By Solis of Cameron H.B. No. 1559
76R5777 CAG-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the high priority program development
1-3 fund to support vocational and technical education.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Chapter 151 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 151. HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FUND
1-8 Sec. 151.001. DEFINITIONS. In this section:
1-9 (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1-10 Education Coordinating Board.
1-11 (2) "High priority program" means a technical or
1-12 vocational program offered by a public junior college or public
1-13 technical institute that is specifically developed, designed, or
1-14 intended to meet the workforce training demands of business and
1-15 industry as determined by the coordinating board.
1-16 (3) "High priority program development fund" means the
1-17 fund established under this chapter to assist in the development of
1-18 high priority programs.
1-19 (4) "Public junior college" and "public technical
1-20 institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
1-21 Sec. 151.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) It is essential
1-22 to this state's economic growth that this state provide a qualified
1-23 and trained workforce for business and industry expanding or
1-24 locating in this state. The high priority program development fund
2-1 is established as a means to accomplish this purpose.
2-2 (b) Providing appropriated funds to public junior colleges
2-3 and public technical institutes for high priority programs is
2-4 important to this state's welfare and, consequently, is an
2-5 important public purpose for the expenditure of state funds. The
2-6 high priority program development fund is intended to enhance the
2-7 state's economic growth by:
2-8 (1) providing workforce training in a timely manner
2-9 that is responsive to the specific needs of business and industry
2-10 in this state; and
2-11 (2) encouraging the location and expansion of business
2-12 and industry in this state.
2-13 Sec. 151.003. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES.
2-14 (a) The coordinating board shall administer the high priority
2-15 program development fund.
2-16 (b) The coordinating board shall determine whether a public
2-17 junior college or public technical institute is eligible to receive
2-18 awards from the fund. To be eligible to receive awards, a public
2-19 junior college or public technical institute must demonstrate to
2-20 the coordinating board that:
2-21 (1) an immediate need exists in the public junior
2-22 college district for a high priority program or a high priority
2-23 program would serve a statewide need that can be met by the public
2-24 technical institute;
2-25 (2) the public junior college or public technical
2-26 institute has received a request for the development of a high
2-27 priority program to meet a specific need;
3-1 (3) an award from the fund is necessary to assist the
3-2 public junior college or public technical institute in the
3-3 successful development of the program; and
3-4 (4) the development of the program will provide an
3-5 economic benefit to the residents of the public junior college
3-6 district or to the residents of this state.
3-7 (c) The coordinating board shall adopt guidelines and
3-8 procedures for the administration of this chapter.
3-9 Sec. 151.004. FUNDING. (a) The high priority program
3-10 development fund is funded by appropriations and by gifts, grants,
3-11 and donations made for that purpose.
3-12 (b) From money appropriated from the fund, the comptroller
3-13 shall issue warrants to each eligible public junior college or
3-14 public technical institute in the amount certified by the
3-15 coordinating board to the comptroller.
3-16 (c) The money may be expended by the public junior college
3-17 or public technical institute only to support the development,
3-18 design, modification, or renovation of specific high priority
3-19 programs for which the award is made and may not be expended for
3-20 the general support of ongoing instruction at the public junior
3-21 college or public technical institute. The money may be expended
3-22 for facilities if necessary for the development of the program and
3-23 approved by the coordinating board.
3-24 (d) Money appropriated from the high priority program
3-25 development fund may be used to match a grant provided by private
3-26 industry for a particular program at an eligible public junior
3-27 college or public technical institute.
4-1 (e) Supplies, materials, services, or equipment purchased by
4-2 a public junior college or public technical institute with money
4-3 received under this chapter are not subject to the authority of the
4-4 General Services Commission.
4-5 Sec. 151.005. PROGRESS REPORTS. A public junior college or
4-6 public technical institute receiving money under this chapter shall
4-7 report on the progress of the funded high priority program to the
4-8 coordinating board not later than September 1 of each year of the
4-9 program, until the coordinating board provides that further
4-10 progress reports are not required.
4-11 Sec. 151.006. MERIT REVIEW. The coordinating board shall
4-12 evaluate the effectiveness of this chapter and programs receiving
4-13 money under this chapter and report its findings to the Legislative
4-14 Budget Board not later than September 1 of the second year of each
4-15 state fiscal biennium.
4-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-17 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
4-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.