By Solis H.B. No. 3300 77R5631 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. COLLEGE AND CAREERS PILOT PROGRAM 1-8 Sec. 315.001. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the 1-9 21st Century Technology College and Careers Act. 1-10 Sec. 315.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-11 (1) "Educational institution" includes an institution 1-12 of higher education and a secondary school operated by a public 1-13 school district of this state. 1-14 (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning 1-15 assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. 1-16 (3) "Participant" means a school district, institution 1-17 of higher education, business entity, chamber of commerce, industry 1-18 group, local workforce development board, tech-prep consortium, 1-19 labor organization, or other entity that participates in the 1-20 program established under this chapter. 1-21 (4) "Tech-prep consortium" has the meaning assigned by 1-22 Section 61.851, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1422, Acts of 1-23 the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. 1-24 Sec. 315.003. PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall 2-1 establish a pilot program to enhance public-private partnerships 2-2 and collaborative efforts to promote voluntary educational 2-3 improvement and workforce development opportunities for high school 2-4 and college students. 2-5 (b) The pilot program shall develop initiatives across the 2-6 state to improve the transition from educational institutions to 2-7 the workforce. The initiatives must include: 2-8 (1) student internships and work-based learning; 2-9 (2) use of labor market information to predict future 2-10 workforce opportunities; 2-11 (3) career awareness development; 2-12 (4) professional development and support of teachers 2-13 and counselors at educational institutions which may include 2-14 activities such as industry tours and teacher externships; 2-15 (5) student mentoring programs; and 2-16 (6) scholarship funding. 2-17 (c) The pilot program shall emphasize post-secondary 2-18 education and technology careers. 2-19 Sec. 315.004. ACTIVITIES OF PARTICIPANTS. Participants in 2-20 the pilot program shall provide students with opportunities to 2-21 apply their academic work to authentic problems outside of the 2-22 school environment. Special emphasis shall be given to 2-23 mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. 2-24 Sec. 315.005. FUNDING. The commission shall examine 2-25 possible funding sources for the operation of the pilot program on 2-26 a long-term basis. These sources may include: 2-27 (1) legislative appropriations; 3-1 (2) allocation of part of the smart jobs fund; 3-2 (3) compensatory education funds and career and 3-3 technology funds through the Texas Education Agency; 3-4 (4) discretionary funds from the commission, the Texas 3-5 Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 3-6 and other appropriate governmental entities; 3-7 (5) federal grants or other federal funding; and 3-8 (6) gifts, grants, or donations from the private 3-9 sector. 3-10 Sec. 315.006. REPORT. Not later than February 1, 2003, the 3-11 commission shall report to the governor, lieutenant governor, the 3-12 speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the 78th 3-13 Legislature regarding the implementation of the pilot program 3-14 established under this chapter. The report must be in writing and 3-15 must make specific recommendations regarding the long-term 3-16 operation of the program and sources of funding for the program. 3-17 Sec. 315.007. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September 1, 3-18 2003. 3-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 3-20 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 3-21 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 3-22 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 3-23 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.