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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Science, Technology, |
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Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship Program for |
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certain students at public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter LL to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER LL. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS |
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(STEM) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
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Sec. 61.9851. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "STEM |
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program" means a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics |
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program. |
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Sec. 61.9852. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) For purposes of |
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Section 49-g(c-3), Article III, Texas Constitution, the Science, |
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Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship |
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Program is established to provide eligible students with |
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scholarships to attend a STEM program at an institution of higher |
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education. |
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(b) The board shall establish and administer the |
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scholarship program in accordance with this subchapter and board |
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rules. |
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Sec. 61.9853. ELIGIBILITY. (a) To receive an initial |
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scholarship under this subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the |
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United States; |
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(2) be a Texas resident under Section 54.052; |
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(3) enroll in a STEM program at an institution of |
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higher education; and |
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(4) comply with any other eligibility requirements |
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established by board rule. |
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(b) To continue to qualify for a scholarship under this |
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subchapter, a student must: |
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(1) remain enrolled in a STEM program at an |
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institution of higher education; |
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(2) make satisfactory academic progress as determined |
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by board rule; and |
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(3) comply with any other eligibility requirements |
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established by board rule. |
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Sec. 61.9854. AMOUNT; FUNDING. From funds retained as |
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general revenue under Section 49-g(c-3), Article III, Texas |
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Constitution, and appropriated for that purpose and from any other |
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available funds, the board shall award scholarships in an amount |
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determined by board rule to eligible students under the scholarship |
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program. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall begin awarding scholarships under Subchapter LL, Chapter 61, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year |
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for which money is appropriated for that purpose, except that the |
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coordinating board may not award scholarships under that subchapter |
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for an academic year before the 2023-2024 academic year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2022, but only |
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if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 87th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2021, to reduce the allocation of certain general |
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revenue to the economic stabilization fund and to use that revenue |
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for certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics |
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(STEM) scholarships is approved by the voters. If that |
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constitutional amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act |
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has no effect. |