By Solis, et al. H.B. No. 3300
77R13379 KSD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the adoption of the 21st Century Technology College and
1-3 Careers Act.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Chapter 315 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 315. 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE
1-8 AND CAREERS GRANT PROGRAM
1-9 Sec. 315.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the
1-10 21st Century Technology College and Careers Act.
1-11 Sec. 315.002. PURPOSE; CONSTRUCTION. (a) The purpose of
1-12 this chapter is to strengthen and sustain existing partnerships in
1-13 each region of the state by providing planning, coordination, and
1-14 grant funding to participants so that they may better serve the
1-15 academic and career interests of students and their parents, the
1-16 workforce needs of employers, and the economic development goals of
1-17 communities in the 21st century.
1-18 (b) This chapter may not be construed to provide a
1-19 partnership with any regulatory authority or control over a
1-20 decision of a state or local agency or an institution of higher
1-21 education regarding the implementation of a partnership initiative.
1-22 Sec. 315.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-23 (1) "Educational institution" includes an institution
1-24 of higher education and a secondary school operated by a public
2-1 school district of this state.
2-2 (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
2-3 assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
2-4 (3) "Participant" means a school district, institution
2-5 of higher education, employer or employer organization, chamber of
2-6 commerce, industry group or trade association, local workforce
2-7 development board, tech-prep consortium, labor organization, or
2-8 other entity that participates in a partnership.
2-9 (4) "Partnership" means a regional collaboration of
2-10 participants who work together to promote educational improvement
2-11 and workforce development opportunities primarily for secondary and
2-12 postsecondary students.
2-13 (5) "Region" means a geographic state planning region
2-14 established by the governor under Chapter 391, Local Government
2-15 Code.
2-16 (6) "Tech-prep consortium" has the meaning assigned by
2-17 Section 61.851, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1422, Acts of
2-18 the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999.
2-19 Sec. 315.004. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall
2-20 establish a grant program to assist partnerships in promoting
2-21 voluntary educational improvement and workforce development
2-22 opportunities primarily for secondary and postsecondary students.
2-23 (b) The commission shall award grants as provided by
2-24 Subsection (c) to one or more partnerships in each region.
2-25 (c) Each state fiscal year, the commission shall award a
2-26 base allocation of $100,000 to one or more partnerships in each
2-27 region. The commission shall distribute any additional grant money
3-1 to partnerships under this chapter in accordance with an equitable
3-2 allocation formula that is determined by the commission and based
3-3 on the amount of matching funds received by the commission from
3-4 participants in each region.
3-5 (d) A partnership receiving grant money under this chapter
3-6 shall:
3-7 (1) develop initiatives to improve the transition from
3-8 educational institutions to the workforce, including:
3-9 (A) voluntary student internships and work-based
3-10 learning;
3-11 (B) the use of labor market information to
3-12 predict future workforce opportunities;
3-13 (C) broad-based career awareness development;
3-14 (D) professional development and support of
3-15 teachers and counselors at educational institutions, including
3-16 industry tours and teacher externships;
3-17 (E) student mentoring programs; and
3-18 (F) scholarship funding;
3-19 (2) emphasize postsecondary education;
3-20 (3) provide students with opportunities to apply their
3-21 academic work to authentic problems outside of the school
3-22 environment;
3-23 (4) emphasize mathematics, science, engineering, and
3-24 technology while stressing the importance of all foundation and
3-25 enrichment curricula;
3-26 (5) emphasize high-wage and high-skill jobs;
3-27 (6) encourage students to take rigorous academic
4-1 courses and to complete the recommended high school program; and
4-2 (7) emphasize activities that are supportive of and
4-3 compliant with the essential knowledge and skills curriculum.
4-4 Sec. 315.005. STUDENT SAFEGUARDS. (a) Student participation
4-5 in an activity sponsored by a partnership is voluntary.
4-6 (b) If an activity sponsored by a partnership requires
4-7 significant student involvement, the partnership shall require
4-8 parental consent in a form and manner prescribed by the local
4-9 school board as a condition to a student's participation in the
4-10 activity.
4-11 (c) An internship or other job opportunity sponsored by a
4-12 partnership may not displace existing workers or require a student
4-13 to work excessive or late hours.
4-14 Sec. 315.006. GRANT APPLICATION. A partnership that seeks
4-15 to obtain a grant under this chapter must submit an application to
4-16 the commission at the time and in a manner prescribed by commission
4-17 rule.
4-18 Sec. 315.007. INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The commission
4-19 shall appoint an interagency advisory committee to assist the
4-20 commission in implementing this chapter. The interagency advisory
4-21 committee shall be composed of one representative from each of the
4-22 following state agencies:
4-23 (1) the Texas Education Agency;
4-24 (2) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
4-25 (3) the Texas Department of Economic Development;
4-26 (4) the Council on Workforce and Economic
4-27 Competitiveness;
5-1 (5) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
5-2 (6) the Texas Commission for the Blind; and
5-3 (7) any other state agency the commission considers
5-4 appropriate.
5-5 Sec. 315.008. REPORT. A partnership that receives a grant
5-6 under this chapter shall prepare and deliver to the commission an
5-7 annual report on the effectiveness of the partnership's activities.
5-8 Sec. 315.009. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
5-9 necessary to implement this chapter.
5-10 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2002.
5-11 SECTION 3. The Texas Workforce Commission is required to
5-12 implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
5-13 specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
5-14 appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas
5-15 Workforce Commission may, but is not required to, implement this
5-16 Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.