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                                  * * * * *