87R11988 KJE-D     By: West S.B. No. 2111       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 or   has equivalent need, as determined by board rule.                (2)  "Regional postsecondary education collaborative"   means a partnership or other collaboration between stakeholders in   education that is focused on improving 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 targeted   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)  include at least one school district and public   junior college;                (2)  raise a minimum amount of funding from other   sources for the collaborative's costs, as established by board   rule;                (3)  develop and submit to the board a plan detailing   how the collaborative would use grant funds awarded under this   subchapter in a manner permitted under Section 61.935;                (4)  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;                (5)  measure the collaborative's success by achievement   of increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion at any   institution of higher education or private or independent   institution of higher education and career entry for all students   the collaborative assists;                (6)  provide personalized outreach to students and   parents or caregivers;                (7)  provide proactive, holistic supports to assist   students in postsecondary persistence and completion and in   connecting with employers; and                (8)  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 a period sufficient to cover the enrollment   in, persistence in, and timely completion of a certificate or   degree program for two consecutive cohorts of students.          (b)  Each grant consists of, for each cohort:                (1)  an initial amount at the beginning of the first   academic year for which the grant is awarded equal to $1,000 for   each low-income student who:                      (A)  graduated in the preceding school year from a   high school participating in the collaborative; and                      (B)  enrolls at an institution of higher education   or a private or independent institution of higher education for   that academic year; and                (2)  at the end of each academic year for which the   grant is awarded, a bonus for each student described by Subdivision   (1) who:                      (A)  persists, as determined by board rule, at an   institution of higher education or a private or independent   institution of higher education; or                      (B)  timely completes a certificate or degree   program, as determined by board rule, at an institution of higher   education or a private or independent institution of higher   education.          (c)  Subject to Subsection (e), 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.          (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), 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.          (e)  The amount of a bonus under Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B)   may not exceed $2,000 per student.          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 jobs in   targeted workforce fields, as determined by the board; 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 category and 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.