H.B. No. 1590
 
 
 
 
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Leadership Scholars
  Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter T-3 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER T-3. TEXAS LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS PROGRAM
         Sec. 61.891.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Leadership scholarship" means a scholarship
  awarded to an undergraduate student under the program.
               (2)  "Program" means the Texas Leadership Scholars
  Program established under this subchapter.
               (3)  "Research scholarship" means a scholarship
  awarded to a graduate student under the program.
         Sec. 61.892.  ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The Texas
  Leadership Scholars Program is established to serve as a
  merit-based scholarship and leadership opportunity program for
  high-achieving, emerging leaders with financial need.
         (b)  Using money appropriated or otherwise available for the
  purpose, the board shall award scholarships and provide academic
  achievement support and leadership development to eligible
  students under the program.
         (c)  The board shall administer the program. The board may
  contract with one or more institutions of higher education to
  assist in administering the program, including receiving and
  reviewing applications, recommending the distribution of funds to
  institutions of higher education, and developing criteria for the
  selection of students for the program.
         (d)  The board may establish one or more advisory committees
  for the purpose of recommending rules for the administration of the
  program.
         Sec. 61.893.  INITIAL ELIGIBILITY. (a)  To be initially
  eligible for the award of a leadership scholarship, an
  undergraduate student must:
               (1)  have graduated from a public high school in this
  state;
               (2)  either:
                     (A)  have qualified for automatic admission to a
  general academic teaching institution under Section 51.803; or
                     (B)  be nominated by the student's high school for
  participation in the program and hold another academic distinction
  recognized by the board;
               (3)  be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a
  general academic teaching institution; 
               (4)  be economically disadvantaged, as determined by
  board rule; and
               (5)  comply with any additional requirement adopted by
  the board.
         (b)  To be initially eligible for the award of a research
  scholarship, a graduate student must:
               (1)  be enrolled in a research doctoral degree program
  at a general academic teaching institution;
               (2)  either:
                     (A)  have graduated from a public high school in
  this state during the 10 years preceding the date of the student's
  application to the program; or
                     (B)  have graduated from an institution of higher
  education or a private or independent institution of higher
  education;
               (3)  be economically disadvantaged, as determined by
  board rule; 
               (4)  be nominated by the institution at which the
  student is enrolled on the basis of the student's academic merit and
  leadership potential; and
               (5)  comply with any additional requirements adopted by
  the board.
         Sec. 61.894.  CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY. After establishing
  initial eligibility to participate in the program under Section
  61.893, a student may continue participating in the program only if
  the student:
               (1)  remains:
                     (A)  for a leadership scholarship, enrolled in a
  baccalaureate degree program at a general academic teaching
  institution; or
                     (B)  for a research scholarship, enrolled in a
  research doctoral degree program at a general academic teaching
  institution;
               (2)  maintains a minimum overall grade point average
  determined by board rule; and
               (3)  complies with any additional requirement adopted
  by the board.
         Sec. 61.895.  ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP
  DEVELOPMENT. The board may enter into agreements with general
  academic teaching institutions or other institutions of higher
  education to provide students participating in the program with:
               (1)  research-based support to make satisfactory
  academic progress and graduate on time; and
               (2)  leadership development opportunities, including:
                     (A)  program cohort learning communities;
                     (B)  mentoring, research, and internship
  opportunities;
                     (C)  networking with state government, business,
  and civic leaders; and 
                     (D)  statewide cohort learning institutes or
  seminars.
         Sec. 61.896.  GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
  solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any
  public or private source for the purposes of the program.
         Sec. 61.897.  RULES. (a)  The board, in consultation with
  general academic teaching institutions, shall adopt rules for the
  administration of the program, including rules providing for the
  amount and permissible uses of a scholarship awarded under the
  program.  The rules must provide that:
               (1)  the amount of a research scholarship is at least
  150 percent of the amount of a leadership scholarship; and
               (2)  a student may not receive a scholarship under the
  program for more than four years.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the board is not
  required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter
  2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-3, Chapter 61,
  Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
  the effective date of this Act.
         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, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1590 was passed by the House on April
  13, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 126, Nays 21, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1590 on May 25, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 120, Nays 19,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1590 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor