HB3296 - Relating to the establishment of a higher education consortium for civic education and a grant program for that consortium.

  89R13931 KJE-D     By: Reynolds H.B. No. 3296       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a higher education consortium for   civic education and a grant program for that consortium.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Q, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER Q.   CIVIC EDUCATION CONSORTIUM AND GRANT [ TEXAS   PARTNERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP ] PROGRAM           Sec.   61.801.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "consortium"   means the consortium of colleges and universities established under   Section 61.802.             Sec.   61.802.     CONSORTIUM. (a)   A consortium of colleges and   universities is established to provide civic education to residents   of this state at no cost to the student.           (b)     To be eligible to participate in the consortium, a   college or university must:                 (1)  be located in this state;                 (2)     be designated as a historically black college or   university;                 (3)     be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency;   and                 (4)     for an institution of higher education, comply   with all applicable state and federal laws.           Sec.   61.803.     CIVIC EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a)   From money   appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the board   shall establish a grant program under which the board awards grants   to colleges and universities in the consortium to provide civic   education to residents of this state at no cost to the student.   A   grant awarded under the grant program may be for a one-year term or   for a term of more than one year.           (b)     A college or university in the consortium that receives   a grant under the grant program shall partner with a municipality,   county, community organization, public library, institution of   higher education, or private or independent institution of higher   education to provide the civic education described by Subsection   (a) through existing community programs and initiatives.           (c)     Money received under the grant program may be used only   for the following purposes as related to civic education described   by Subsection (a):                 (1)  for colleges and universities in the consortium:                       (A)     faculty and staff recruitment, development,   and retention;                       (B)     upgrades and support for research,   curriculum development and instruction, and technological   advancements; and                       (C)  infrastructure improvements;                 (2)     for community partners described by Subsection   (b):                       (A)     staffing, including training to build civic   education expertise;                       (B)  infrastructure and program implementation;                       (C)     the creation of digital resources and virtual   programming to expand accessibility; and                       (D)     support for hosting civic education events,   including voter registration drives and workshops;                 (3)     support services for recruitment, development,   and retention of students; and                 (4)     a broad framework of civic education models and   practices to be used as the basis for curriculum and instruction   statewide.           (d)     Civic education offered under the grant program must be   made available across the state, with resources directed to both   urban and rural communities.           (e)     The board shall require a college or university in the   consortium that receives a grant under the grant program to   regularly report the college's or university's progress in   providing civic education described by Subsection (a).           Sec.   61.804.     OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a)   The board shall   establish an oversight committee to monitor the consortium and   implementation of the grant program under Section 61.803.           (b)     The oversight committee must consist of representatives   of:                 (1)     colleges and universities located in this state   and designated as historically black colleges and universities;                 (2)  municipalities;                 (3)  counties; and                 (4)  public libraries.           (c)     The oversight committee shall evaluate the civic   education provided by the consortium under this subchapter at least   once every three years. The committee must consider:                 (1)  student competencies and skills growth;                 (2)  enrollment and completion rates; and                 (3)  community and economic impacts.           (d)     The consortium shall contract with an independent   third-party evaluator to evaluate the civic education provided by   the consortium under this subchapter on the schedule described by   Subsection (c) and report the evaluator's findings to the oversight   committee and the consortium.           Sec.   61.805.     CONSORTIUM RECOMMENDATIONS. (a)   The   consortium may make recommendations to the oversight committee for   the provision of civic education under the grant program   established under Section 61.803.   The recommendations must address   community needs, including state and local workforce development.           (b)     The oversight committee must approve a recommendation   of the consortium before grant funding under Section 61.803 may be   spent in accordance with that recommendation.           Sec.   61.806.     GIFTS, GRANTS, OR DONATIONS.   The board shall   encourage the consortium to seek gifts, grants, or donations,   including matching funds from federal programs, from any public or   private source to support civic education under this subchapter.           Sec.   61.807.     RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary   to implement this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   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.