By: Williams S.B. No. 1778

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation and administration of a grant program to reward eligible students at elementary and secondary schools for continuing academic progress.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature determines that the economic future of the state requires continuing efforts to create a well-educated workforce capable of high degrees of achievement and innovation and of competing successfully globally. This determination is a commitment to the future workforce of the state and will reward the state with cost savings and increased revenue, now and in the future.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 403.0306 to read as follows:

Sec. 403.0306. GRANT PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING ACADEMIC PROGRESS. (a) The comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to reward eligible students enrolled in Texas elementary or secondary schools for continuing academic progress.

(b) The comptroller shall adopt rules for the providing of grants under the program. The rules must specify eligibility standards for receipt of a grant under the program, the duration of a grant, appropriate reporting requirements to determine eligibility and prevent fraud, and conditions for use of a grant. The rules may contain other elements the comptroller determines necessary or advisable.

(c) The comptroller may make a grant from the program created by this section only if the comptroller determines that the awarding of the grant will produce cost savings to the state, immediately and in the foreseeable future.

(d) The comptroller may solicit or accept gifts or grants of money on behalf of the program from any public or private source. The legislature may make appropriations for the purposes of the program.

SECTION 3. The comptroller shall adopt initial rules for the grant program authorized by Section 403.0306, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act. The comptroller may adopt initial rules as emergency rules under Section 2001.034, Government Code. Section 2001.029(b), Government Code, does not apply to the adoption of initial rules under this section.

SECTION 4. 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.