Relating to the establishment of a postsecondary advising program for students who are the first in their families to pursue postsecondary education or who are educationally disadvantaged.

89(R) HB 4893 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R28721 AND-D

By: Bowers, Walle, McQueeney, Anchía,

H.B. No. 4893

Cunningham, et al.

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4893:

By: Buckley

C.S.H.B. No. 4893

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a postsecondary advising program

for students who are the first in their families to pursue

postsecondary education or who are educationally disadvantaged.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H. BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM

Sec.

33.301.

DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"

means the Breakthrough program established under this subchapter.

Sec.

33.302.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. The commissioner

shall establish the Breakthrough program through which the agency

shall collaborate with a nonprofit organization to provide

postsecondary advising to students who are:

(1)

the first in their families to pursue a

postsecondary certificate or degree; or

(2) educationally disadvantaged.

Sec.

33.303.

DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER AND AGENCY. (a) The

commissioner shall:

(1)

coordinate the efforts of the program with social

service organizations and agencies and public school personnel to

provide services to students who are at risk of not completing

critical steps to graduate from high school and pursue

postsecondary education and career opportunities after high school

graduation;

(2)

establish performance goals, objectives, and

measures for the program, including performance goals, objectives,

and measures for the improvement of student:

(A) academic achievement;

(B) promotion, retention, and graduation; and

(C) enrollment in postsecondary education;

(3)

evaluate progress toward the performance goals,

objectives, and measures established under Subdivision (2);

(4)

assist communities that seek to participate in the

program to establish a local funding base for a local program;

(5)

provide training and technical assistance for

participating communities and local programs; and

(6)

by rule adopt and annually update policies

concerning:

(A)

the agency's responsibility in encouraging

local businesses to participate in the program;

(B)

the agency's responsibility in obtaining

information from local programs; and

(C)

other aspects of the program the commissioner

determines appropriate.

(b)

The agency shall support the development and

implementation of local programs under the program.

Sec.

33.304.

FUNDING FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS. (a) Each local

program shall develop a funding plan that ensures that the level of

services for the local program would be maintained if state funding

for the local program is reduced.

(b)

A local program may accept federal money, state money,

donations, and grants for the local program.

Sec.

33.305.

AGENCY PERFORMANCE OF PROGRAM FUNCTIONS

REQUIRED. The agency:

(1)

must perform each function concerning the program

for which the agency is responsible; and

(2)

may not contract with a private entity to perform a

function described by Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.