SRC-AXB S.B. 930 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 930 76R4154 DWS-DBy: Madla Veterans Affairs 3/25/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, only cities or counties are authorized to apply for grant funding under the Defense Readjustment Grant Program, to assist their communities facing realignment or closure of military installations. S.B. 930 authorizes certain educational institutions in adversely affected defensedependant communities to apply for grant assistance from the Defense Readjustment Grant Program. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 930 protects the employment futures of defense workers in areas where a proposal for a defense closure or realignment exists by creating a grant for eligible public junior colleges and facilities of the Texas State Technical College System located in those areas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 486.003, Government Code, to provide that public junior colleges and facilities of the Texas State Technical College System, which are located in adversely affected defense-dependent communities, are eligible for a grant. Describes an adversely affected defensedependent community as an area whose boundaries include a defense facility with a public proposal for closure or realignment. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 486.004, Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), to authorize the Texas Department of Commerce to make grants to eligible governmental entities without regard to matching funds. SECTION 3. Amends Section 486.005, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c), to authorize an eligible local governmental entity to use the proceeds of the grant to acquire equipment to train defense workers who have lost their jobs or have been threatened with unemployment due to a defense facility closure or realignment. SECTION 4.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.