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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to business and nonprofit organization participation in |
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supporting early college high schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.908, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsections (e), (f), |
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and (g) to read as follows: |
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(c) A student participating in the program is entitled to |
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the benefits of the Foundation School Program in proportion to the |
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amount of time spent by the student on high school courses, in |
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accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner, while completing |
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the course of study established by the applicable articulation |
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agreement under Subsection (b)(3). |
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(d) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any source, including private and nonprofit |
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organizations. Private and nonprofit organizations that |
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contribute to the fund shall receive an award under Section 7.113[,
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to pay any costs of the program not covered by the student's
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Foundation School Program benefits]. |
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(e) The commissioner shall collaborate with the Texas |
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Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board to develop and implement a strategic plan to enhance private |
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industry participation under this section. The plan must |
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include: |
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(1) strategies to increase private industry |
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participation; and |
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(2) incentives for businesses and nonprofit |
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organizations that choose to make donations and work with high |
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schools that participate in a program under this section to |
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maximize job placement opportunities for program graduates. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2014, the commissioner shall |
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provide a report that summarizes the strategic plan developed under |
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Subsection (e) to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, the governor, the Texas Workforce Commission, |
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and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Texas |
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Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board shall each make the report |
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available on the respective agency's Internet website. |
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(g) [(d)] The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer the program. The rules may provide for giving |
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preference in receiving program benefits to a student who is in the |
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first generation of the student's family to attend college and may |
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establish other distinctions or criteria based on student need. |
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The commissioner shall consult the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board in administering the program. The Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary to |
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exercise its powers and duties under this section. The P-16 Council |
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may make recommendations, including recommendations for rules, |
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concerning administration of the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |