AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the identification of technical education programs that
 1-2     are needed to maintain and improve the state's economic and
 1-3     technological competitiveness.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 135, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 135.61 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 135.61.  FORECASTING TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NEEDS.
 1-8     (a)  The board shall develop and administer a program to forecast
 1-9     the types of technical education programs that are needed to
1-10     maintain and improve the state's economic and technological
1-11     competitiveness.
1-12           (b)  The program shall review the state's business and
1-13     industry workforce needs for trained and educated workers and
1-14     suggest specific technical education programs in specific areas
1-15     that are needed to ensure or that would enhance the state's
1-16     economic and technological competitiveness.  The board may
1-17     recommend the creation of new technical education programs or new
1-18     methods of delivering technical education programs.
1-19           (c)  The board shall provide information and recommendations
1-20     developed under the program to any institution of higher education,
1-21     as defined by Section 61.003, that:
1-22                 (1)  provides technical education programs; or
1-23                 (2)  the board determines should offer technical
1-24     education programs for the purpose of Subsection (a).
 2-1           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-6     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-7     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1819 passed the Senate on
         May 17, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1819 passed the House on
         May 25, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, two present
         not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor