By: Taylor of Galveston  S.B. No. 2082
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2017; March 28, 2017, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  April 20, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
  Nays 0; April 20, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the work-study student mentorship program administered
  by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 56.079(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (i),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  In accordance with this section and coordinating board
  rules, the coordinating board shall administer a work-study student
  mentorship program under which students who are enrolled at
  participating eligible institutions and who meet the eligibility
  requirements for employment in the Texas college work-study program
  under Section 56.075 may be employed by participating entities
  under the Texas college work-study program to:
               (1)  mentor students at participating eligible
  institutions or high school students in participating school
  districts; [or]
               (2)  counsel high school students at GO Centers or
  similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to improve
  student access to higher education; or
               (3)  support student interventions at participating
  eligible institutions that are focused on increasing completion of
  degrees or certificates, such as interventions occurring through
  advising or supplemental instruction.
         (c)  To participate in the work-study student mentorship
  program under Subsection (b)(1) or (2), an eligible institution and
  one or more school districts or nonprofit organizations interested
  in jointly participating in the program shall file with the
  coordinating board a joint memorandum of understanding detailing
  the roles and responsibilities of the participating entities.
         (d)  The coordinating board shall develop, when applicable
  and in consultation with eligible institutions, school districts,
  and nonprofit organizations that express interest in participating
  in the work-study student mentorship program, [shall develop] a
  standard contract establishing the roles and responsibilities of
  participating entities to be used as a model for a memorandum of
  understanding entered into by participating entities under
  Subsection (c).
         (e)  The coordinating board:
               (1)  shall establish criteria to ensure that the
  participating eligible institution's contribution toward the wages
  and benefits of a student employed [as a mentor] under the
  work-study student mentorship program as provided by Subsection
  (b)(1) or (2) is matched by funds provided by the participating
  entity benefiting from the services of the employed student in an
  amount that is at least equal to the amount of the participating
  eligible institution's contribution;
               (2)  may accept appropriate in-kind contributions from
  participating nonprofit organizations to satisfy the matching
  funds requirement of this subsection; and
               (3)  may waive the matching funds requirement of this
  subsection for a participating entity that meets criteria
  established by the coordinating board for a waiver.
         (f)  The coordinating board may [shall] partner with
  participating nonprofit organizations to establish additional GO
  Centers or similar high school-based recruiting centers designed to
  improve student access to and success in higher education in this
  state.
         (i)  An eligible institution participating in the work-study
  student mentorship program under this section may require students
  who are on academic probation at the institution to be matched with
  a student mentor or advisor employed under the program.
         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.
 
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