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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the curriculum, funding, promotion, and economic impact |
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of career and technology education in public educational |
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institutions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.00221 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.00221. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CURRICULUM |
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EVALUATION COMMITTEE. (a) The Career and Technology Education |
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Curriculum Evaluation Committee is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner of education; |
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(2) the commissioner of higher education; |
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(3) the comptroller; |
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(4) the executive director of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission; and |
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(5) an employee of the agency's career and technology |
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education unit, appointed by the commissioner of education. |
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(b) The Career and Technology Education Curriculum |
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Evaluation Committee shall: |
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(1) consult with and advise the State Board of |
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Education concerning a rigorous career and technology education |
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curriculum; |
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(2) determine the courses for each subject of the |
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foundation curriculum that are required to be completed for the |
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career and technology education curriculum recommended and |
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advanced high school programs under Section 28.025(b-1)(1)(B)(ii); |
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(3) determine dual credit courses for career and |
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technology students, as defined by Section 28.009, that satisfy |
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requirements under Sections 28.009(a)(2) and |
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28.025(b-1)(1)(B)(ii); and |
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(4) designate, in accordance with Section |
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39.025(a-2), the licenses, certificates, and other credentials |
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earned by students that are considered to be the equivalent of |
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satisfactory performance on end-of-course assessment instruments. |
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(c) The commissioner of education and the commissioner of |
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higher education serve as co-chairs of the committee. |
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(d) The committee shall meet at the call of the co-chairs. |
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(e) From funds appropriated to the committee, a member of |
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the committee is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary |
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expenses incurred in performing committee duties. |
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(f) Employees of the agency's career and technology |
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education unit shall serve as the staff of the committee. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.009(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board as necessary in administering this |
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section. The agency shall coordinate with the Career and |
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Technology Education Curriculum Evaluation Committee established |
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under Section 28.00221 in designating dual credit courses under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 28.025(b-1) and (b-2), Education Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that: |
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(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the |
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curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high |
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school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that |
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students successfully complete: |
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(A) four courses in each subject of the |
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foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1); or |
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(B) a career and technology education curriculum |
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that: |
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(i) provides, as determined by the board in |
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consultation with the Career and Technology Education Curriculum |
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Evaluation Committee established under Section 28.00221, a program |
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of rigorous, standards-based course work designed to prepare |
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students for obtaining a license, certificate, or other credential |
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required for employment in a field of business or industry; and |
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(ii) prescribes successful completion of |
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courses in subjects of the foundation curriculum under Section |
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28.002(a)(1), as determined by the Career and Technology Education |
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Curriculum Evaluation Committee; and |
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(2) one or more courses offered in the required |
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curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs |
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include a research writing component. |
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(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the |
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curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection |
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(b-1)(1)(A) [(b-1)(1)] taken after the successful completion of an |
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Algebra II course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1)(A) |
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[(b-1)(1)] taken after the successful completion of a physics |
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course by successfully completing an advanced career and technology |
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[technical] course designated by the State Board of Education as |
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containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content. A |
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student may use the option provided by this subsection for not more |
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than two courses. |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.0252(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The commissioner may develop a standard method of |
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computing a student's high school grade point average that provides |
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for additional weight to be given to each honors course, advanced |
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placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual |
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credit course completed by a student. If the commissioner develops |
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the standard method under this subsection, the commissioner shall |
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provide for including in a student's high school grade point |
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average credit for each career and technology education course that |
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is: |
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(1) successfully completed by the student; and |
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(2) approved by the Career and Technology Education |
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Curriculum Evaluation Committee established under Section 28.00221 |
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or the State Board of Education, as applicable. |
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SECTION 5. Section 39.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or any other provision |
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of this code, the Career and Technology Education Curriculum |
