81R5487 JRJ-D

By: Shapiro S.B. No. 1312

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to programs and funding to support adult and postsecondary education and workforce development at public junior colleges and public technical institutes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended by adding Chapter 134 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 134. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

SUBCHAPTER A. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET)

GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 134.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "public junior college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

Sec. 134.002. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) FUND. (a) The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) fund as a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.

(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:

(1) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for the fund for purposes of this subchapter;

(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the fund; and

(3) gifts, grants, and other donations received for the fund.

Sec. 134.003. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the comptroller in administering this chapter.

(b) The advisory board is composed of seven members who serve two-year terms and are appointed as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(5) one member appointed by the Texas Workforce Commission;

(6) one member of the public appointed by the comptroller; and

(7) the comptroller, who serves as the chairperson.

(c) The advisory board shall meet at least once each quarter to review received applications and recommend awarding grants under this subchapter.

Sec. 134.004. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants to public junior colleges and public technical institutes that apply 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 this subchapter from the JET fund for the following purposes:

(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 startup 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 134.007.

Sec. 134.005. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a grant for the 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 2. Section 29.255, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) The agency shall allocate funds under this section to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in an amount sufficient for the development, implementation, and administration of the adult basic education pilot program established under Section 61.0764.

SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0764 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0764. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "pilot program" means the adult basic education pilot program established under this section.

(b) Using funds received under Section 29.255(c), the board by rule shall establish a pilot program under which participating junior college districts receive funding to establish adult education programs that focus on:

(1) the provision of developmental education to support the transition from high school to college or a career; and

(2) dropout recovery.

(c) To participate in the pilot program, a junior college district must apply to the board in the manner prescribed by the board. The application must include a detailed plan developed by the junior college district for the district's adult education program. The board may select for participation in the pilot program those junior college districts whose plans serve the purposes of the pilot program as determined by the board.

(d) The board may adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

SECTION 4. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.0764, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.