AN ACT 1-1 relating to the creation of the high priority program fund to 1-2 support vocational and technical education. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Chapter 151 to read as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 151. HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAM FUND 1-7 Sec. 151.001. DEFINITIONS. In this section: 1-8 (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher 1-9 Education Coordinating Board. 1-10 (2) "High priority program" means a technical or 1-11 vocational program offered by a public junior college or public 1-12 technical institute that: 1-13 (A) is specifically intended to meet the 1-14 workforce training demands of business and industry as determined 1-15 by the coordinating board; 1-16 (B) is determined to be of particular importance 1-17 in a specific junior college district or to the state; and 1-18 (C) requires a significant investment to achieve 1-19 or maintain its purpose. 1-20 (3) "High priority program fund" means the fund 1-21 established under this chapter to assist in the design, 1-22 development, upgrade, revision, or expansion of high priority 1-23 programs. 1-24 (4) "Public junior college" and "public technical 2-1 institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. 2-2 Sec. 151.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) It is essential 2-3 to this state's economic growth that this state provide a qualified 2-4 and trained workforce for maintaining and expanding the global 2-5 competitiveness of the state's business and industry, for retaining 2-6 existing business and industry, and for attracting new business and 2-7 industry to this state. The high priority program fund is 2-8 established as a means to accomplish this purpose. 2-9 (b) Providing appropriated funds to public junior colleges 2-10 and public technical institutes for high priority programs is 2-11 important to this state's welfare and, consequently, is an 2-12 important public purpose for the expenditure of state funds. The 2-13 high priority program fund is intended to enhance the state's 2-14 economic growth by: 2-15 (1) enhancing the competitiveness of business and 2-16 industry in this state by providing workforce training that is 2-17 responsive to the specific needs of business and industry; and 2-18 (2) encouraging the location, retention, and expansion 2-19 of business and industry in this state. 2-20 Sec. 151.003. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES. 2-21 (a) The coordinating board shall administer the high priority 2-22 program fund. 2-23 (b) The coordinating board shall determine whether a public 2-24 junior college or public technical institute is eligible to receive 2-25 an award from the fund. To be eligible to receive an award, a 2-26 public junior college or public technical institute must 3-1 demonstrate to the coordinating board that: 3-2 (1) the program proposed for funding meets an 3-3 immediate business or industry need of particular importance in the 3-4 junior college district or this state; 3-5 (2) the award will enhance the state's vocational and 3-6 technical education system; 3-7 (3) an award from the fund is necessary to assist the 3-8 public junior college or public technical institute in the 3-9 successful design, development, upgrade, revision, or expansion of 3-10 the program; and 3-11 (4) the development of the program will provide an 3-12 economic benefit to the residents of the public junior college 3-13 district or of this state. 3-14 (c) The coordinating board, in consultation with public 3-15 junior colleges and public technical institutes, shall adopt 3-16 guidelines and procedures for the administration of this chapter. 3-17 Sec. 151.004. FUNDING. (a) The high priority program fund 3-18 is funded by appropriations if made, or by available funds, and by 3-19 gifts, grants, and donations made for that purpose. 3-20 (b) From money appropriated from the fund, the comptroller 3-21 shall issue warrants to each eligible public junior college or 3-22 public technical institute in the amount certified by the 3-23 coordinating board to the comptroller. 3-24 (c) The money may be expended by the public junior college 3-25 or public technical institute only to support the development, 3-26 design, upgrade, renovation, or expansion of specific high priority 4-1 programs for which the award is made and may not be expended for 4-2 the general support of ongoing instruction at the public junior 4-3 college or public technical institute. The money may be expended 4-4 for facilities if necessary for the development, upgrade, revision, 4-5 or expansion of a program and approved by the coordinating board. 4-6 (d) Money appropriated from the high priority program fund 4-7 may be used to match a grant provided by private industry for a 4-8 particular program at an eligible public junior college or public 4-9 technical institute. 4-10 (e) Supplies, materials, services, or equipment purchased by 4-11 a public junior college or public technical institute with money 4-12 received under this chapter are not subject to the authority of the 4-13 General Services Commission. 4-14 Sec. 151.005. PROGRESS REPORTS. A public junior college or 4-15 public technical institute receiving money under this chapter shall 4-16 report on the progress of the funded high priority program to the 4-17 coordinating board not later than September 1 of each year of the 4-18 program, until the coordinating board provides that further 4-19 progress reports are not required. 4-20 Sec. 151.006. MERIT REVIEW. The coordinating board shall 4-21 evaluate the effectiveness of this chapter and programs receiving 4-22 money under this chapter and report its findings to the Legislative 4-23 Budget Board not later than September 1 of the second year of each 4-24 state fiscal biennium. 4-25 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 4-26 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 5-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 5-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 5-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 5-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1780 passed the Senate on May 17, 1999, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1780 passed the House on May 25, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor