1-1 By: Luna S.B. No. 1819 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 12, 1999; March 15, 1999, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 May 6, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; May 6, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the identification of technical education programs that 1-9 are needed to maintain and improve the state's economic and 1-10 technological competitiveness. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 135, Education Code, is 1-13 amended by adding Section 135.61 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 135.61. FORECASTING TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NEEDS. 1-15 (a) The board shall develop and administer a program to forecast 1-16 the types of technical education programs that are needed to 1-17 maintain and improve the state's economic and technological 1-18 competitiveness. 1-19 (b) The program shall review the state's business and 1-20 industry workforce needs for trained and educated workers and 1-21 suggest specific technical education programs in specific areas 1-22 that are needed to ensure or that would enhance the state's 1-23 economic and technological competitiveness. The board may 1-24 recommend the creation of new technical education programs or new 1-25 methods of delivering technical education programs. 1-26 (c) The board shall provide information and recommendations 1-27 developed under the program to any institution of higher education, 1-28 as defined by Section 61.003, that: 1-29 (1) provides technical education programs; or 1-30 (2) the board determines should offer technical 1-31 education programs for the purpose of Subsection (a). 1-32 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-33 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-34 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-35 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-36 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-37 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-38 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-39 * * * * *