BILL ANALYSIS
By: Lucio III
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Career and Technical Education departments in our public school system exist to develop, implement, and evaluate challenging real world educational programs that are academically integrated and offer students a comprehensive list of courses which will prepare them to meet and exceed the challenges facing them in a high-paced, competitive work environment.
The purpose of this bill is to provide Career and Technical Education departments in our public school system with funding to assist students in paying for state or industry certification exams. This will assist in attracting students to the programs, thus expanding the opportunities for employment after high school, and providing these students with certifications that will be of great value in future education or employment.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Commissioner of Education in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
This bill adds a new section to the Education Code relating to subsidies for certification examinations. The bill provides that a student is entitled to such a subsidy if the student successfully completes the career and technology program of a school district in which the student receives training and instruction for employment in a certain trade or occupation, passes a certification examination to qualify for a license or certificate for the trade or occupation, and
demonstrates financial need.
The bill provides that the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) shall adopt guidelines for determining financial need consistent with the definition of financial need adopted by the College Board and Education Testing Service.
The bill provides that, on approval by the commissioner, the Texas Education Agency (agency) shall pay each eligible student an amount equal to the cost paid by the student for the certification examination. To obtain such a subsidy, a student must pay the fee for the examination, and submit to the commissioner a written application on a form prescribed by the commissioner demonstrating financial need and the amount of the fee paid by the student for the certification examination.
The bill provides that the commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this new section.
The bill provides that the Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.