Johnson Housing Bill Limits Aid To Colleges With 40,000-Plus Students

The text as introduced · 620 words

89R3071 AND-D

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 1324

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a housing assistance pilot program

to assist certain students enrolled in public junior colleges.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter N to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER N. HOUSING ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM

Sec. 130.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "pilot

program" means the housing assistance pilot program established

under this subchapter.

Sec. 130.402. PILOT PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the

pilot program is to provide needs-based grants to assist eligible

students in the payment of the cost of maintaining housing,

including payments for eviction prevention, rental payments, and

deposit fees for rental units.

Sec. 130.403. ADMINISTRATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall administer the

pilot program in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, the

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and the Texas

Interagency Council for the Homeless. The coordinating board

shall:

(1) create a housing assistance fund for the duration

of the pilot program; and

(2) deposit in the fund for each academic year of the

pilot program an amount equal to the amount of any gifts, grants,

donations, or appropriations designated for the program.

(b) If the pilot program is not continued by law as of August

31, 2029, any money remaining in the fund shall be credited to the

general revenue fund on that date.

Sec. 130.404. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. A junior college

district with an enrollment of 40,000 students or more is eligible

to participate in the pilot program.

Sec. 130.405. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. (a) The Texas Higher

Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the staff of the

participating public junior colleges, including student support

specialists, the Texas Homeless Network, and homeless response

system leads for the areas in which participating junior colleges

are located, shall establish eligibility criteria for students to

receive a grant under the pilot program. The eligibility criteria

must:

(1) require an applicant to be enrolled at a

participating public junior college; and

(2) allow for the consideration of an applicant's

FAFSA application data or other relevant information.

(b) The coordinating board may apply the eligibility

criteria to create a formula for the disbursement of money under the

pilot program.

Sec. 130.406. THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The Texas

Higher Education Coordinating Board may contract with a third party

to design and administer the pilot program in consultation with the

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas

Interagency Council for the Homeless.

(b) A third party administrator shall report to the

coordinating board and the Texas Education Agency in the manner

agreed to under a contract entered into under this section.

Sec. 130.407. REPORTS. (a) Not later than October 1 of

each even-numbered year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Board shall prepare a report on the effectiveness of the pilot

program. The report must include a recommendation regarding

whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or

terminated.

(b) The coordinating board shall deliver a copy of the

report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature

having primary jurisdiction over higher education.

Sec. 130.408. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires

September 1, 2029.

SECTION 2. Subchapter N, Chapter 130, Education Code, as

added by 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.