1-1 By: Dunnam (Senate Sponsor - Sibley) H.B. No. 3028 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 2001; 1-3 April 24, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 10, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 10, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to a state science and engineering fair conducted by the 1-9 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 61.088 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 61.088. STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIRS. (a) The 1-14 board shall conduct an annual state science and engineering fair as 1-15 part of an outreach program for middle school, junior high school, 1-16 and high school students to: 1-17 (1) promote an appreciation for and interest in 1-18 science, mathematics, and engineering among middle school, junior 1-19 high school, and high school students; 1-20 (2) assist schools and school districts in fulfilling 1-21 their missions of science, mathematics, and engineering education; 1-22 and 1-23 (3) promote workforce development in the fields of 1-24 science, mathematics, and engineering by providing students with an 1-25 opportunity to interact with higher education and corporate 1-26 institutions. 1-27 (b) The board may contract with public or private entities 1-28 to conduct the state fair. 1-29 (c) The board shall coordinate the state fair with local and 1-30 regional science and engineering fairs held in this state. 1-31 (d) The board shall adopt rules for the organization and 1-32 operation of the state fair and shall select the participants in 1-33 the fair. 1-34 (e) The board may use general revenue funds appropriated for 1-35 that purpose and any gifts, grants, and donations to conduct the 1-36 state fair. The amount of general revenue funds appropriated for 1-37 that purpose in a state fiscal year may not exceed $10,000 or the 1-38 total amount of money received as gifts, grants, or donations, 1-39 whichever amount is less. 1-40 SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 1-41 shall conduct the first state science and engineering fair under 1-42 Section 61.088, Education Code, as added by this Act, in 2002 at a 1-43 time and date to be determined by the board, in coordination with 1-44 the local and regional science and engineering fairs. 1-45 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-46 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-47 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-48 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-49 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-50 * * * * *