By Seaman, Yarbrough, Solis of Cameron, H.B. No. 1418
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to optional career and technology education programs
1-3 offered by public school districts and a study of career and
1-4 technology education programs.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 29.187 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 29.187. DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AND
1-9 CERTIFICATE. (a) In addition to the authority granted under
1-10 Section 29.183, the board of trustees of a school district may
1-11 develop and offer a program under which a student may receive
1-12 specific training in a career and technology profession and obtain
1-13 a career and technology certificate issued by the district in
1-14 addition to a diploma or certificate of coursework completion under
1-15 Section 28.025. In developing the program, the board of trustees
1-16 shall consider the state plan for career and technology education
1-17 required under Section 29.182.
1-18 (b) The board of trustees of a school district may contract
1-19 with an entity listed in Section 29.184(a) for assistance in
1-20 developing the program or providing instruction to district
1-21 students participating in the program.
1-22 (c) The board of trustees of a school district may also
1-23 contract with a local business or local workforce development board
1-24 for assistance in developing or operating a program under this
1-25 section. A program developed with the assistance of a local
2-1 business or local workforce development board may provide training
2-2 in areas of technology unique to the local area.
2-3 (d) The board of trustees of a school district may provide
2-4 insurance to protect a business that contracts with the district
2-5 under Subsection (c) against liability for a bodily injury
2-6 sustained by or the death of a district student while working for
2-7 the business as part of the program established under this section.
2-8 The amount of insurance the district provides must be reasonable
2-9 considering the financial condition of the district. The insurance
2-10 must be:
2-11 (1) from a reliable insurance company authorized to do
2-12 business in the state; and
2-13 (2) on a form approved by the commissioner of
2-14 insurance.
2-15 (e) The board of trustees of a school district must submit a
2-16 proposed program under this section to the agency in accordance
2-17 with criteria established by agency rule.
2-18 SECTION 2. (a) The Council on Workforce and Economic
2-19 Competitiveness, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and
2-20 the Texas Workforce Commission, shall conduct a study to determine
2-21 the effectiveness of career and technology education programs in
2-22 improving the academic and professional success of students. The
2-23 study must include:
2-24 (1) a review and evaluation of the impact of career
2-25 and technology education programs on retaining students in school;
2-26 (2) a review and evaluation of career and technology
2-27 education programs to determine which programs provide students
3-1 with the most effective transition into postsecondary education and
3-2 high-skill, high-wage jobs; and
3-3 (3) development of a catalog of career and technology
3-4 programs that effectively assist students with the transition into
3-5 postsecondary education and high-skill, high-wage jobs.
3-6 (b) The Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness,
3-7 in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas
3-8 Workforce Commission, shall submit a report of the results and
3-9 findings of the study required by this section to the governor, the
3-10 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
3-11 representatives not later than December 1, 2000.
3-12 SECTION 3. (a) Section 29.187, Education Code, as added by
3-13 this Act, applies beginning with the 2000-2001 school year.
3-14 (b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect immediately.
3-15 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-20 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
3-21 terms, and it is so enacted.