88R10797 JRJ-D
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 3632
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a housing assistance pilot program
  to assist certain students enrolled in public junior colleges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter N to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER N. HOUSING ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM
         Sec. 130.401.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "pilot
  program" means the housing assistance pilot program established
  under this subchapter.
         Sec. 130.402.  PILOT PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the
  pilot program is to provide needs-based grants to assist eligible
  students in the payment of the cost of maintaining housing,
  including payments for eviction prevention, rental payments, and
  deposit fees for rental units.
         Sec. 130.403.  ADMINISTRATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall administer the
  pilot program in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, the
  Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and the Texas
  Interagency Council for the Homeless. The coordinating board
  shall:
               (1)  create a housing assistance fund for the duration
  of the pilot program; and
               (2)  deposit in the fund for each academic year of the
  pilot program an amount equal to the amount of any gifts, grants,
  donations, or appropriations designated for the program.
         (b)  If the pilot program is not continued by law as of August
  31, 2027, any money remaining in the fund shall be credited to the
  general revenue fund on that date.
         Sec. 130.404.  ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. A junior college
  district with an enrollment of 40,000 students or more is eligible
  to participate in the pilot program.
         Sec. 130.405.  ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. (a) The coordinating
  board, in consultation with the staff of the participating public
  junior colleges, including student support specialists, the Texas
  Homeless Network, and homeless response system leads for the areas
  in which participating junior colleges are located, shall establish
  eligibility criteria for students to receive a grant under the
  pilot program. The eligibility criteria must:
               (1)  require an applicant to be enrolled at a
  participating public junior college; and
               (2)  allow for the consideration of an applicant's
  FAFSA application data or other relevant information.
         (b)  The coordinating board may apply the eligibility
  criteria to create a formula for the disbursement of money under the
  pilot program.
         Sec. 130.406.  THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board may contract with a third party
  to design and administer the pilot program in consultation with the
  Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas
  Interagency Council for the Homeless.
         (b)  A third party administrator shall report to the
  coordinating board and the Texas Education Agency in the manner
  agreed to under a contract entered into under this section.
         Sec. 130.407.  REPORTS. (a) Not later than October 1 of
  each even-numbered year, the coordinating board shall prepare a
  report on the effectiveness of the pilot program. The report must
  include a recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should
  be continued, expanded, or terminated.
         (b)  The coordinating board shall deliver a copy of the
  report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature
  having primary jurisdiction over higher education.
         Sec. 130.408.  EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
  September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter N, Chapter 130, Education Code, as
  added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic
  year.
         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.