SB158 - Relating to the establishment of the Texas Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant program for students at certain public institutions of higher education.

  89R2383 JTZ-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 158       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Texas Emergency Aid for Public   Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant program for students at   certain public institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter MM to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER MM. TEXAS EMERGENCY AID FOR PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY   STUDENTS (TEAPPS) GRANT PROGRAM           Sec.   61.9901.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"   means the Texas Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students   (TEAPPS) grant program established under this subchapter.           Sec.   61.9902.     PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas   Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant   program is to enable eligible institutions of higher education to   provide emergency aid grants to assist students in dealing with   unexpected or unforeseen expenses, events, or circumstances that   could cause a loss of momentum toward completion of a degree   program.           Sec.   61.9903.     ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The board   shall administer the program and adopt any rules necessary to   implement the program. The board shall consult with institutions   of higher education in developing rules under this subchapter.           (b)     The board shall develop a competitive application   process to award grants to eligible institutions of higher   education under the program.           Sec.   61.9904.     GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive   a grant under the program, an institution of higher education must   offer at least one associate or baccalaureate degree program and:                 (1)     have a student enrollment in which at least 30   percent of students:                       (A)  receive a Pell grant; or                       (B)     are members of an underrepresented minority   population, as determined by the board; or                 (2)     be designated by the United States Department of   Education as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).           Sec.   61.9905.     PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. An institution of   higher education awarded a grant under this subchapter must:                 (1)     adopt a policy that clearly defines "emergency" in   accordance with board rule for purposes of providing emergency aid   to students under Section 61.9907;                 (2)     use an additional amount of funds at least equal to   10 percent of the grant amount awarded under the program for   purposes of providing emergency aid to students under Section   61.9907;                 (3)     partner with state agencies, nonprofit   community-based organizations, or other private entities to offer   to students receiving emergency aid under Section 61.9907   wraparound support services, such as assistance with food, housing,   transportation, or health care; and                 (4)     implement basic components and adhere to best   practices for successful emergency aid programs, as determined by   the board.           Sec.   61.9906.     GRANT FUNDING; AMOUNT OF GRANT.   (a)   The   total amount of money appropriated for an academic year to award   grants to institutions of higher education under the program may   not exceed $2 million.           (b)     The amount of a grant awarded to an institution of   higher education under the program may not exceed $50,000 per   academic year.           (c)     The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and   donations from any public or private source for the program.           Sec.   61.9907.     GRANT USE. (a) An institution of higher   education that receives a grant under the program may use grant   funds only to provide emergency aid to students enrolled at the   institution in accordance with this subchapter.           (b)     The amount of emergency aid awarded to a student under   this section may not exceed $1,000 per award.           (c)     An institution of higher education that receives a grant   under the program must establish an application process for   students enrolled at the institution to apply for emergency aid   awarded under this section. The application process must:                 (1)  allow students to apply electronically;                 (2)  be offered in both English and Spanish; and                 (3)  require the institution to:                       (A)     conclude review of an application not later   than 48 hours after receipt of the application; and                       (B)     disburse any funds awarded not later than 48   hours after concluding review of an application.           (d)     Each institution of higher education that receives a   grant under the program shall:                 (1)     inform students enrolled at the institution of the   availability of emergency aid under this section in the manner   required by board rule;                 (2)     collect and maintain data regarding the awarding   of emergency aid under this section to evaluate the effectiveness   of the program; and                 (3)     report the data collected under Subdivision (2) to   the board in the time and manner required by board rule.          SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter MM, 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 MM, Chapter 61, Education   Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which   money is appropriated for that purpose, except that the   coordinating board may not award grants under that subchapter for   an academic year before the 2026-2027 academic year.          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, 2025.