Amend HB 660 by adding the following appropriately numbered
SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill
accordingly:
SECTION _____. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 315 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 315. 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE
AND CAREERS GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 315.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the
21st Century Technology College and Careers Act.
Sec. 315.002. PURPOSE; CONSTRUCTION. (a) The purpose of
this chapter is to strengthen and sustain existing partnerships in
each region of the state by providing planning, coordination, and
grant funding to partnerships to assist students in obtaining a
high level of academic achievement and competency in employment
skills, to serve the workforce needs of employers, and to meet the
economic development goals of communities in the 21st century.
(b) This chapter may not be construed to provide a
partnership with any regulatory authority or control over a
decision of a state or local agency or an institution of higher
education regarding the implementation of a partnership initiative.
Sec. 315.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Educational institution" includes an institution
of higher education and a secondary school operated by a public
school district of this state.
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(3) "Participant" means a school district, institution
of higher education, employer or employer organization, chamber of
commerce, industry group or trade association, local workforce
development board, tech-prep consortium, labor organization, or
other entity that participates in a partnership.
(4) "Partnership" means a regional collaboration of
participants who work together to promote voluntary workforce
development opportunities for secondary and postsecondary students.
(5) "Region" means a geographic state planning region
established by the governor under Chapter 391, Local Government
Code.
(6) "Tech-prep consortium" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.851, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1422, Acts of
the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999.
Sec. 315.004. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall
establish a grant program to assist partnerships in promoting
voluntary educational improvement and workforce development
opportunities for secondary and postsecondary students, as well as
improved transitions from secondary education to postsecondary
education to employment.
(b) The commission shall award grants as provided by
Subsection (c) to one or more partnerships in each region.
(c) Each state fiscal year, the commission shall award a
base allocation of $100,000 to one or more partnerships in each
region. The commission shall distribute any additional grant money
to partnerships under this chapter in accordance with an equitable
allocation formula that is determined by the commission and based
on the amount of matching funds from participants identified by the
commission in each region's application.
(d) A partnership receiving grant money under this chapter
shall:
(1) develop initiatives to improve the transition from
educational institutions to the workforce, including:
(A) voluntary student internships and work-based
learning;
(B) the use of labor market information to
predict future workforce opportunities;
(C) broad-based career awareness development;
(D) professional development and support of
teachers and counselors at educational institutions, including
industry tours and teacher externships;
(E) student mentoring programs; and
(F) promotion of the availability of
postsecondary scholarships and grant funding;
(2) emphasize postsecondary education;
(3) provide students with opportunities to apply their
academic work to authentic problems outside of the school
environment;
(4) emphasize mathematics, science, engineering, and
technology while stressing the importance of all foundation and
enrichment curricula;
(5) emphasize high-wage and high-skill jobs;
(6) encourage students to take rigorous academic
courses and to complete the recommended high school program; and
(7) emphasize activities that are supportive of and
compliant with the essential knowledge and skills curriculum.
(e) A partnership that receives grant money under this
chapter may not spend grant money for tuition scholarships to
elementary and secondary private and religious schools.
Sec. 315.005. STUDENT SAFEGUARDS. (a) Student
participation in an activity sponsored by a partnership is
voluntary.
(b) If an activity sponsored by a partnership requires
significant secondary student involvement, the partnership shall
require parental consent in a form and manner prescribed by the
local school board as a condition to a student's participation in
the activity.
(c) An internship or other job opportunity sponsored by a
partnership may not displace existing workers or require a student
to work excessive or late hours.
Sec. 315.006. GRANT APPLICATION. A partnership that seeks
to obtain a grant under this chapter must submit an application to
the commission at the time and in a manner prescribed by commission
rule.
Sec. 315.007. INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The
commission shall appoint an interagency advisory committee to
assist the commission in implementing this chapter. The
interagency advisory committee shall be composed of one
representative from each of the following state agencies:
(1) the Texas Education Agency;
(2) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(3) the Texas Department of Economic Development;
(4) the Council on Workforce and Economic
Competitiveness;
(5) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
(6) the Texas Commission for the Blind; and
(7) any other state agency the commission considers
appropriate.
Sec. 315.008. REPORT. A partnership that receives a grant
under this chapter shall prepare and deliver to the commission an
annual report on the effectiveness of the partnership's activities.
Sec. 315.009. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
necessary to implement this chapter.
SECTION _____. (a) The Texas Workforce Commission may not
use money from the general revenue fund, including money from
dedicated accounts in the general revenue fund or money required to
be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund, to
implement Chapter 315, Labor Code, as added by this Act, unless
otherwise authorized by law.
(b) If the legislature does not appropriate funds to
implement Chapter 315, Labor Code, as added by this Act, the
commission shall attempt to implement the chapter by using other
sources of funding, including, notwithstanding Subsection (a) of
this section, federal funds, agency discretionary funds,
interagency contract funds, and gifts, grants, and donations.