1-1 By: Seaman, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 1418 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1999; 1-3 May 6, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to optional career and technology education programs 1-9 offered by public school districts and a study of career and 1-10 technology education programs. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 1-13 amended by adding Section 29.187 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 29.187. DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AND 1-15 CERTIFICATE. (a) In addition to the authority granted under 1-16 Section 29.183, the board of trustees of a school district may 1-17 develop and offer a program under which a student may receive 1-18 specific training in a career and technology profession and obtain 1-19 a career and technology certificate issued by the district in 1-20 addition to a diploma or certificate of coursework completion under 1-21 Section 28.025. In developing the program, the board of trustees 1-22 shall consider the state plan for career and technology education 1-23 required under Section 29.182. 1-24 (b) The board of trustees of a school district may contract 1-25 with an entity listed in Section 29.184(a) for assistance in 1-26 developing the program or providing instruction to district 1-27 students participating in the program. 1-28 (c) The board of trustees of a school district may also 1-29 contract with a local business or local workforce development board 1-30 for assistance in developing or operating a program under this 1-31 section. A program developed with the assistance of a local 1-32 business or local workforce development board may provide training 1-33 in areas of technology unique to the local area. 1-34 (d) The board of trustees of a school district may provide 1-35 insurance to protect a business that contracts with the district 1-36 under Subsection (c) against liability for a bodily injury 1-37 sustained by or the death of a district student while working for 1-38 the business as part of the program established under this section. 1-39 The amount of insurance the district provides must be reasonable 1-40 considering the financial condition of the district. The insurance 1-41 must be: 1-42 (1) from a reliable insurance company authorized to do 1-43 business in the state; and 1-44 (2) on a form approved by the commissioner of 1-45 insurance. 1-46 (e) The board of trustees of a school district must submit a 1-47 proposed program under this section to the agency in accordance 1-48 with criteria established by agency rule. 1-49 SECTION 2. (a) The Council on Workforce and Economic 1-50 Competitiveness, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and 1-51 the Texas Workforce Commission, shall conduct a study to determine 1-52 the effectiveness of career and technology education programs in 1-53 improving the academic and professional success of students. The 1-54 study must include: 1-55 (1) a review and evaluation of the impact of career 1-56 and technology education programs on retaining students in school; 1-57 (2) a review and evaluation of career and technology 1-58 education programs to determine which programs provide students 1-59 with the most effective transition into postsecondary education and 1-60 high-skill, high-wage jobs; and 1-61 (3) development of a catalog of career and technology 1-62 programs that effectively assist students with the transition into 1-63 postsecondary education and high-skill, high-wage jobs. 1-64 (b) The Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness, 2-1 in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas 2-2 Workforce Commission, shall submit a report of the results and 2-3 findings of the study required by this section to the governor, the 2-4 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 2-5 representatives not later than December 1, 2000. 2-6 SECTION 3. (a) Section 29.187, Education Code, as added by 2-7 this Act, applies beginning with the 2000-2001 school year. 2-8 (b) Section 2 of this Act takes effect immediately. 2-9 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its 2-15 terms, and it is so enacted. 2-16 * * * * *