88R2110 KJE-F     By: Rogers H.B. No. 3674       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of a rural dual credit grant program by the   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.0765 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.0765.  RURAL DUAL CREDIT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The   board shall establish a grant program under which the board awards   grants to eligible public junior colleges to provide financial   assistance to educationally disadvantaged high school students for   all or part of the cost of enrolling in dual credit courses at the   college.          (b)  A public junior college is eligible to receive a grant   under the grant program if the college is in the small or medium   public junior college peer group, as identified by the board.          (c)  A public junior college that receives a grant under the   grant program must:                (1)  use the grant funds to provide financial   assistance to eligible students for all or part of the cost of   tuition and required fees for dual credit courses at the college;                (2)  work with high schools that partner with the   college to provide dual credit courses and elect to participate in   the grant program to:                      (A)  inform eligible students regarding the grant   program and how those courses relate to postsecondary education and   career paths; and                      (B)  assist eligible students in applying to   enroll in those courses; and                (3)  collect and report to the board data on:                      (A)  participation rates of eligible students in   the grant program;                      (B)  outreach efforts regarding the grant   program; and                      (C)  the percentage of eligible students   receiving financial assistance under the grant program who graduate   from high school:                            (i)  in the top 10 percent of the student's   high school class; or                            (ii)  with a workforce certificate or   credential.          (d)  A student is eligible to receive financial assistance   from a public junior college under the grant program if the student:                (1)  is educationally disadvantaged, as defined by   Section 5.001;                (2)  is enrolled in a participating public or private   high school, including a home school, in the service area of the   college; and                (3)  has completed less than 60 semester credit hours   at an institution of higher education.          (e)  Funds provided to an eligible student under the grant   program must be used for the cost of tuition or required fees for   dual credit courses at the public junior college.          (f)  A public or private high school, including a home   school, that partners with a public junior college to provide dual   credit courses and elects to participate in the grant program must   provide to students in grade nine or the equivalent information   regarding dual credit opportunities and the funding available for   dual credit courses under the grant program.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall establish the grant program under Section 61.0765, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable following 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.