87R15903 KJE-D
 
  By: Turner of Tarrant, Button, et al. H.B. No. 2030
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board of a grant program for regional postsecondary
  education collaboratives.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter W to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER W. REGIONAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
  COLLABORATIVES GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 61.931.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Low-income student" means a student who is
  eligible to receive a grant under the federal Pell Grant program or
  has equivalent need, as determined by board rule.
               (2)  "Regional postsecondary education collaborative"
  means a partnership or other collaboration between stakeholders in
  education that is focused on improving postsecondary educational
  outcomes in a region of the state.
         Sec. 61.932.  GRANT PROGRAM. (a)  The board shall establish
  and administer a competitive grant program under which the board
  awards grants to eligible regional postsecondary education
  collaboratives to improve postsecondary educational outcomes for
  low-income students in the state.
         (b)  In awarding grants under the program, the board shall
  give priority to eligible regional postsecondary education
  collaboratives that:
               (1)  focus on supporting low-income students; or
               (2)  have a demonstrated connection to targeted
  workforce fields, as determined by the board.
         Sec. 61.933.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive a grant
  under this subchapter, a regional postsecondary education
  collaborative must:
               (1)  include at least one school district and public
  junior college;
               (2)  raise a minimum amount of funding from other
  sources for the collaborative's costs, as established by board
  rule;
               (3)  develop and submit to the board a plan detailing
  how the collaborative would use grant funds awarded under this
  subchapter in a manner permitted under Section 61.935;
               (4)  build partnerships committed to changing
  postsecondary education systems and improving postsecondary
  educational outcomes through the use of data, mutual
  accountability, and engagement between a student and the student's
  community;
               (5)  measure the collaborative's success by achievement
  of increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion at any
  institution of higher education or private or independent
  institution of higher education and career entry for all students
  the collaborative assists;
               (6)  provide personalized outreach to students and
  parents or caregivers;
               (7)  provide proactive, holistic supports to assist
  students in postsecondary persistence and completion and in
  connecting with employers; and
               (8)  satisfy any additional requirements established
  by board rule.
         Sec. 61.934.  GRANT AMOUNT. (a)  A grant awarded to an
  eligible regional postsecondary education collaborative under the
  program must be made for a period sufficient to cover the enrollment
  in, persistence in, and timely completion of a certificate or
  degree program for two consecutive cohorts of students.
         (b)  Each grant consists of, for each cohort:
               (1)  an initial amount at the beginning of the first
  academic year for which the grant is awarded equal to $1,000 for
  each low-income student who:
                     (A)  graduated in the preceding school year from a
  high school participating in the collaborative; and
                     (B)  enrolls at an institution of higher education
  or a private or independent institution of higher education for
  that academic year; and
               (2)  at the end of each academic year for which the
  grant is awarded, a bonus for each student described by Subdivision
  (1) who:
                     (A)  persists, as determined by board rule, at an
  institution of higher education or a private or independent
  institution of higher education; or
                     (B)  timely completes a certificate or degree
  program, as determined by board rule, at an institution of higher
  education or a private or independent institution of higher
  education.
         (c)  Subject to Subsection (e), the bonus per student under
  Subsection (b)(2)(A) is an amount equal to $25 million divided by
  the total number of students who qualify for the bonus.
         (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), the bonus per student under
  Subsection (b)(2)(B) is an amount equal to $20 million divided by
  the total number of students who qualify for the bonus.
         (e)  The amount of a bonus under Subsection (b)(2)(A) or (B)
  may not exceed $2,000 per student.
         Sec. 61.935.  GRANT USE. A grant awarded to an eligible
  regional postsecondary education collaborative under this
  subchapter may be used only for:
               (1)  staff support for the collaborative;
               (2)  student services designed to increase
  postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion;
               (3)  student financial assistance;
               (4)  programs that provide training for jobs in
  targeted workforce fields, as determined by the board; and
               (5)  other expenses approved by the board.
         Sec. 61.936.  REPORTING. (a)  Each regional postsecondary
  education collaborative that receives a grant under this subchapter
  shall collect and report to the board information regarding
  postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion,
  disaggregated by category and semester or term, as required by the
  board to assist the board in fulfilling its duties under this
  subchapter.
         (b)  Not later than December 1 of each year, the board shall
  submit to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the grant
  program established under this subchapter and any recommendations
  for legislative or other action.
         Sec. 61.937.  RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary
  to implement this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.938.  FEDERAL FUNDING CONTINGENCY. The board is
  required to implement the grant program established under this
  subchapter only if federal funding is provided to the board for that
  purpose as part of any federal coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
  relief spending appropriated on or after January 1, 2021. If such
  funding is not provided for that purpose, the board may, but is not
  required to, implement the grant program using other money
  available to the board for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter W, Chapter 61,
  Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
  the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  begin awarding grants under Subchapter W, Chapter 61, Education
  Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which
  federal funding is appropriated for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2021.