |
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least 3.0 on a four-point scale; |
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(3) complete at least 80 percent of all semester |
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credit hours attempted for each semester; |
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(4) complete at least 30 semester credit hours per |
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academic year; and |
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(5) work no more than 15 hours a week for a business |
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participating in the STEM program. |
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Sec. 61.9794. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION. (a) To qualify as an |
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eligible institution under this subchapter, an institution must: |
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(1) be an accredited public or private two-year |
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institution of higher education; |
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(2) admit at least 50 students into a STEM program each |
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academic year; and |
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(3) develop partnerships with business and industry |
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to: |
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(A) identify local employment needs in Science, |
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Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and |
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(B) provide part-time employment for students |
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enrolled in a STEM program. |
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(b) To maintain eligibility, beginning with the second year |
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following implementation of a scholarship program under this |
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subchapter, an institution must demonstrate to the board that at |
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least 70 percent of the institution's T-STEM Challenge Scholarship |
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graduates are employed by a business in a Science, Technology, |
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Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field within three months after |
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graduation. |
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Sec. 61.9795. AMOUNT; FUNDING. (a) Subject to available |
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funding, the board shall award scholarships totaling $100 million |
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each biennium, with 50 percent of the amount awarded from state |
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appropriations and 50 percent of the amount awarded from private |
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matching funds. |
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(b) An eligible student may receive a scholarship awarded |
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under this subchapter for not more than two academic years. |
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(c) The board may solicit and accept gifts and grants for |
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purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall award scholarships under Subchapter GG, Chapter 61, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2011-2012 academic |
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year. The coordinating board shall adopt the rules required by that |
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subchapter as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |