By Seaman H.B. No. 2196 77R6694 BDH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to an award issued to a public school student for 1-3 distinguished achievement in career and technology education. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 29.187 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 29.187. AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN CAREER 1-8 AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION; PROGRAM. (a) In addition to the 1-9 authority granted under Section 29.183, the board of trustees of a 1-10 school district may develop and offer a program under which a 1-11 student may: 1-12 (1) receive specific education in a career and 1-13 technology profession that: 1-14 (A) leads to postsecondary education; or 1-15 (B) meets or exceeds business or industry 1-16 standards; and 1-17 (2) obtain from the district an award for 1-18 distinguished achievement in career and technology education and a 1-19 stamp or other notation on the student's transcript that indicates 1-20 receipt of the award. 1-21 (b) An award granted under this section is not in lieu of a 1-22 diploma or certificate of coursework completion issued under 1-23 Section 28.025. 1-24 (c) In developing a program under this section, the board of 2-1 trustees of a school district shall consider the state plan for 2-2 career and technology education required under Section 29.182. 2-3 (d) The board of trustees of a school district may contract 2-4 with an entity listed in Section 29.184(a) for assistance in 2-5 developing the program or providing instruction to district 2-6 students participating in the program. 2-7 (e) The board of trustees of a school district may also 2-8 contract with a local business, a local institution of higher 2-9 education, or a local workforce development board for assistance in 2-10 developing or operating a program under this section. A program 2-11 may provide education in areas of technology unique to the local 2-12 area. 2-13 (f) The board of trustees of a school district may provide 2-14 insurance to protect a business that contracts with the district 2-15 under Subsection (e) against liability for a bodily injury 2-16 sustained by or the death of a district student while working for 2-17 the business as part of a program established under this section. 2-18 The amount of insurance the district provides must be reasonable 2-19 considering the financial condition of the district. The insurance 2-20 must be: 2-21 (1) obtained from a reliable insurer authorized to 2-22 engage in business in the state; and 2-23 (2) submitted on a form approved by the commissioner 2-24 of insurance. 2-25 (g) The board of trustees of a school district must submit a 2-26 proposed program under this section to the commissioner in 2-27 accordance with criteria established by the commissioner. 3-1 (h) To the extent that funds appropriated for that purpose 3-2 are available, a school district is entitled to receive $1,000 for 3-3 each district student who receives an award under this section. 3-4 The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to administer this 3-5 subsection. 3-6 (i) The board of trustees of a school district shall include 3-7 in the annual performance report required under Section 39.053 a 3-8 statement of the number of awards granted under this section during 3-9 the school year. 3-10 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 3-11 school year. 3-12 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 3-13 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 3-14 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 3-15 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 3-16 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.