Bill Caption

Relating to the establishment by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of a grant program for regional postsecondary education collaboratives.

Fiscal Notes

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time due to the unavailability of data related to the number of postsecondary education collaboratives and students that would participate in the program. The Higher Education Coordinating Board would only be required to implement the grant program if federal funding is provided to the Board for that purpose as part of the federal coronavirus disease (COVID­19) relief spending appropriated on or after January 1, 2021.

Bill Analysis

HB 2030 would require that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board establish and administer a competitive grant program under which the board awards grants to eligible regional postsecondary education collaboratives to improve postsecondary educational outcomes for low-income students in the state.

The Texas Board of Education would only be required to implement the grant program outlined in this legislation if the state receives funding from the federal coronavirus relief spending appropriated after January 1, 2021. This grant program would expire October 1, 2024.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action is opposed to HB 2030 on the principles of limited government and individual liberty. Not only do we have no projection of how much this grant program would cost the taxpayers, but the program is inappropriate to begin with. The state should not use taxpayer funds (federal or state) to subsidize higher education costs. It would be better to find ways to reduce the cost of higher education for everyone, including by eliminating wasteful spending.