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.