79R4484 CAS-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.B. No. 893



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to access to funds appropriated for statewide adult 
education programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 29.251(1), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
		(1)  "Adult education" means services and instruction 
provided below the college level for adults by public local 
education agencies, public nonprofit agencies, [or] 
community-based organizations, or other entities specified by 
Section 29.253.
	SECTION 2.  Section 29.255, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 29.255.  FUNDING.  (a)  Funds shall be appropriated to 
implement statewide adult basic education, adult bilingual 
education, high school equivalency, and high school credit programs 
to eliminate illiteracy in this state and to implement and support a 
statewide program to meet the total range of adult needs for adult 
education, related skill training, and pilot programs to 
demonstrate the effectiveness of the community education concept.  
The agency shall ensure that public local education agencies, 
junior college districts, public nonprofit agencies, and 
community-based organizations have direct and equitable access to 
those funds.  An additional sum of money may be appropriated to the 
Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office [Department of 
Commerce] for the purpose of skill training in direct support of 
industrial expansion and start-up, and those locations, 
industries, and occupations designated by the Texas Economic 
Development and Tourism Office [Department of Commerce], when such 
training is also in support of the basic purposes of this 
subchapter.  To fulfill the basic purposes of this subchapter, an 
additional sum of money may be appropriated for skill training that 
is conducted to support the expansion of civilian employment 
opportunities on United States military reservations.
	(b)  The agency, in conjunction with the Texas Economic 
Development and Tourism Office [Department of Commerce], may adopt 
rules to administer skill training programs for which the agency is 
responsible, and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
[Department of Commerce] may adopt rules to administer skill 
training programs for which it is responsible.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.