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.