By: Smith, A. H.B. No. 1399
73R5170 ESH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to state funding for vocational education programs.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 16.155, Education Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 16.155. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ALLOTMENT. (a) For each
1-7 full-time equivalent student in average daily attendance in a <an
1-8 approved vocational education program in grades nine through 12 or
1-9 in> vocational education for the handicapped program <programs> in
1-10 grades seven through 12, a district is entitled to an annual
1-11 allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a
1-12 weight of 1.37.
1-13 (b) For each full-time equivalent student in average daily
1-14 attendance in a vocational education program approved under
1-15 Sections 21.112 and 21.1121 of this code in grades nine through 12,
1-16 a district is entitled to an annual allotment equal to the adjusted
1-17 basic allotment multiplied by a weight not to exceed 1.37. The
1-18 amount of a weight under this subsection is determined as provided
1-19 by Section 21.1121 of this code.
1-20 (c) In this section, "full-time equivalent student" means 30
1-21 hours of contact a week between a student and vocational education
1-22 program personnel.
1-23 (d) <(c)> Funds allocated under this section, other than an
1-24 indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education
2-1 rule, must be used in providing vocational education programs in
2-2 grades nine through 12 or vocational education for the handicapped
2-3 programs in grades seven through 12 under the provisions of
2-4 Sections 21.111, 21.1111, <and> 21.112, and 21.1121 of this code.
2-5 <(d) The indirect cost allotment established under board
2-6 rules shall first be effective for the 1991-1992 school year
2-7 consistent with the weight effective that year.>
2-8 (e) The commissioner shall conduct a cost-benefit comparison
2-9 between vocational education programs and mathematics and science
2-10 programs.
2-11 (f) <(h)> Out of the total statewide allotment for
2-12 vocational education under this section, the commissioner of
2-13 education shall set aside an amount specified in the General
2-14 Appropriations Act, which may not exceed an amount equal to one
2-15 percent of the total amount appropriated, to support regional
2-16 vocational education planning committees established under Section
2-17 21.115(b) of this code. After deducting the amount set aside under
2-18 this subsection from the total amount appropriated for vocational
2-19 education under this section, the commissioner shall reduce each
2-20 district's allotment in the same manner described for a reduction
2-21 in state funds under Section 16.254(d) of this code.
2-22 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
2-23 amended by adding Sections 21.1121 and 21.1122 to read as follows:
2-24 Sec. 21.1121. APPROVAL OF VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STATE
2-25 FUNDING. (a) A school district may not use funds received from
2-26 the state for a vocational education program unless the
2-27 commissioner of education approves the program under this section.
3-1 (b) The commissioner may approve a school district's
3-2 vocational education program only if the program is designed to
3-3 train students for jobs that the occupational information
3-4 coordinating council determines are available in this state,
3-5 particularly in the region of the state in which the district is
3-6 located.
3-7 (c) The commissioner and the occupational information
3-8 coordinating council jointly shall develop funding weights for
3-9 vocational education programs. The amount of a weight under this
3-10 subsection must be proportionately related to the regional or
3-11 statewide demand for employees with the skills taught in the
3-12 program.
3-13 (d) In this section, "occupational information coordinating
3-14 council" means the state occupational information coordinating
3-15 council established pursuant to 20 U.S.C. Section 2422(b).
3-16 Sec. 21.1122. OFF-SITE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM.
3-17 (a) The Central Education Agency shall develop a pilot program for
3-18 the 1994-1995 state fiscal biennium that permits students in grades
3-19 11 and 12 to attend vocational education programs at campuses of
3-20 the Texas State Technical College System, community colleges, and
3-21 vocational education centers.
3-22 (b) The agency shall select for participation in the pilot
3-23 program school districts that are easily accessible to campuses of
3-24 the Texas State Technical College System, community colleges, or
3-25 vocational education centers. The agency shall establish criteria
3-26 for use by those districts in choosing schools for participation in
3-27 the pilot program.
4-1 (c) A school district shall provide transportation for a
4-2 student in the pilot program as provided by Section 16.156 of this
4-3 code. For purposes of that section, the college campus or
4-4 vocational education center at which a student attends classes is
4-5 considered to be the student's campus of regular attendance.
4-6 (d) Not later than January 31, 1995, the agency shall report
4-7 to the legislature regarding the results of the pilot program.
4-8 (e) This section expires September 1, 1995.
4-9 SECTION 3. Section 34.004, Education Code, is amended by
4-10 adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
4-11 (d) The commissioner may select for a successful school
4-12 award a school or district that has a vocational education program
4-13 that places graduates in eligible employment. The amount of an
4-14 award under this subsection is $50 for each graduate in eligible
4-15 employment. In this subsection, "eligible employment" means
4-16 employment:
4-17 (1) that requires the skills taught in the vocational
4-18 education program; and
4-19 (2) in which the graduate is employed:
4-20 (A) not later than one month following
4-21 graduation; and
4-22 (B) for at least six consecutive months.
4-23 (e) The commissioner may select for a successful school
4-24 award a school or district that develops a vocational education
4-25 program in cooperation with local business and industry.
4-26 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
4-27 (b) Not later than May 1, 1994, the commissioner of
5-1 education and the state occupational information coordinating
5-2 council shall develop funding weights for vocational education
5-3 programs as provided by Section 21.1121, Education Code, as added
5-4 by this Act. The weights apply only to the computation of a
5-5 vocational education allotment under Section 16.155, Education
5-6 Code, as amended by this Act, for the 1994-1995 school year and
5-7 each school year thereafter. For the 1993-1994 school year, a
5-8 school district is entitled to a vocational education allotment as
5-9 computed under Section 16.155, Education Code, as that section was
5-10 in effect on August 31, 1993, and the former law is continued in
5-11 effect for that purpose.
5-12 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
5-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.