Bill Text: TX SB158 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant program for students at certain public institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-03 - Referred to Education K-16 [SB158 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB158-Introduced.html

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89R2383 JTZ-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 158

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Emergency Aid for Public
Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant program for students at
certain public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter MM to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER MM. TEXAS EMERGENCY AID FOR PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY
STUDENTS (TEAPPS) GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9901. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"
means the Texas Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students
(TEAPPS) grant program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9902. PROGRAM PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas
Emergency Aid for Public Postsecondary Students (TEAPPS) grant
program is to enable eligible institutions of higher education to
provide emergency aid grants to assist students in dealing with
unexpected or unforeseen expenses, events, or circumstances that
could cause a loss of momentum toward completion of a degree
program.
Sec. 61.9903. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The board
shall administer the program and adopt any rules necessary to
implement the program. The board shall consult with institutions
of higher education in developing rules under this subchapter.
(b) The board shall develop a competitive application
process to award grants to eligible institutions of higher
education under the program.
Sec. 61.9904. GRANT ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
a grant under the program, an institution of higher education must
offer at least one associate or baccalaureate degree program and:
(1) have a student enrollment in which at least 30
percent of students:
(A) receive a Pell grant; or
(B) are members of an underrepresented minority
population, as determined by the board; or
(2) be designated by the United States Department of
Education as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).
Sec. 61.9905. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. An institution of
higher education awarded a grant under this subchapter must:
(1) adopt a policy that clearly defines "emergency" in
accordance with board rule for purposes of providing emergency aid
to students under Section 61.9907;
(2) use an additional amount of funds at least equal to
10 percent of the grant amount awarded under the program for
purposes of providing emergency aid to students under Section
61.9907;
(3) partner with state agencies, nonprofit
community-based organizations, or other private entities to offer
to students receiving emergency aid under Section 61.9907
wraparound support services, such as assistance with food, housing,
transportation, or health care; and
(4) implement basic components and adhere to best
practices for successful emergency aid programs, as determined by
the board.
Sec. 61.9906. GRANT FUNDING; AMOUNT OF GRANT. (a) The
total amount of money appropriated for an academic year to award
grants to institutions of higher education under the program may
not exceed $2 million.
(b) The amount of a grant awarded to an institution of
higher education under the program may not exceed $50,000 per
academic year.
(c) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for the program.
Sec. 61.9907. GRANT USE. (a) An institution of higher
education that receives a grant under the program may use grant
funds only to provide emergency aid to students enrolled at the
institution in accordance with this subchapter.
(b) The amount of emergency aid awarded to a student under
this section may not exceed $1,000 per award.
(c) An institution of higher education that receives a grant
under the program must establish an application process for
students enrolled at the institution to apply for emergency aid
awarded under this section. The application process must:
(1) allow students to apply electronically;
(2) be offered in both English and Spanish; and
(3) require the institution to:
(A) conclude review of an application not later
than 48 hours after receipt of the application; and
(B) disburse any funds awarded not later than 48
hours after concluding review of an application.
(d) Each institution of higher education that receives a
grant under the program shall:
(1) inform students enrolled at the institution of the
availability of emergency aid under this section in the manner
required by board rule;
(2) collect and maintain data regarding the awarding
of emergency aid under this section to evaluate the effectiveness
of the program; and
(3) report the data collected under Subdivision (2) to
the board in the time and manner required by board rule.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter MM, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
begin awarding grants under Subchapter MM, Chapter 61, Education
Code, as added by this Act, for the first academic year for which
money is appropriated for that purpose, except that the
coordinating board may not award grants under that subchapter for
an academic year before the 2026-2027 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.