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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to expand access to career and technical |
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education partnerships in rural areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.0271 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.0271. RURAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PILOT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "General academic teaching institution," "public |
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junior college," and "public technical institute" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(2) "Rural area" means: |
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(A) a county with a population of less than |
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100,000; or |
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(B) a municipality with a population of less than |
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50,000. |
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(b) Subject to available funding, the commissioner by rule |
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shall develop a rural workforce investment pilot program to issue |
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grants for developing partnerships in rural areas among school |
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districts, public junior colleges, public technical institutes, |
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general academic teaching institutions, and business and industry |
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to provide greater access to career and technical education and |
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industry certification to high school students in those areas. |
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(c) The department may not issue more than four grants under |
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this section in each state fiscal biennium. |
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(d) The department shall coordinate with the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board, and the Texas Education Agency in developing the pilot |
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program. |
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(e) Students participating in the pilot program may receive |
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at least 60 hours of college credit before high school graduation. |
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(f) A local workforce development board authorized by the |
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Texas Workforce Commission may apply to participate in the pilot |
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program if the workforce development board: |
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(1) serves a rural area of the state; and |
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(2) meets any other qualifications prescribed by the |
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commissioner. |
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(g) To receive a grant under this section, an applicant must |
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commit public or private funds matching the grant in a percentage |
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set by the commissioner. The commissioner shall set the required |
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percentage of matching funds based on the demonstrated economic |
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capacity of the community served by the program to raise funds for |
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the purpose of matching the grant, as determined by the |
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commissioner. |
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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. |