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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the consolidation of the Higher Education Enrollment |
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Assistance Program and the Higher Education Assistance Plan and the |
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transfer of certain enrollment assistance duties to institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter U, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.810 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.810. HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PLANS. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" and "private or |
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independent institution of higher education" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The institution of higher education in closest |
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geographic proximity to a public high school in this state |
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identified by the coordinating board for purposes of this section |
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as substantially below the state average in the number of graduates |
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who enroll in higher education institutions shall enter into an |
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agreement with that high school to develop a plan to increase the |
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number of students from that high school enrolling in higher |
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education institutions. Under the plan, the institution shall: |
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(1) collaborate with the high school to: |
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(A) provide to prospective students information |
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related to enrollment in an institution of higher education or a |
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private or independent institution of higher education, including |
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admissions, testing, and financial aid information; |
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(B) assist those prospective students in |
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completing applications and testing related to enrollment in those |
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institutions, including admissions and financial aid applications, |
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and fulfilling testing requirements; and |
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(C) target efforts to increase the number of |
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Hispanic students and African American male students enrolled in |
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higher education institutions; and |
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(2) actively engage with local school districts to |
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provide access to rigorous, high-quality dual credit opportunities |
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for qualified high school students as needed. |
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(c) An institution of higher education must include a plan |
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developed by the institution under this section and the results of |
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that plan in its annual report to the coordinating board under |
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Section 51.4032. |
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(d) The coordinating board shall include in its annual |
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"Closing the Gaps" higher education plan progress report a summary |
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of the results of the plans developed and administered under this |
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section. |
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(e) The coordinating board may adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 61.07622 and 61.088, Education Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |