Bill Text: TX HB2177 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to establishing a digital course materials pilot program.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-10 - Effective immediately [HB2177 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2177-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2177 |
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relating to establishing a digital course materials pilot program. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 61.0667 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 61.0667. DIGITAL COURSE MATERIALS PILOT PROGRAM. (a) | ||
In this section: | ||
(1) "Digital course material" means a digital | ||
textbook, supplemental material, or open educational resource, as | ||
those terms are defined by Section 51.451. | ||
(2) "Eligible institution" means a public junior | ||
college, public technical institute, or public state college. | ||
(b) The board shall establish a pilot program under which | ||
the board awards grants to participating eligible institutions to | ||
provide financial assistance to students for the cost of accessing | ||
digital course materials. | ||
(c) The board shall adopt rules necessary to administer the | ||
pilot program, including rules to: | ||
(1) establish a methodology for selecting eligible | ||
institutions to participate in the pilot program and allocating | ||
money appropriated for the purpose of the pilot program among those | ||
institutions that, to the greatest extent possible, results in a | ||
distribution of grant awards that: | ||
(A) reflects the varied geography and unique | ||
institutional missions in this state; and | ||
(B) serves students who meet financial need | ||
requirements as defined by the board for the Texas Educational | ||
Opportunity Grant Program under Subchapter P, Chapter 56, and other | ||
diverse student populations that characterize higher education in | ||
this state; and | ||
(2) establish criteria that participating | ||
institutions must use to evaluate digital course materials that may | ||
be accessed using grants awarded under the pilot program, which may | ||
include criteria regarding: | ||
(A) access to relevant technical support; | ||
(B) adherence to accessibility standards for | ||
students with disabilities; | ||
(C) positive impact on student outcomes; | ||
(D) immediate access and availability of the | ||
materials to all students enrolled at the institution; | ||
(E) faculty access to resources and training | ||
materials; | ||
(F) subscription-based models; | ||
(G) inclusive-access models; and | ||
(H) supplemental resources that may be provided | ||
to assist students with career readiness workforce development. | ||
(d) In developing the rules adopted under Subsection (c), | ||
the board shall solicit input from publishers, campus bookstore | ||
operators, and other relevant industry representatives. | ||
(e) This section does not affect any authority granted by an | ||
eligible institution to a faculty member to select course materials | ||
for courses taught by the faculty member. | ||
(f) Not later than September 1, 2026, the board shall submit | ||
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative | ||
standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education | ||
a report that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program in | ||
improving student outcomes. The report must include a | ||
recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should be | ||
continued, expanded, or terminated. | ||
(g) This section expires September 1, 2027. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating | ||
Board shall adopt rules to administer the pilot program established | ||
under Section 61.0667, 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 | ||
award initial grants under Section 61.0667, Education Code, as | ||
added by this Act, beginning with the 2024 spring semester. | ||
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. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2177 was passed by the House on May 2, | ||
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 113, Nays 32, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2177 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
21, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |