By McCall H.B. No. 897
77R4756 KEL-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain programs to develop the technology workforce in
1-3 Texas by supporting and promoting higher education in electrical
1-4 engineering and computer science.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-7 amended to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER J. TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
1-9 [ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE FUND]
1-10 Sec. 51.501. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
1-11 establish programs to:
1-12 (1) increase the number of electrical engineering and
1-13 computer science graduates from Texas public institutions of higher
1-14 education; and
1-15 (2) increase collaborative efforts between
1-16 universities, electrical engineering and computer science
1-17 departments, and private technology companies in Texas.
1-18 Sec. 51.502. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-19 (1) "Account" means the technology workforce
1-20 development account.
1-21 (2) "Consortium" means the Texas Engineering and
1-22 Technical Consortium.
1-23 (3) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1-24 Education Coordinating Board.
2-1 (4) "Eligible computer science institution" means a
2-2 general academic teaching institution that offers a baccalaureate
2-3 degree program in computer science that is accredited by the
2-4 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
2-5 (5) "Eligible engineering institution" means a general
2-6 academic teaching institution that offers a baccalaureate degree
2-7 program in electrical engineering that is accredited by the
2-8 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
2-9 (6) "General academic teaching institution" has the
2-10 meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
2-11 Sec. 51.503. TEXAS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL CONSORTIUM. (a)
2-12 Eligible engineering institutions, eligible computer science
2-13 institutions, and private technology companies as described by
2-14 Subsection (b) may establish and administer the Texas Engineering
2-15 and Technical Consortium as a resource-sharing program operated
2-16 within an eligible institution to:
2-17 (1) provide a forum for eligible institutions and
2-18 private technology companies to consolidate research grant
2-19 applications and research projects;
2-20 (2) strengthen instruction in electrical engineering
2-21 and computer science;
2-22 (3) institute recruitment, development, and retention
2-23 programs for students in electrical engineering and computer
2-24 science programs;
2-25 (4) share instructional and research resources; and
2-26 (5) coordinate activities related to electrical
2-27 engineering and computer science instruction, research, and public
3-1 service.
3-2 (b) The consortium must include at least one eligible
3-3 engineering institution or eligible computer science institution.
3-4 Each participant in the consortium must be:
3-5 (1) an eligible engineering institution;
3-6 (2) an eligible computer science institution; or
3-7 (3) a private technology company that contributes at
3-8 least $100,000 each year to the consortium.
3-9 (c) At the end of each two-year period or any other period
3-10 determined by the consortium, the consortium may transfer its
3-11 administrative functions to another eligible institution
3-12 participating in the consortium.
3-13 Sec. 51.504. CONSORTIUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The
3-14 consortium shall appoint an advisory committee to advise and make
3-15 recommendations to the consortium regarding the operations and
3-16 activities of the consortium.
3-17 (b) The advisory committee must include a representative of
3-18 each consortium participant.
3-19 (c) The advisory committee is subject to Chapter 2110,
3-20 Government Code.
3-21 Sec. 51.505. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS; TECHNOLOGY
3-22 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT. (a) The consortium may solicit and
3-23 accept gifts, grants, and donations of any kind and from any
3-24 source, including foundations, corporations, and institutions of
3-25 higher education, for the purpose of implementing this subchapter.
3-26 (b) The consortium shall transfer money received under
3-27 Subsection (a), other than money retained to administer the
4-1 consortium, to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the
4-2 technology workforce development account.
4-3 (c) The technology workforce development account is an
4-4 account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be
4-5 appropriated only for the purpose of awarding grants under this
4-6 subchapter.
4-7 (d) The account consists of gifts, grants, and donations
4-8 deposited to the credit of the account under this section.
4-9 (e) The coordinating board shall administer the account and
4-10 shall adopt any rules necessary to administer the account.
4-11 Sec. 51.506. APPROPRIATIONS; STATE MATCHING PROGRAM. (a)
4-12 The legislature may appropriate money from the undedicated portion
4-13 of the general revenue fund, in addition to money from the
4-14 technology workforce development account, for the purpose of
4-15 awarding grants under this subchapter.
4-16 (b) For a state fiscal biennium, the amount appropriated
4-17 from the undedicated portion of the general revenue fund under
4-18 Subsection (a) may not be less than the sum of:
4-19 (1) the amount of money deposited to the credit of the
4-20 account during that biennium under Section 51.505; and
4-21 (2) the market value of any in-kind contributions
4-22 accepted by the consortium during that biennium under Section
4-23 51.505, as determined by the comptroller based on information
4-24 provided to the comptroller by the consortium and verified by the
4-25 coordinating board.