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Evaluation Committee established under Section 28.00221 shall |
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designate at least one license, certificate, or other credential |
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that, if earned by a student in connection with a particular course, |
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is considered to be for all practicable purposes, including for |
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purposes of earning a high school diploma, the equivalent of |
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satisfactory performance on the end-of-course assessment |
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instrument for that course. The committee also shall establish for |
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purposes of Subsection (a) the score a student will be considered to |
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have earned on the end-of-course assessment instrument for earning |
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a license, certificate, or other credential designated by the |
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committee. The committee may base the score in whole or in part on |
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the score the student earns on an examination required for the |
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license, certificate, or other credential. Earning a license, |
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certificate, or credential is not considered the equivalent of |
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answering particular questions on an end-of-course assessment |
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instrument for purposes of Section 51.3062. |
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SECTION 6. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.186 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.186. REPORT ON EFFECT OF LAW AND RULES ON CAREER AND |
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TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION ENROLLMENT. Not later than December 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, the agency shall prepare and deliver to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, each member of the legislature, and the clerks of |
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the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
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with primary jurisdiction over the public school system a report |
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concerning the extent to which, if any, this code or a rule adopted |
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under this code, including a standard method for computing a |
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student's grade point average adopted by the commissioner under |
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Section 28.0252, prevents or discourages a student from enrolling |
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in a career and technology education course. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0593 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0593. INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION |
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PROGRAMS. (a) Any funding appropriated or allocated for a public |
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junior college, public state college, or public technical institute |
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technical education program that is based on incentives, such as |
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higher funding amounts for improved student academic performance, |
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must include consideration of any economic benefit the program |
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provides to the state. That consideration must be based on a |
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cost-benefit analysis and determination by the board, on the basis |
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of that analysis, of whether the state will benefit economically |
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from investment in the program. In making a determination under |
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this subsection, the board shall consider to be an economic benefit |
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to the state a student's preparation, as a result of participation |
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in a college or institute's technical education program, to enter |
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the workforce, as measured by job placements of program |
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participants. |
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(b) If any incentive funding for a public junior college, |
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public state college, or public technical institute technical |
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education program is based on the program completion rates by |
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students, the board shall consider a student who withdraws from the |
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program for employment related to the program to have completed the |
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program. |
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SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0663 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0663. ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY. (a) To assess the |
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economic benefits and preparation for employment provided by public |
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institutions of higher education, the board shall identify students |
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enrolled in the public education system and collect data on which |
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postsecondary program, if any, the students enroll in and the type |
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of employment the students obtain following completion of high |
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school or the program, as applicable. |
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(b) The board, in consultation with the Texas Education |
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Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the comptroller, shall |
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use the education and employment data collected under Subsection |
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(a), and any additional relevant data, to assess the economic |
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impact of secondary and postsecondary training and education. The |
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information must be produced in a manner that: |
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(1) demonstrates patterns of postsecondary enrollment |
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and employment placement; |
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(2) provides an assessment of the economic benefits of |
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institutions of higher education and programs at those institutions |
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to students and the state; and |
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(3) provides an assessment of the economic benefit of |
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public education programs that prepare students who transition |
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directly to postsecondary employment. |
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(c) The information produced under this section must be |
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capable of electronic dissemination and made available to the |
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public in a format that assists students in making decisions |
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regarding education and career choices. |
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(d) This section does not authorize the disclosure of |
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student information that may not be disclosed under the Family |
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Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section |
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1232g). The board, in conjunction with the commissioner of |
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education, the comptroller, and the Texas Workforce Commission, |
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shall adopt rules to protect the confidentiality of student |
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information. |
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SECTION 9. Section 61.0762, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0762. PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE STUDENT SUCCESS. (a) To |
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implement the college readiness and success strategic action plan |
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adopted under Section 61.0761 and to enhance the success of |
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students at institutions of higher education, the board by rule |
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shall develop: |
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(1) summer higher education bridge programs in the |
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subject areas of mathematics, science, and English language arts; |
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(2) incentive programs for institutions of higher |
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education that implement research-based, innovative developmental |
|
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education initiatives; |
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(3) financial assistance programs for educationally |
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disadvantaged students, as defined by Section 5.001, who take |
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college entrance and college readiness assessment instruments; |
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(4) professional development programs for faculty of |
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institutions of higher education on college readiness standards and |
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the implications of such standards on instruction; and |
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(5) other programs as determined by the board that |
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support the participation and success goals in "Closing the Gaps," |
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the state's master plan for higher education. |
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(b) As one of the programs adopted under Subsection (a)(5), |
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the board shall establish education resource centers to create |
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within school communities interest in and information concerning |
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attendance at institutions of higher education. Each center must |
|
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attempt to coordinate among students, parents, school counselors, |
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and institutions of higher education in providing access to |
|
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resources helpful in preparation for attendance at and admission to |
|
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institutions of higher education. One or more persons associated |
|
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with each center shall be trained and able to assist the families of |
|
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high school students complete the Free Application for Federal |
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Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Each center shall provide information |
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concerning career and technical education, including certification |
|
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and licensing requirements and available course and career options |
|
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and degree programs. A center under this subsection may be located |
|
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on a high school or middle school campus or at a site within a |
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community that is conveniently located to many students, such as a |
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public library or local workforce or community center, or may be a |
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mobile center that visits schools or other places where students |
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are likely to gather. |
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(c) The board shall conduct ongoing evaluations of programs |
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developed under Subsection (a) and any other programs developed to |
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provide information concerning postsecondary educational or |
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employment opportunities to determine the effectiveness of the |
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programs in meeting the goals of "Closing the Gaps," the state's |
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master plan for higher education. |
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(d) In conjunction with the comptroller, the board shall |
|
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develop an Internet website for the purpose of providing |
|
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information to the public about postsecondary educational and |
|
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employment opportunities. The website shall provide information in |
|
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English and Spanish concerning: |
|
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(1) career and technical education programs that |
|
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integrate academic, technical, and career skills that lead to a |
|
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license, certificate, or postsecondary degree; |
|
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(2) available employment opportunities and the |
|
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educational requirements needed for employment at entry and |
|
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advanced levels; |
|
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(3) which occupations are considered high-demand |
|
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under Section 29.186; |
|
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(4) the skills needed and the available avenues for |
|
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obtaining employment in a high-demand occupation; and |
|
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(5) how to obtain financial aid and what forms of |
|
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financial aid are available to students entering certain |
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occupations. |
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(e) For the purpose of developing the Internet website under |
|
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Subsection (d), the board may require the Texas Education Agency to |
|
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provide information on educational programs and outcomes and the |
|
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Texas Workforce Commission to provide information on workforce |
|
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programs and outcomes. |
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SECTION 10. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended |
|
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by adding Chapter 134 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 134. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 134.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "public |
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junior college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings |
|
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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Sec. 134.002. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) FUND. (a) |
|
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The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs and |
|
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Education for Texans (JET) fund as a dedicated account in the |
|
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general revenue fund. |
|
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(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund: |
|
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(1) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for |
|
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the fund for purposes of this subchapter; |
|
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(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the |
|
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fund; and |
|
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(3) gifts, grants, and other donations received for |
|
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the fund. |
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Sec. 134.003. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of |
|
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education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the |
|
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comptroller in administering this chapter. |
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(b) The advisory board is composed of seven members who |
|
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serve two-year terms and are appointed as follows: |
|
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(1) one member appointed by the governor; |
|
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(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
|
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(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
|
|
representatives; |
|
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(4) one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education |
|
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Coordinating Board; |
|
|
