78R7466 KSD-D
By: Keffer of Eastland H.B. No. 2109
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption of the 21st Century Technology College and
Careers Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 312 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 312. 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE AND CAREERS GRANT
PROGRAM
Sec. 312.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the
21st Century Technology College and Careers Act.
Sec. 312.002. PURPOSE; CONSTRUCTION. (a) The purpose of
this chapter is to strengthen and sustain existing partnerships in
each region of the state by providing planning, coordination, and
grant funding to participants so that the partnerships may better
serve the academic and career interests of students and their
parents, the workforce needs of employers, and the economic
development goals of communities in the 21st century.
(b) This chapter may not be construed to provide a
partnership with any regulatory authority or control over a
decision of a state or local agency or an institution of higher
education regarding the implementation of a partnership
initiative.
Sec. 312.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Educational institution" includes an institution
of higher education and a secondary school operated by a public
school district of this state.
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(3) "Participant" means a school district,
institution of higher education, employer or employer
organization, chamber of commerce, industry group or trade
association, local workforce development board, tech-prep
consortium, labor organization, or other entity that participates
in a partnership.
(4) "Partnership" means a regional collaboration of
participants who work together to promote educational improvement
and workforce development opportunities primarily for secondary
and postsecondary students.
(5) "Region" means a geographic state planning region
established by the governor under Chapter 391, Local Government
Code.
(6) "Tech-prep consortium" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.851, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1422, Acts of
the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999.
Sec. 312.004. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall
establish a grant program to assist partnerships in promoting
voluntary educational improvement and workforce development
opportunities primarily for secondary and postsecondary students.
(b) The commission shall award grants as provided by
Subsection (c) to one or more partnerships in each region.
(c) Each state fiscal year, the commission shall award a
base allocation of $100,000 to one or more partnerships in each
region. The commission shall distribute any additional grant money
to partnerships under this chapter in accordance with an equitable
allocation formula that is determined by the commission and based
on the amount of matching funds identified by the commission from
participants in each region.
(d) A partnership receiving grant money under this chapter
shall:
(1) develop initiatives to improve the transition from
educational institutions to the workforce, including:
(A) voluntary student internships and work-based
learning;
(B) the use of labor market information to
predict future workforce opportunities;
(C) broad-based career awareness development;
(D) professional development and support of
teachers and counselors at educational institutions, including
industry tours and teacher externships;
(E) student mentoring programs; and
(F) scholarship funding;
(2) emphasize postsecondary education;
(3) provide students with opportunities to apply their
academic work to authentic problems outside of the school
environment;
(4) emphasize mathematics, science, engineering, and
technology while stressing the importance of all foundation and
enrichment curricula;
(5) emphasize high-wage and high-skill jobs;
(6) encourage students to take rigorous academic
courses and to complete the recommended high school program; and
(7) emphasize activities that are supportive of and
compliant with the essential knowledge and skills curriculum.
Sec. 312.005. STUDENT SAFEGUARDS. (a) Student
participation in an activity sponsored by a partnership is
voluntary.
(b) If an activity sponsored by a partnership requires
significant student involvement, the partnership shall require
parental consent in a form and manner prescribed by the local school
board as a condition to a student's participation in the activity.
(c) An internship or other job opportunity sponsored by a
partnership may not displace existing workers or require a student
to work excessive or late hours.
Sec. 312.006. GRANT APPLICATION. A partnership that seeks
to obtain a grant under this chapter must submit an application to
the commission at the time and in a manner prescribed by commission
rule.
Sec. 312.007. INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The
commission shall appoint an interagency advisory committee to
assist the commission in implementing this chapter. The
interagency advisory committee shall be composed of one
representative from each of the following state agencies:
(1) the Texas Education Agency;
(2) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(3) the Texas Department of Economic Development;
(4) the Council on Workforce and Economic
Competitiveness;
(5) the Texas Rehabilitation Commission;
(6) the Texas Commission for the Blind; and
(7) any other state agency the commission considers
appropriate.
Sec. 312.008. REPORT. A partnership that receives a grant
under this chapter shall prepare and deliver to the commission an
annual report on the effectiveness of the partnership's activities.
Sec. 312.009. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
necessary to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2004.
SECTION 3. (a) The legislature may not appropriate money
specifically for the implementation of this Act, but may redirect
for the implementation of this Act money previously appropriated by
the legislature for purposes related to those described by Chapter
312, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The Texas Workforce Commission shall distribute any
appropriations received by the commission under Subsection (a) of
this section as additional grant money under Section 312.004(c),
Labor Code, as added by this Act.
(c) To provide base allocations to partnerships under
Section 312.004(c), Labor Code, as added by this Act, the Texas
Workforce Commission shall use any money available to the
commission from gifts, grants, donations, interagency contracts,
or any permissible source of federal funding, including funding
from the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et
seq.).