85R12265 JRJ-D
 
  By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 3396
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a pilot project to offer student loans for
  certain courses offered by a public junior college.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 130.0037 to read as follows:
         Sec. 130.0037.  PILOT PROJECT: STUDENT LOANS FOR CONTINUING
  EDUCATION COURSES. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall establish a pilot project to measure the impact of
  providing student loans for continuing education courses not
  designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification in order to
  promote greater access to higher education and more efficient use
  of junior college facilities and resources. The coordinating board
  shall select the Tarrant County Junior College District to
  participate in the pilot project.
         (b)  The governing board of the Tarrant County Junior College
  District may establish and offer, from local funds available to the
  district, a student loan program for students pursuing a continuing
  education program not designed to lead to a degree, license, or
  certification.
         (c)  A student loan offered under this section may not be
  used to pay for courses subject to a performance funding formula
  established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
  Section 51.3062(m).
         (d)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board shall report its findings on the
  effectiveness of the student loan program and any recommendation
  regarding extending the program to other junior college districts
  to the committees of each house of the legislature with
  jurisdiction over higher education. This subsection expires
  September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2017.