(5) one member appointed by the Texas Workforce |
|
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Commission; |
|
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(6) one member of the public appointed by the |
|
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comptroller; and |
|
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(7) the comptroller, who serves as the chairperson. |
|
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(c) The advisory board shall meet at least once each quarter |
|
|
to review received applications and recommend awarding grants under |
|
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this subchapter. |
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Sec. 134.004. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT |
|
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PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs |
|
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and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants to |
|
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public junior colleges and public technical institutes that apply |
|
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to the advisory board in the manner prescribed by the advisory |
|
|
board. The comptroller shall award the grants on the advice and |
|
|
recommendations of the advisory board. Grants may be awarded under |
|
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this subchapter from the JET fund for the following purposes: |
|
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(1) to expand and support programs that meet the |
|
|
requirements of Section 134.005 and that prepare low-income |
|
|
students for careers in high-demand occupations; |
|
|
(2) to defray the start-up costs associated with the |
|
|
development of new career and technical education programs that |
|
|
meet the requirements of Section 134.006; and |
|
|
(3) to provide scholarships for students in career and |
|
|
technical education programs who meet the requirements of Section |
|
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134.007. |
|
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Sec. 134.005. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL |
|
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PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a grant for the |
|
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development of programs to prepare low-income students for careers |
|
|
in high-demand occupations. |
|
|
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
|
|
program must: |
|
|
(1) provide assistance to those students in preparing |
|
|
for, applying to, and enrolling in a public junior college or public |
|
|
technical institute; and |
|
|
(2) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory |
|
|
board: |
|
|
(A) above average completion of developmental |
|
|
education among participating public junior college or public |
|
|
technical institute students; |
|
|
(B) above average persistence rates among |
|
|
participating public junior college or public technical institute |
|
|
students; |
|
|
(C) above average certificate or degree |
|
|
completion rates by participating students within a three-year |
|
|
period compared to demographically comparable public junior |
|
|
college and public technical institute students; and |
|
|
(D) employment of participating students at an |
|
|
average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater than |
|
|
the prevailing wage for the occupation entered. |
|
|
(c) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
|
|
public junior college or public technical institute must provide |
|
|
matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under Section |
|
|
134.008. The matching funds may be obtained from any source |
|
|
available to the college or institute, including in-kind |
|
|
contributions, community or foundation grants, individual |
|
|
contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds. |
|
|
(d) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a |
|
|
manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into |
|
|
consideration. |
|
|
Sec. 134.006. FUNDING FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION |
|
|
PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a grant for the |
|
|
development of new career and technical education courses or |
|
|
programs at public junior colleges and public technical institutes. |
|
|
(b) A grant received under this section may be used only: |
|
|
(1) to support courses or programs that prepare |
|
|
students for career employment in occupations that are identified |
|
|
by local businesses as being in high demand; |
|
|
(2) to finance initial costs of career and technical |
|
|
education course or program development, including the costs of |
|
|
constructing or renovating facilities, purchasing equipment, and |
|
|
other expenses associated with the development of a new course; and |
|
|
(3) to finance a career and technical education course |
|
|
or program that leads to a license, certificate, or postsecondary |
|
|
degree. |
|
|
(c) In awarding a grant under this section, the comptroller |
|
|
shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the |
|
|
state from the development of the career and technical education |
|
|
course or program, and may consider whether the course or program is |
|
|
part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand occupation. |
|
|
(d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
|
|
public junior college or public technical institute must provide |
|
|
matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under Section |
|
|
134.008. The matching funds may be obtained from any source |
|
|
available to the college, including in-kind contributions, |
|
|
industry consortia, community or foundation grants, individual |
|
|
contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds. |
|
|
Sec. 134.007. SCHOLARSHIPS. (a) The comptroller may award |
|
|
a scholarship to a public junior college or public technical |
|
|
institute student. |
|
|
(b) To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this |
|
|
section, a student must: |
|
|
(1) demonstrate financial need; and |
|
|
(2) be enrolled in a training program for a |
|
|
high-demand occupation, as determined by the comptroller on the |
|
|
recommendation of the advisory board. |
|
|
Sec. 134.008. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules as |
|
|
necessary for the administration of this subchapter. |
|
|
SECTION 11. Not later than January 1, 2010, the Career and |
|
|
Technology Education Curriculum Evaluation Committee established |
|
|
under Section 28.00221, Education Code, as added by this Act shall: |
|
|
(1) determine courses for purposes of Section |
|
|
28.025(b-1)(1)(B)(ii), Education Code, as added by this Act; |
|
|
(2) determine dual credit courses that may be used to |
|
|
satisfy the career and technology education curriculum recommended |
|
|
and advanced high school program and institution of higher |
|
|
education credit requirements, as required by Section |
|
|
28.00221(b)(3), Education Code, as added by this Act; and |
|
|
(3) designate the licenses, certificates, and other |
|
|
credentials considered to be the equivalent of satisfactory |
|
|
performance on end-of-course assessment instruments, as required |
|
|
by Section 39.025(a-2), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 12. Not later than March 1, 2010, the State Board of |
|
|
Education shall adopt rules as required by Section 28.025(b-1), |
|
|
Education Code, as amended by this Act. The rules shall provide |
|
|
that the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced |
|
|
high school programs adopted under that subsection apply to a |
|
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student regardless of the school year in which the student entered |
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the ninth grade. |
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SECTION 13. Not later than January 1, 2010, the comptroller |
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of public accounts shall begin studying the feasibility of: |
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(1) basing a portion of all public postsecondary |
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technical training program funding on the economic benefit of the |
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program to the state; and |
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(2) for purposes of Subdivision (1) of this section, |
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estimating the amount of any additional tax revenue generated by |
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employers that is a result of the ability of public junior colleges, |
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|
public state colleges, or public technical institutes, as those |
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|
terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, to prepare |
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students for employment fields for which there is employer demand. |
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SECTION 14. Section 61.0593, Education Code, as added by |
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|
this Act, applies to incentive funding for public institutions of |
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|
higher education beginning with the 2011-2012 state fiscal year. |
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SECTION 15. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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|
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |