88R4022 CXP-D
 
  By: Stucky H.B. No. 2177
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a digital textbook and learning materials
  subscription pilot program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.0667 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.0667.  DIGITAL TEXTBOOK AND LEARNING MATERIALS
  SUBSCRIPTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Digital textbook and learning materials
  subscription program" means a subscription program to a platform
  that includes unrestricted access to digital textbooks, study
  tools, online homework platforms, and other educational resources
  used to improve student outcomes.
               (2)  "Lower-division institution of higher education"
  means a public junior college, public state college, or public
  technical institute.
         (b)  The board shall establish a pilot program under which
  the board awards grants to participating lower-division
  institutions of higher education to provide financial assistance to
  eligible students for the cost of subscribing to the digital
  textbook and learning materials subscription program selected by
  the board under Subsection (e).
         (c)  The board shall select lower-division institutions of
  higher education to participate in the pilot program. In selecting
  institutions, the board shall, to the extent possible:
               (1)  select institutions in both rural and urban areas
  of this state; and
               (2)  prioritize institutions with large socially and
  economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented
  student populations.
         (d)  A participating lower-division institution of higher
  education must use grant funds awarded under this section to
  provide financial assistance to eligible students for all or part
  of the cost of subscribing to the digital textbook and learning
  materials subscription program selected by the board under
  Subsection (e). The participating institution shall determine the
  eligibility criteria for a student to receive financial assistance
  under the pilot program and must prioritize providing financial
  assistance to economically disadvantaged students.
         (e)  The board shall engage in a competitive bidding process
  to select the digital textbook and learning materials subscription
  to be used in the pilot program. The subscription selected by the
  board must provide 24-hour technical support services to
  subscribers.
         (f)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the board shall
  prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
  of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction
  over higher education a report that evaluates the effectiveness of
  the pilot program in improving student outcomes. The report must
  include a recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should
  be continued, expanded, or terminated.
         (g)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall adopt rules to administer the pilot program established
  under Section 61.0667, 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 and
  participating lower-division institutions of higher education
  shall award initial grants under Section 61.0667, Education Code,
  as added by this Act, beginning with the 2024 spring semester.
         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.