77R13379 KSD-D By Solis, et al. H.B. No. 3300 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3300: By Solis C.S.H.B. No. 3300 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.