82R6997 CAS-D

By: Workman H.B. No. 1370

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishment of the Texas Construction Academy as a residential construction training and high school center for certain public high school students and high school graduates.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.191 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.191. TEXAS CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY. (a) The agency shall establish the Texas Construction Academy as a residential training center for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in a career in the construction industry.

(b) The academy must offer:

(1) a residential program for high school juniors and seniors;

(2) the high school curriculum necessary for high school juniors and seniors to graduate from the academy with a high school diploma;

(3) to the greatest extent practicable, training in all areas of civil, commercial, residential, and industrial construction, including training in the following specific areas:

(A) installing:

(i) electrical systems;

(ii) heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems;

(iii) plumbing systems; and

(iv) drywall;

(B) framing;

(C) performing concrete work;

(D) painting and applying other wall or exterior building finishes;

(E) roofing;

(F) welding;

(G) pipefitting;

(H) operating heavy equipment;

(I) surveying;

(J) estimating the costs of materials and projects;

(K) managing construction projects, including scheduling projects and providing project leadership; and

(L) ensuring a safe work environment; and

(4) counseling concerning educational and career training opportunities available to students after high school graduation.

(c) To the greatest extent practicable, training under Subsection (b) must be provided by requiring students to perform construction activities.

(d) A student who resides anywhere in this state may apply for admission to the academy for all or part of a student's junior or senior year of high school. The commissioner shall by rule adopt a form and procedure for applying for admission to the academy and criteria for admission.

(e) The commissioner shall determine the location of the academy based on the need in an area of this state for the type of educational environment and program to be provided by the academy and the cost of locating the academy in a particular area. In making that determination, the commissioner shall include consideration of:

(1) the appropriateness of various rural areas of this state as a location for the academy; and

(2) the availability for use by the academy of a facility of a school district or institution of higher education or a facility donated by an appropriate private entity.

(f) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website information concerning the academy, including information concerning the location of the academy, the program offered, eligibility requirements for admission, and application forms and deadlines.

(g) The agency shall solicit and may accept for use by the academy donations of material, equipment, or facilities from a public or appropriate private entity.

(h) During a period when regular academy classes are in recess, the academy may enroll high school graduates, especially recent high school graduates, in academy courses developed for that purpose. The academy may charge reasonable tuition and fees as established by commissioner rule to a high school graduate who enrolls in an academy course.

(i) In addition to rules specifically required to be adopted by this section, the commissioner shall adopt any other rules necessary for the administration of this section.

SECTION 2. 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, 2011.