Sec. 403.355. GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS

(a) The comptroller may award a grant to a nonprofit organization eligible under Subsection (b) for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.

(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit organization must:

(1) provide a program to offer assistance to low-income students in preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in a public junior college or public technical institute;

(2) be governed by a board or other governing structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based community organizations and members of the local business community;

(3) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve the following measures of success among program participants, to the extent applicable to the type of program the organization provides:

(A) above average completion of developmental education among participating public junior college or public technical institute students;

(B) above average persistence rates among participating public junior college or public technical institute students; and

(C) above average certificate or degree completion rates by participating students within a three-year period compared to demographically comparable public junior college and public technical institute students; and

(4) provide matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under Section 403.358.

(c) The matching funds required under Subsection (b)(4) may be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit organization, including in-kind contributions, community or foundation grants, individual contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds.

(c-1) In determining which eligible nonprofit organizations should be awarded a grant under this section among two or more eligible nonprofit organizations offering similar programs, the comptroller shall give priority to any of those organizations that:

(1) has an existing program in place to assist veterans; or

(2) demonstrates employment of participating students at an average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage for the occupation entered.

(d) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into consideration.

(e) This section does not authorize the comptroller to award a grant to:

(1) a nonprofit organization to provide a comprehensive educational program to students that serves as a substitute for a regular educational program provided by a school district or open-enrollment charter school; or

(2) a private elementary or secondary school.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 654 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.