HB2249 - Relating to the establishment of the Texas Teacher Recruitment Scholarship Program.

      By: Bernal, Buckley H.B. No. 2249       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the Texas Teacher Recruitment   Scholarship Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter QQ to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER QQ. TEXAS TEACHER RECRUITMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM           Sec.   61.9981.     SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT. (a)     The board shall establish and administer, in accordance with this   subchapter and board rules, the Texas Teacher Recruitment   Scholarship Program under which the board provides an annual   conditional scholarship to a student who meets the eligibility   criteria prescribed by Section 61.9983 and is nominated to receive   a scholarship.           (b)     The total amount of a scholarship awarded under this   subchapter may not exceed the lesser of:                 (1)     $40,000, to be disbursed at a rate of $10,000 per   academic year for four academic years; or                 (2)     an amount equivalent to the tuition and fees for   four academic years, to be disbursed at a rate of one quarter of   the   amount per academic year for four academic years.           Sec.   61.9982.     REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.   If a   student awarded a scholarship under this subchapter receives a   baccalaureate degree before receiving the total amount of the   scholarship, the board shall use the student's remaining   scholarship funds to provide assistance in the repayment of the   student's outstanding education loans, if applicable.           Sec.   61.9983.     ELIGIBILITY; NOMINATION AND SELECTION. (a)   To receive an initial scholarship under this subchapter, a student   must:                 (1)     be enrolled at a public or private institution of   higher education in this state;                 (2)     be enrolled in a university program that   culminates in a baccalaureate degree and prepares a student for the   examination required to obtain an educator certification issued   under Subchapter B, Chapter 21;                 (3)     be nominated to receive a scholarship by the   institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled   under Subdivision (1); and                 (4)     enter into an agreement with the board under   Section 61.9984.           (a-1)     A nomination of a student to receive a scholarship   under this subchapter shall be made without regard to the race,   color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the   student.           (b)     For a student to continue to receive a scholarship   awarded under this subchapter, the student must maintain   satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution at   which the student is enrolled.           Sec.   61.9984.     AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a)   To receive a   scholarship under this subchapter, a student must enter into an   agreement with the board as provided by this section.   The agreement   must require the student to:                 (1)     enroll in and complete a university program that   culminates in a baccalaureate degree and prepares a student for the   examination required to obtain an educator certification issued   under Subchapter B, Chapter 21;                 (2)     obtain an educator certification issued under   Subchapter B, Chapter 21;                 (3)     graduate not later than five years after the date   the student first enrolls at a public or private institution of   higher education in this state;                 (4)     after graduation, maintain employment as an   educator with a school district or open-enrollment charter school   for the period described by Subsection (b) and annually provide to   the board verification of employment during the applicable period;   and                 (5)  agree to repay the scholarship if the student:                       (A)     fails to maintain satisfactory academic   progress;                       (B)  withdraws from the scholarship program; or                       (C)     fails to fulfill the employment requirement   described by Subdivision (4) and Subsection (b).           (b)     Each student who receives a scholarship under this   subchapter is required to maintain employment as an educator in   accordance with Subsection (a)(4) for a period of five years,   except that a student who completes the teacher residency program   established under Subchapter Q, Chapter 21, is required to maintain   employment as an educator in accordance with that subdivision for a   period of only four years.           (c)     The board shall adopt rules to exempt a student from the   repayment of a scholarship under an agreement entered into under   this section if the student is unable to meet the obligations of the   agreement due to extraordinary circumstances.           Sec.   61.9985.     RULES. The board shall adopt rules as   necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including   rules regarding the eligibility criteria, the selection of   scholarship recipients, and the repayment of student loans under   Section 61.9982.           Sec.   61.9986.     LIMITATION ON SCHOLARSHIP. A person may not   receive a scholarship under this subchapter after earning a   cumulative total of 150 credit hours or after being awarded a   baccalaureate degree, whichever occurs first.           Sec.   61.9987.     FUNDING. The board shall administer this   subchapter using available appropriations and gifts, grants, and   donations made for the purposes of this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall award scholarships under Subchapter QQ, Chapter 61, Education   Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2026-2027 academic   year. The coordinating board shall adopt the rules required by that   subchapter as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect.          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.