By Madden H.B. No. 904
74R1638 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to funding of vocational education in public schools.
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 an
1-8 approved vocational education program in grades nine through 12 or
1-9 in vocational education programs for students with disabilities in
1-10 grades seven through 12, a district is entitled to an annual
1-11 allotment equal to the amount by which the cost of having the
1-12 full-time equivalent student in the vocational education program
1-13 exceeds the average cost to school districts in this state of
1-14 having a student in a regular education program or a special
1-15 education program under Subchapter N, Chapter 21, as applicable, at
1-16 those grades <adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of
1-17 1.37>. The amount of the excess cost shall be determined as
1-18 provided by State Board of Education rule. The rule must specify a
1-19 time and manner in which a school district must submit
1-20 documentation of vocational education program expenses to the
1-21 Central Education Agency.
1-22 (b) In this section, "full-time equivalent student" means 30
1-23 hours of contact a week between a student and vocational education
1-24 program personnel.
2-1 (c) Funds allocated under this section<, other than an
2-2 indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education
2-3 rule,> must be used in providing vocational education programs in
2-4 grades nine through 12 or vocational education programs for
2-5 students with disabilities in grades seven through 12 under the
2-6 provisions of Sections 21.111, 21.1111, and 21.112 of this code.
2-7 (d) <The indirect cost allotment established under board
2-8 rules shall first be effective for the 1991-1992 school year
2-9 consistent with the weight effective that year.>
2-10 <(e) The commissioner shall conduct a cost-benefit
2-11 comparison between vocational education programs and mathematics
2-12 and science programs.>
2-13 <(f)> Out of the total statewide allotment for vocational
2-14 education under this section, the commissioner of education shall
2-15 set aside an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act,
2-16 which may not exceed an amount equal to one percent of the total
2-17 amount appropriated, to support regional vocational education
2-18 planning committees established under Section 21.115(b) of this
2-19 code. After deducting the amount set aside under this subsection
2-20 from the total amount appropriated for vocational education under
2-21 this section, the commissioner shall reduce each district's tier
2-22 one allotments in the same manner described for a reduction in
2-23 allotments under Section 16.254 of this code.
2-24 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1995-1996
2-25 school year.
2-26 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-5 passage, and it is so enacted.