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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and administration of a community-based |
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at-risk youth program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. EDUCATION AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM |
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Sec. 33.251. PROGRAM. The agency, in conjunction with the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall administer the |
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Education and Self-Sufficiency Program as described by this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 33.252. STATE DIRECTOR. The commissioner shall |
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designate a state director for the Education and Self-Sufficiency |
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Program. |
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Sec. 33.253. DUTIES OF STATE DIRECTOR. The state director |
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shall coordinate community-based efforts to: |
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(1) assist students at risk of dropping out of school, |
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as defined by Section 29.081, to develop a foundation for a |
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well-balanced and appropriate education from early childhood |
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education through middle and junior high school through the use of: |
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(A) small school campuses that permit highly |
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personal learning environments and that offer a culturally |
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sensitive curriculum; |
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(B) a variety of instructional and interactive |
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methods to develop self-respect, self-confidence, and students' |
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leadership skills; and |
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(C) after-school enrichment programs to help |
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students complete homework and improve academic skills; |
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(2) provide at least two years of mentoring for high |
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school students qualified and planning to pursue a postsecondary |
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education; |
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(3) provide vocational education training for high |
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school students who do not plan to pursue a postsecondary |
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education; and |
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(4) provide high school graduates who do not plan to |
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pursue a postsecondary education and parents of students adult job |
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training, including job readiness training and vocational |
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education training, and job placement assistance to assist those |
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high school graduates and parents in transitioning from job |
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training into the workforce. |
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Sec. 33.254. PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM. A community-based |
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organization may participate in the program if the organization has |
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a proven track record of successfully working independently in an |
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area identified in Section 33.253. |
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Sec. 33.255. FUNDING; DONATIONS. (a) The state director |
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shall solicit and may accept federal funds, state funds, private |
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contributions, grants, and public and school district funds to |
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support the activities of the Education and Self-Sufficiency |
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Program. |
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(b) The state director may accept a donation of services or |
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money or other property that the state director determines furthers |
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the lawful objectives of the program. Each donation, with the name |
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of the donor and the purpose of the donation, must be reported in |
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the public records of the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |