Bill Text: TX HB3515 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-22 - Referred to Higher Education [HB3515 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB3515-Introduced.html
| 82R7430 KEL-D | ||
| By: Branch | H.B. No. 3515 | |
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| relating to the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and | ||
| Mathematics (T-STEM) Challenge Scholarship program. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Subchapter GG to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER GG. TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND | ||
| MATHEMATICS (T-STEM) CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | ||
| Sec. 61.9791. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "STEM | ||
| program" means a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics | ||
| program. | ||
| Sec. 61.9792. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (a) Subject to | ||
| available funding, the board may establish and administer, in | ||
| accordance with this subchapter and board rules, the Texas | ||
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) | ||
| Challenge Scholarship program under which the board provides a | ||
| scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility criteria | ||
| prescribed by Section 61.9793. | ||
| (b) The purpose of the scholarship program under this | ||
| section is to encourage students to enroll in STEM programs | ||
| administered by lower-division postsecondary institutions in | ||
| partnership with business and industry to address local employment | ||
| needs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) | ||
| fields. | ||
| Sec. 61.9793. ELIGIBLE STUDENT. (a) To receive an initial | ||
| scholarship under this subchapter, a student must: | ||
| (1) graduate from high school with a grade point | ||
| average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale in mathematics and | ||
| science courses; | ||
| (2) enroll in a STEM program at an eligible | ||
| institution; and | ||
| (3) agree to work not more than 15 hours a week for a | ||
| business that participates in the STEM program in partnership with | ||
| the eligible institution. | ||
| (b) To continue to qualify for a scholarship under this | ||
| subchapter, a student must: | ||
| (1) remain enrolled in a STEM program at an eligible | ||
| institution; | ||
| (2) maintain an overall grade point average of at | ||
| least 3.0 on a four-point scale; | ||
| (3) complete at least 80 percent of all semester | ||
| credit hours attempted for each semester; | ||
| (4) complete at least 30 semester credit hours in each | ||
| academic year; and | ||
| (5) work not more than 15 hours a week for a business | ||
| that participates in the STEM program in partnership with the | ||
| eligible institution. | ||
| Sec. 61.9794. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION. (a) To qualify as an | ||
| eligible institution under this subchapter, an institution must: | ||
| (1) be an accredited public or private two-year | ||
| institution of higher education; | ||
| (2) admit at least 50 students into a STEM program each | ||
| academic year; and | ||
| (3) develop partnerships with business and industry | ||
| to: | ||
| (A) identify local employment needs in Science, | ||
| Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; and | ||
| (B) provide part-time employment for students | ||
| enrolled in a STEM program. | ||
| (b) To maintain eligibility under this subchapter, an | ||
| institution must demonstrate to the board that at least 70 percent | ||
| of the institution's T-STEM Challenge Scholarship graduates become | ||
| employed by businesses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and | ||
| Mathematics (STEM) fields within three months after graduation. | ||
| Sec. 61.9795. LIMITATION. The board by rule may limit the | ||
| number of academic terms for which an eligible student may receive a | ||
| scholarship awarded under this subchapter. | ||
| Sec. 61.9796. FUNDING. The board may use any available | ||
| revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may solicit and | ||
| accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this | ||
| subchapter. | ||
| SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | ||
| shall adopt rules to implement Subchapter GG, Chapter 61, Education | ||
| Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 90th day after the | ||
| date the coordinating board first receives sufficient funding for | ||
| the purposes of that subchapter. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | ||
