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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to business participation in supporting early college high |
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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 to |
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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). The commissioner may accept
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gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including private and
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nonprofit organizations, to pay any costs of the program not
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covered by the student's Foundation School Program benefits.
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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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Education Code. |
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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. 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 nonprofits that |
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choose to make donations and work with early college high schools to |
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maximize job placement opportunities for program graduates. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2014, the strategic plan |
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shall be reported to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the governor and made available on |
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each agency's website. |
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(g) 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. |