By: Powell, et al.  S.B. No. 994
         (In the Senate - Filed March 3, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  April 29, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6,
  Nays 3; April 29, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to measures to facilitate the successful completion of
  degree and certificate programs by certain adult learners at public
  institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter R to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER R. TEXAS RECOVERY ACT
         Sec. 61.801.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Adult learner" means a person who:
                     (A)  is at least 25 years of age but not older than
  34 years of age; and
                     (B)  within the preceding 48 months, has achieved
  at least 75 percent completion of a baccalaureate or associate
  degree or certificate program.
               (2)  "Texas WORKS internship program" means the Texas
  Working Off-Campus:  Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills (WORKS)
  Internship Program established under Subchapter E-1, Chapter 56.
         Sec. 61.802.  TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR ADULT LEARNERS.
  (a)  For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, the board shall
  provide to each adult learner enrolled in a baccalaureate or
  associate degree or certificate program at an institution of higher
  education a grant for each semester or term in the amount equal to
  25 percent of the average statewide amount of tuition and required
  fees that a resident student enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate
  or associate degree or certificate program, as applicable, would be
  charged for that semester or term at the type of institution of
  higher education at which the adult learner is enrolled.
         (b)  An adult learner receiving a grant under this section
  may use the money only to pay the cost of tuition or required fees
  for the baccalaureate or associate degree or certificate program in
  which the adult learner is enrolled at an institution of higher
  education.
         Sec. 61.803.  INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR ADULT LEARNERS. (a)  For
  the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, the board
  shall distribute incentive funding to each institution of higher
  education based on the number of adult learners enrolled at the
  institution who, during the preceding state fiscal biennium:
               (1)  timely completed:
                     (A)  a baccalaureate or associate degree program
  in accordance with the adult learner's degree plan; or
                     (B)  a certificate program, as established by
  board rule; or
               (2)  received a baccalaureate or associate degree or
  certificate in a target field, as established by board rule.
         (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the amount of
  incentive funding distributed per qualifying adult learner to an
  institution of higher education under this section for a state
  fiscal biennium may not be less than the amount of funding provided
  per student for that biennium for achievement of an equivalent
  student success measure under Section 61.0593(f), Education Code.
         Sec. 61.804.  FINAL SEMESTER INTERNSHIPS FOR ADULT LEARNERS.
  (a)  For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, the board shall
  collaborate with employers who participate in the Texas WORKS
  internship program to ensure that:
               (1)  employers give priority in employment under that
  program to adult learners in the final semester of a baccalaureate
  or associate degree or certificate program at an institution of
  higher education; and 
               (2)  each adult learner employed through that program
  during the adult learner's final semester of a baccalaureate or
  associate degree or certificate program at an institution of higher
  education receives an additional $2,500 stipend as part of the
  adult learner's wages under that program.
         (b)  The board shall certify internships provided through
  the Texas WORKS internship program through which an adult learner
  may earn course credit toward the adult learner's baccalaureate or
  associate degree or certificate program, as applicable.
         Sec. 61.805.  GRAD TX PROGRAM. The board shall establish the
  Grad TX program in collaboration with institutions of higher
  education to support the reskilling, upskilling, and high-value
  degree or certificate program completion of adult learners. The
  program may include:
               (1)  academic and career advising;
               (2)  assistance with available student financial aid
  options; and
               (3)  flexible degree or certificate programs designed
  for adult learners.
         Sec. 61.806.  LIMITATION. (a)  The total amount spent under
  this subchapter may not exceed $50 million.
         (b)  If the total cost of providing grants, incentive
  funding, or stipends to all eligible adult learners or institutions
  of higher education under this subchapter would exceed the amount
  that may be spent under Subsection (a), the board shall reduce the
  amount of each grant, incentive funding award, and stipend as
  necessary to comply with that subsection.
         Sec. 61.807.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.  The board may
  accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private
  source for purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.808.  REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each
  year, the board shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report
  on the status and effectiveness of the measures established under
  this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.809.  RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary
  to implement this subchapter. In adopting rules, the board shall
  consult with institutions of higher education, the Texas Workforce
  Commission, members of the business community, and other relevant
  stakeholders.
         Sec. 61.810.  EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
  1, 2025.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2022, the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board shall submit the board's initial
  report required under Section 61.808, Education Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
  required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
  legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
  the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the coordinating board may, but is not required to,
  implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
  available for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  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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