Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 660 amends the Education Code to include the offering of career and technology education programs as an objective of public education and to further the development of such programs. The bill requires the inclusion of business and industry representatives on district- and campus-level planning and decision-making committees; creates the Career and Technology Education Advisory Board to help the Texas Education Agency (TEA) develop the state plan for career and technology education and to help school districts develop local career and technology programs; and allows school districts to develop and offer programs that provide students specific education in career and technology professions and award distinguished student achievement. The bill encourages the governor to recognize each member of the business and industry community that the Texas Workforce Commission and TEA determine has helped to provide a career and technology education program, and it requires the commission, together with other state agencies, to prepare and make publicly available a list of all awards and incentives for business participation in school district career and technology education programs and other related training.

            The bill also allows the board of trustees of a school district whose per-pupil property wealth exceeds the equalized wealth level to reduce its per-pupil wealth by executing an agreement, subject to voter approval and certification by the commissioner of education, to provide students outside the district with career and technology education through an area-wide program and to include those students in the district's weighted average daily attendance count.

            The bill takes effect September 1, 2001, except for provisions relating to the public education objectives, the composition of district and campus committees, and district career and technology education programs and distinguished student achievement awards, which take effect immediately.