By: Turner of Tarrant, et al. H.B. No. 2030

(Senate Sponsor - West, Powell)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2021; May 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 21, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2030 By: West

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) Subject to Subsection (b), 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.

(b) A grant awarded under this subchapter may not be used to pay for a student's tuition at an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education.

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.

Sec. 61.939. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires October 1, 2024.

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.

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