4-26 (c) Subsection (b) does not prohibit the legislature from
4-27 appropriating an amount under Subsection (a) that exceeds the
5-1 minimum matching amount computed under Subsection (b).
5-2 Sec. 51.507. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The coordinating board
5-3 shall use money appropriated under Section 51.506 to award grants
5-4 on a competitive, peer-review basis to eligible engineering
5-5 institutions and eligible computer science institutions to:
5-6 (1) increase the number of graduates with
5-7 baccalaureate degrees in electrical engineering and computer
5-8 science;
5-9 (2) increase the size of electrical engineering and
5-10 computer science programs;
5-11 (3) recruit students to enter electrical engineering
5-12 and computer science programs, including:
5-13 (A) students from groups or backgrounds that are
5-14 traditionally underrepresented in the fields of electrical
5-15 engineering and computer science, including female students; and
5-16 (B) students from public or private junior
5-17 colleges or technical institutes;
5-18 (4) provide scholarships for students in electrical
5-19 engineering and computer science programs;
5-20 (5) provide retention and mentoring programs for
5-21 students in electrical engineering and computer science programs;
5-22 (6) provide supplemental compensation for faculty and
5-23 support personnel in electrical engineering and computer science
5-24 departments;
5-25 (7) provide research and laboratory equipment to
5-26 electrical engineering and computer science departments;
5-27 (8) provide for distance learning programs in
6-1 electrical engineering and computer science; and
6-2 (9) fund other related activities.
6-3 (b) In awarding grants under this section, the coordinating
6-4 board shall consider with respect to the electrical engineering or
6-5 computer science program of each eligible institution:
6-6 (1) faculty;
6-7 (2) instructional and research resources;
6-8 (3) current enrollment;
6-9 (4) quality of curriculum;
6-10 (5) placement record of graduates;
6-11 (6) past performance in increasing graduates; and
6-12 (7) any other appropriate factor.
6-13 Sec. 51.508. COORDINATING BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) To
6-14 advise the coordinating board regarding grants awarded under this
6-15 subchapter, the coordinating board shall appoint an advisory
6-16 committee consisting of the following 11 members with significant
6-17 expertise in electrical engineering, computer science, or higher
6-18 education:
6-19 (1) six members who are representatives of private
6-20 technology companies participating in the consortium; and
6-21 (2) five members who are representatives of higher
6-22 education.
6-23 (b) The advisory committee is subject to Chapter 2110,
6-24 Government Code.
6-25 Sec. 51.509. ANNUAL REPORTS. (a) An eligible engineering or
6-26 computer science institution that is awarded a grant under this
6-27 subchapter shall report to the coordinating board regarding the use
7-1 of that grant not later than September 1 of each year.
7-2 (b) Not later than October 31 of each year, the coordinating
7-3 board shall provide to the governor, the legislature, and the
7-4 consortium participants a report consolidated from reports
7-5 submitted to the coordinating board by eligible institutions under
7-6 this section.
7-7 Sec. 51.510. COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE GRANT PROGRAM; BIENNIAL
7-8 REPORTS. (a) To evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program
7-9 under this subchapter, the coordinating board shall appoint an
7-10 advisory committee consisting of:
7-11 (1) higher education representatives; and
7-12 (2) experts in the fields of electrical engineering
7-13 and computer science.
7-14 (b) The grant program evaluation committee is subject to
7-15 Chapter 2110, Government Code.
7-16 (c) The grant program evaluation committee shall report the
7-17 results of its evaluation to the coordinating board not later than
7-18 September 1 of each even-numbered year.
7-19 (d) The coordinating board shall report the results of the
7-20 evaluation to the governor, the legislature, and the consortium
7-21 participants not later than October 31 of each even-numbered year.
7-22 [51.501. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish
7-23 an engineering excellence fund to encourage donations from the
7-24 private sector to Texas colleges of engineering to be used for the
7-25 acquisition of capital equipment.]
7-26 [Sec. 51.502. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:]
7-27 [(1) "Eligible institution" means the college,
8-1 department, or other unit of engineering at any of the following
8-2 institutions of higher education:]
8-3 [(A) The University of Texas at Austin;]
8-4 [(B) The University of Texas at Arlington;]
8-5 [(C) The University of Texas at El Paso;]
8-6 [(D) The University of Texas at San Antonio;]
8-7 [(E) The University of Texas of the Permian
8-8 Basin;]
8-9 [(F) Texas A&M University;]
8-10 [(G) Prairie View A&M University;]
8-11 [(H) Texas Tech University;]
8-12 [(I) Lamar University;]
8-13 [(J) University of Houston; and]
8-14 [(K) Texas A&M University--Kingsville.]
