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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the institutions of higher education eligible to |
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participate in 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. Section 61.9792, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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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 grant to an eligible institution for the purpose of |
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providing a scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility |
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criteria prescribed by Section 61.9793. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.9794, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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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 one of the following: |
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(A) a public junior college, public junior |
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college district, or public technical institute that admits[;
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[(2) admit] at least 50 eligible students into a STEM |
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program each academic year; or |
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(B) a general academic teaching institution that |
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admits into a STEM program each academic year eligible students |
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who: |
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(i) previously participated in a STEM |
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program at a public junior college or public technical institute; |
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and |
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(ii) completed at least 45 semester credit |
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hours at the college or institute before enrolling in the general |
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academic teaching institution; and |
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(2) [(3)] develop partnerships with business and |
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industry 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 STEM program [T-STEM
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Challenge Scholarship] graduates, within three months after |
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graduation, are: |
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(1) employed by a business in a Science, Technology, |
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Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field; or |
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(2) for STEM program graduates from a two-year |
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institution, enrolled in upper-division courses leading to a |
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baccalaureate degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Mathematics (STEM) field. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.9795, Education Code, is amended as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 61.9795. AMOUNT; FUNDING. (a) Subject to available |
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funding, the board shall award a grant to an eligible institution |
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for the purpose of providing scholarships, with at least |
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50 percent of the amount awarded from private funds. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] eligible |
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student may receive a scholarship awarded under this subchapter for |
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not more than two academic years. |
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(b-1) An eligible student who enrolls in a STEM program at a |
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general academic teaching institution under this subchapter may |
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receive a scholarship awarded under this subchapter for two |
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additional academic years. |
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(c) The board may use any available revenue, including |
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legislative appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts and |
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grants for purposes of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. 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 amended by this Act, beginning with the 2013-2014 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |