By Oliveira H.B. No. 1626 76R3320 JSA-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to facilities and equipment grants for public junior 1-3 colleges and public technical institutes. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter T to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER T. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE AND 1-8 TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT GRANT PROGRAM 1-9 Sec. 61.851. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution" 1-10 means a public junior college or a public technical institute as 1-11 defined by Section 61.003. 1-12 Sec. 61.852. PROGRAM NAME AND PURPOSE. The Public Junior 1-13 College and Technical Institute Facilities and Equipment Grant 1-14 Program is established to provide financial assistance to 1-15 institutions that demonstrate a need for facility and equipment 1-16 enhancements and are located in communities with low per capita 1-17 property wealth or income. 1-18 Sec. 61.853. ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY. (a) The board shall 1-19 administer the program. 1-20 (b) The board may adopt rules as necessary to administer 1-21 this subchapter. 1-22 Sec. 61.854. GRANT PROCEEDS. A grant awarded under this 1-23 subchapter must be used by the grant recipient for: 1-24 (1) construction, maintenance, improvement, or 2-1 renovation of facilities of the recipient; or 2-2 (2) equipment to be used by the recipient. 2-3 Sec. 61.855. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. An institution must 2-4 apply for a grant under the program on a form provided or approved 2-5 by the board and meet any other reasonable requirements established 2-6 by board rule. 2-7 Sec. 61.856. AWARD OF GRANT. (a) The board may award 2-8 financial assistance to an eligible institution that has 2-9 demonstrated a need for training programs in the community served 2-10 by the institution. The board shall award grants on a competitive 2-11 basis. 2-12 (b) In assessing an institution's grant application, the 2-13 board shall consider, at a minimum: 2-14 (1) the revenue capacity of the institution as 2-15 measured by per capita property wealth and per capita income of the 2-16 county or district in which the institution is located; 2-17 (2) the unemployment rate in the community; 2-18 (3) the rate of enrollment growth at the institution; 2-19 (4) the average level of education attainment in the 2-20 community; and 2-21 (5) the amount of community support for the 2-22 institution and its proposed project, as demonstrated by letters 2-23 addressed to the board from area leaders and participants in the 2-24 institution's partnership programs with local businesses. 2-25 Sec. 61.857. APPLICATION REVIEW. The board shall adopt 2-26 application procedures and deadlines for the program. The board 2-27 shall approve or deny each grant application not later than the 3-1 45th day after the application deadline. 3-2 Sec. 61.858. FUNDING. (a) The public junior college and 3-3 technical institute facilities and equipment fund is an account in 3-4 the general revenue fund. Money in the fund may be used only for 3-5 the purposes of this subchapter. The board may solicit and accept 3-6 gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for 3-7 the purposes of this subchapter and shall deposit that money to the 3-8 credit of the fund. 3-9 (b) Grants awarded under this subchapter are payable from 3-10 the money in the fund established under Subsection (a) or from 3-11 money appropriated by the legislature for that purpose. 3-12 Sec. 61.859. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of 3-13 each year, the board shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant 3-14 governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report 3-15 detailing for the preceding state fiscal year the amount of each 3-16 grant awarded under this subchapter, the recipient of the grant, 3-17 and the projects for which the grant was awarded. 3-18 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 3-19 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.