HB5333 - Relating to the establishment of the STEM Excellence Graduate Fellowship program.

  89R20469 RDR-F     By: Bonnen H.B. No. 5333       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the STEM Excellence Graduate   Fellowship program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter W to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER W. STEM EXCELLENCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM           Sec. 61.931.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Program" means the STEM Excellence Graduate   Fellowship program established under this subchapter.                 (2)     "STEM" means science, technology, engineering,   and mathematics.           Sec.   61.932.     ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The STEM   Excellence Graduate Fellowship program is established as a   merit-based fellowship for high-achieving research doctoral   students in a STEM field.           (b)     Using money appropriated or otherwise available for the   purpose, the board shall award fellowships to eligible students   under the program to conduct research at a general academic   teaching institution.           (c)     The board shall administer the program. The board may   contract with one or more general academic teaching institutions to   assist in administering the program, including receiving and   reviewing applications, recommending the distribution of funds to   general academic teaching institutions, and developing criteria   for the selection of students for the program.           (d)     The board may establish one or more advisory committees   for the purpose of recommending rules for the administration of the   program.           Sec.   61.933.     INITIAL ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be initially   eligible for a fellowship, a student must:                 (1)  be a United States citizen;                 (2)     obtain the federal security clearance required for   the research the student would be performing under the fellowship,   if applicable;                 (3)     be a high-achieving student, as determined by the   institution in which the student is enrolled, based on criteria the   institution would otherwise use to award merit-based aid, including   grades, test scores, work, internship, or other experience,   scholarships or awards received, or prior research or publication   by the student;                 (4)     be enrolled in a research doctoral degree program   in a STEM field at a general academic teaching institution; and                 (5)     comply with any additional requirement adopted by   the board.           (b)     The board may give preference to a student who is a   resident of this state under Subchapter B, Chapter 54.           Sec.   61.934.     CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY. (a) After   establishing initial eligibility to participate in the program   under Section 61.933, a student may continue participating in the   program only if the student:                 (1)     maintains a minimum overall grade point average   determined by board rule;                 (2)     maintains the required federal security clearance   for the research the student is conducting under the fellowship, if   applicable; and                 (3)     complies with any additional requirement adopted   by the board.           (b)     A student may not receive a fellowship under the program   for more than five years.           Sec.   61.935.     GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may   solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any   public or private source for the purposes of the program.           Sec.   61.936.     RULES. (a) The board, in consultation with   general academic teaching institutions, shall adopt rules for the   administration of the program, including rules providing for the   amount and permissible uses of a fellowship awarded under the   program.           (b)     Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the board is not   required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter   2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this   subchapter.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter W, Chapter 61,   Education Code, as added by this Act.          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.