Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1780 amends the Education Code to create a high priority program fund administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support development, revision, or expansion of capital-intensive vocational and technical education programs at public junior colleges and technical institutes that meet specific workforce training demands of business and industry as determined by the board and that encourage location, retention, and expansion of business and industry in the state. The act requires a college or institute applying for an award from the fund to demonstrate to the board that a program proposed for funding meets an immediate business or industry need; that the award will enhance vocational and technical education in the state; that funding is necessary to develop, revise, or expand the program; and that the program will have broad economic benefits. It also requires each recipient to provide an annual progress report on its high priority program to the coordinating board.