The agency must create and run a financial literacy pilot program, with program content covering listed personal finance topics, and may select up to 100 school districts if funding is available.
Sec. 29.915. FINANCIAL LITERACY PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "program" means the financial literacy pilot program. (b) To the extent funding is available under Subsection (e), the agency by rule shall establish and implement a financial literacy pilot program to provide students in participating school districts with the knowledge and skills necessary as self-supporting adults to make critical decisions relating to personal financial matters. (c) The agency shall collaborate with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner and the State Securities Board to develop the curriculum and instructional materials for the program. The curriculum and instructional materials must include information about: (1) avoiding and eliminating credit card debt; (2) understanding the rights and responsibilities of renting or buying a home; (3) managing money to make the transition from renting a home to home ownership; (4) starting a small business; (5) being a prudent investor in the stock market and using other investment options; (6) beginning a savings program; (7) bankruptcy; (8) the types of bank accounts available to consumers and the benefits of maintaining a bank account; (9) balancing a check book; (10) the types of loans available to consumers and becoming a low-risk borrower; and (11) the use of insurance as a means of protecting against financial risk. (d) The agency shall develop an application and selection process for selecting school districts to participate in the program. The agency may select not more than 100 school districts to participate in the program. (e) The agency may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation from any source, including a foundation, private entity, governmental entity, or institution of higher education, for the implementation of the program. The program may be implemented only if sufficient funds are available under this subsection for that purpose. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 832 (S.B. 851), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1328 (H.B. 3646), Sec. 23, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1221 (S.B. 1590), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.