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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a public safety dual credit grant |
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program by the Texas Education Agency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.9081 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.9081. PUBLIC SAFETY DUAL CREDIT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) |
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From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the |
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agency shall establish and administer a program to provide grants |
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to eligible students who enroll while in high school in a dual |
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credit public safety degree or certificate program at a public |
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institution of higher education. |
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(b) The commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility |
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criteria to receive a grant under this section. The criteria must: |
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(1) require a student to enter into an agreement with |
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the agency to: |
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(A) complete the student's public safety degree |
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or certificate program within a period prescribed by commissioner |
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rule; and |
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(B) on completion of the student's degree or |
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certificate program and any other prerequisites for employment as a |
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peace officer or other public safety officer in this state, |
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complete a number of years of employment as a peace officer or other |
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public safety officer in this state, as prescribed by commissioner |
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rule; and |
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(2) provide that a student who establishes initial |
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eligibility for a grant under this section remains eligible for a |
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grant under this section for the duration of the student's |
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enrollment in a public safety degree or certificate program at a |
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public institution of higher education as long as the student |
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continues to: |
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(A) make satisfactory academic progress toward |
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the degree or certificate; and |
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(B) meet other requirements prescribed by |
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commissioner rule. |
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(c) The amount of a grant awarded to a student under this |
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section is equal to the cost of tuition and required fees incurred |
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by the student for enrollment in a public safety degree or |
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certificate program at a public institution of higher education. |
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(d) A student receiving a grant under this section may use |
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the money only to pay the cost of tuition and required fees incurred |
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by the student for enrollment in a public safety degree or |
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certificate program at a public institution of higher education. |
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(e) The agency may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any public or private source for the purpose of this |
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section. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish and |
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administer the grant program under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall establish the public |
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safety dual credit grant program under Section 29.9081, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |