87R7307 KJE-D     By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 2031       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment by the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board of a grant program for regional postsecondary   education collaboratives.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter W to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER W. REGIONAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION   COLLABORATIVES GRANT PROGRAM          Sec. 61.931.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Low-income student" means a student who is   eligible to receive a grant under the federal Pell Grant program.                (2)  "Regional postsecondary education collaborative"   means a partnership or other collaboration between stakeholders in   education, such as school districts, institutions of higher   education, employers, and communities, to improve postsecondary   educational outcomes in a region of the state.          Sec. 61.932.  GRANT PROGRAM. (a)  The board shall establish   and administer a competitive grant program under which the board   awards grants to eligible regional postsecondary education   collaboratives to improve postsecondary educational outcomes for   low-income students in the state.          (b)  In awarding grants under the program, the board shall   give priority to eligible regional postsecondary education   collaboratives that:                (1)  focus on supporting low-income students; or                (2)  have a demonstrated connection to critical   workforce fields, as determined by the board.          Sec. 61.933.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive a grant   under this subchapter, a regional postsecondary education   collaborative must:                (1)  raise a minimum amount of funding from other   sources for the collaborative's costs, as established by board   rule;                (2)  provide, at a minimum, a scholarship to students   in an amount that, when combined with other federal or state student   financial assistance for which the student is eligible, covers the   full cost of tuition and required fees for two academic years at a   public junior college;                (3)  build partnerships committed to changing   postsecondary education systems and improving postsecondary   educational outcomes through the use of data, mutual   accountability, and engagement between a student and the student's   community;                (4)  measure the collaborative's success by achievement   of increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion at any   institution of higher education and career entry for all students   the collaborative assists;                (5)  provide personalized outreach to students and   parents;                (6)  provide proactive, holistic supports to assist   students in postsecondary persistence and completion and in   connecting with employers; and                (7)  satisfy any additional requirements established   by board rule.          Sec. 61.934.  GRANT AMOUNT. (a)  A grant awarded to an   eligible regional postsecondary education collaborative under the   program must be made for two sequential academic years and consists   of:                (1)  an initial amount at the beginning of each   academic year equal to $1,000 for each low-income student who:                      (A)  graduated from high school in the preceding   school year; and                      (B)  enrolls at an institution of higher education   for that academic year with the assistance of the collaborative;   and                (2)  at the end of the academic year for which the   initial amount under Subdivision (1) is awarded, a bonus for each   student described by Subdivision (1) who:                      (A)  persists at an institution of higher   education, as defined by the board, except that the bonus may be   awarded only for the number of those students in excess of the   number of students described by Subdivision (1) who would need to   persist at an institution of higher education for the students'   persistence rate to be equal to the statewide persistence rate of   low-income students at institutions of higher education during the   2018-2019 academic year; or                      (B)  timely completes a certificate or degree   program at an institution of higher education, as provided by   Subsection (d), except that the bonus may be awarded only for the   number of those students in excess of the number of students   described by Subdivision (1) who would need to timely complete a   certificate or degree program at an institution of higher education   for the students' timely completion rate to be equal to the   statewide timely completion rate of low-income students at   institutions of higher education during the 2018-2019 academic   year.          (b)  The bonus per student under Subsection (a)(2)(A) is an   amount equal to $25 million divided by the total number of students   who qualify for the bonus.          (c)  The bonus per student under Subsection (a)(2)(B) is an   amount equal to $20 million divided by the total number of students   who qualify for the bonus.          (d)  For purposes of this section, "timely completion" means   completion of a certificate or degree program within one and   one-half times the number of calendar years generally required to   complete the program, as determined by the board.          Sec. 61.935.  GRANT USE. A grant awarded to an eligible   regional postsecondary education collaborative under this   subchapter may be used only for:                (1)  staff support for the collaborative;                (2)  student services designed to increase   postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion;                (3)  student financial assistance;                (4)  programs that provide training for regional jobs   in high demand that pay a living wage; and                (5)  other expenses approved by the board.          Sec. 61.936.  REPORTING. (a)  Each regional postsecondary   education collaborative that receives a grant under this subchapter   shall collect and report to the board information regarding   postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion,   disaggregated by semester or term, as required by the board to   assist the board in fulfilling its duties under this subchapter.          (b)  Not later than December 1 of each year, the board shall   submit to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the grant   program established under this subchapter and any recommendations   for legislative or other action.          Sec. 61.937.  RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary   to implement this subchapter.          Sec. 61.938.  FEDERAL FUNDING CONTINGENCY. The board is   required to implement the grant program established under this   subchapter only if federal funding is provided to the board for that   purpose as part of any federal coronavirus disease (COVID-19)   relief spending appropriated on or after January 1, 2021. If such   funding is not provided for that purpose, the board may, but is not   required to, implement the grant program using other money   available to the board for that purpose.          SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter W, Chapter 61,   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 shall   begin awarding grants under Subchapter W, Chapter 61, Education   Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which   federal funding is appropriated for that purpose.          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, 2021.