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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and administration of the Rural Parents |
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Protection Plan Grant Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Rural |
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Parents Protection Plan. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. RURAL PARENTS PROTECTION PLAN GRANT PROGRAM. |
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Section 12.060. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Agriculture-based community" means a rural |
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community, as that term is defined by Section 12.046 of this code; |
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(2) "Economic development" means an economic |
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development program established by Section 12.027 of this code. |
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(3) "Eligible student" means a school-age child who is |
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eligible to receive a grant under Section 12.063. |
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(4) "Public school" means a public preschool or |
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primary or secondary school in this state. |
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(5) "Program" means the Rural Parents Protection Plan |
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Grant Program established under this subchapter. |
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Section 12.061. RURAL PARENTS PROTECTION PLAN GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner of agriculture may make grants to |
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eligible students. |
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(b) The commissioner shall administer the program. |
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Section 12.062. RURAL PARENTS PROTECTION PLAN GRANT FUND. |
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(a) The comptroller shall establish the Rural Parents Protection |
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Plan Grant fund within the state treasury. |
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(b) Program funds will be allocated to each child to an |
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educational program best suited for that child in accordance with |
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rules adopted by the commissioner of agriculture. |
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(c) Funding per participating student shall be equivalent |
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to 95 percent of the statewide average Foundation School Program |
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funding. |
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Section 12.063. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive a |
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grant under the program, a student must be eligible to attend a |
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public school in an agriculture-based community; and |
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(1) the commissioner determines that economic |
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development in the agriculture-based community can be improved; or |
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(2) the student's parents determine that their child |
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is: |
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(A) not receiving adequate agricultural |
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training; |
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(B) unable to attend their public school due to |
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migrant worker status; |
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(C) in need of specialized food or nutrition |
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services; or |
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(D) unsafe at their public school. |
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Section 12.064. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as |
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necessary to administer this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |