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.