By: Creighton, et al.  S.B. No. 1295
         (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  April 19, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 19, 2021,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1295 By:  Creighton
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to financial support and incentives for comprehensive
  regional universities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 62.003(1), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (1)  Except as otherwise provided by Subchapters C, D,
  E, F, [and] G, and I, "eligible institution" means the eligible
  agencies and institutions of higher education listed in Article
  VII, Section 17(b), of the Constitution of Texas, and any
  institution or agency of higher education that is later made
  eligible to participate in the disbursement of funds pursuant to
  Article VII, Section 17(c), of the Constitution of Texas.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 62, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter I to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I.  COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL UNIVERSITY FUNDING
         Sec. 62.181.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "At-risk student" means an undergraduate student
  of an eligible institution:
                     (A)  whose score on the SAT or ACT assessment test
  is less than the national mean score of students' scores on that
  test; or
                     (B)  who has previously received a grant under the
  federal Pell Grant program.
               (2)  "Eligible institution" means an institution of
  higher education designated as a comprehensive university,
  doctoral university, or master's university under the coordinating
  board's accountability system.
         Sec. 62.182.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
  provide funding to each eligible institution to support the
  institution in serving at-risk students, helping meet the state's
  workforce needs, and enhancing the institution's regional economy.
         Sec. 62.183.  FUNDING. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), for
  each state fiscal biennium, an eligible institution is entitled to
  receive an amount equal to the sum of:
               (1)  a base amount of $500,000 or a greater base amount
  provided by appropriation; and
               (2)  the product of $1,000 or a greater amount provided
  by appropriation and the average number of at-risk students awarded
  a degree by the institution each year during the three state fiscal
  years preceding the biennium.
         (b)  An alternative method of allocating funding under this
  section may be provided by appropriation.
         Sec. 62.184.  STUDY AND REPORT. (a) The coordinating board,
  in consultation with a representative group of eligible
  institutions, shall conduct a study on the method of funding
  provided under Section 62.183 to determine that method's
  effectiveness in:
               (1)  allocating state funds fairly and equitably; and
               (2)  promoting student success at eligible
  institutions.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2022, the coordinating board
  shall submit to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board a
  report on the results of the study and any recommendations for
  legislative or other action.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 3.  An eligible institution is entitled to receive
  funding under Section 62.183, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  beginning with the first state fiscal biennium for which money is
  appropriated for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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