8-15 [(2) "Eligible gift" means a gift of at least $1,000
8-16 in cash received on or after September 1, 1983, that the donor has
8-17 specifically designated as a donation for the purchase of
8-18 engineering and related equipment that satisfies the critical needs
8-19 of an eligible institution.]
8-20 [(3) "Fund" means the engineering excellence fund.]
8-21 [(4) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of higher
8-22 education.]
8-23 [Sec. 51.503. ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE FUND. (a) A special
8-24 fund to be known as the engineering excellence fund is created in
8-25 the State Treasury.]
8-26 [(b) Funds appropriated by the legislature to the
8-27 engineering excellence fund shall be used to match eligible gifts
9-1 to eligible institutions at a ratio of $2 of appropriated money to
9-2 $1 of eligible gift money. Total cumulative appropriations to the
9-3 fund may not exceed $67 million.]
9-4 [(c) The fund shall be administered by the commissioner and
9-5 shall consist of an appropriations account and a gifts account.
9-6 Legislative appropriations to the fund shall be deposited to the
9-7 credit of the appropriations account. Eligible gifts to eligible
9-8 institutions shall be deposited to the credit of the gifts account
9-9 each year until the total deposits to the credit of the gifts
9-10 account, disregarding any disbursements, equal 50 percent of the
9-11 amount available for expenditure from the appropriations account in
9-12 that year. Thereafter, any eligible gift received by an eligible
9-13 institution during that year shall be retained by the eligible
9-14 institution for its separate use.]
9-15 [(d) The Coordinating Board, Texas College and University
9-16 System, shall adopt rules for the administration of the engineering
9-17 excellence matching money program.]
9-18 [Sec. 51.504. DETERMINATION OF CRITICAL NEEDS. (a) For each
9-19 fiscal year, each eligible institution shall annually prepare and
9-20 submit to the coordinating board a list of proposed critical needs
9-21 for engineering and related equipment. The coordinating board
9-22 shall adopt any guidelines necessary relating to submission of the
9-23 lists.]
9-24 [(b) From the lists submitted under Subsection (a) of this
9-25 section, the coordinating board shall compile a list of the
9-26 critical needs of the eligible institutions.]
9-27 [Sec. 51.505. DISTRIBUTION AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUND. (a)
10-1 Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, an eligible
10-2 institution that deposits an eligible gift to the credit of the
10-3 gifts account of the fund is entitled to receive:]
10-4 [(1) not less than one-half of the amount of the
10-5 eligible gift;]
10-6 [(2) not less than one-half of the amount of matching
10-7 money associated with the gift; and]
10-8 [(3) the institution's proportionate share of the
10-9 remaining portion of the eligible gift and the matching money
10-10 associated with the gift.]
10-11 [(b) If the commissioner determines that giving the amount
10-12 required by Subsection (a) of this section to the institution
10-13 would cause the institution to receive from the engineering
10-14 excellence fund an amount that exceeds the total cost of the
10-15 equipment on the institution's list of critical needs for that
10-16 year, the commissioner may provide that less than one-half of the
10-17 gift and less than one-half of the matching money be given to the
10-18 institution.]
10-19 [(c) If an eligible gift is received for deposit in the fund
10-20 and is not given by or through an eligible institution, the total
10-21 amount of the gift and the matching money associated with the gift
10-22 shall be proportionately distributed to the eligible institutions.]
10-23 [(d) Each year, the commissioner shall periodically
10-24 distribute the money in the gifts account, combined with state
10-25 matching money from the appropriations account, to each eligible
10-26 institution in accordance with this section and rules of the
10-27 coordinating board.]
11-1 [(e) Disbursements from the fund shall be made by the
11-2 comptroller of public accounts on the basis of vouchers approved by
11-3 the commissioner.]
11-4 [Sec. 51.506. EXCLUDED GIFTS. Gifts specifically designated
11-5 by the donor for the exclusive use of the receiving eligible
11-6 institution shall be for the separate use of that institution and
11-7 are not eligible for purposes of state matching money.]
11-8 [Sec. 51.508. EXCESS APPROPRIATION. If the amount
11-9 appropriated to the fund exceeds the amount needed to match
11-10 eligible gifts received by eligible institutions during any
11-11 biennium, the excess shall be returned to the General Revenue Fund.]
11-12 [Sec. 51.509. USE OF FUND. An eligible institution may use
11-13 the money it receives from the fund only for the purchase of
11-14 engineering and related capital equipment that is included in the
11-15 list of critical needs submitted by the institution for the fiscal
11-16 year in which the money is received.]
11-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.