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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to partnerships between the Texas State Technical College |
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System and public junior colleges. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 135, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE |
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SYSTEM AND PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES |
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Sec. 135.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "public |
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junior college" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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Sec. 135.102. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS. (a) With the |
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approval of the coordinating board, the board and a public junior |
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college may enter into a partnership agreement designed to |
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coordinate the management and operations of the institutions and to |
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enhance the delivery of technical education programs across this |
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state. The agreement does not abrogate the powers and duties of the |
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boards with regard to the governance of their respective |
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institutions. |
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(b) A partnership agreement under this subchapter must: |
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(1) provide that the participating institutions, in |
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conjunction with the local community, identify and offer courses |
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that will meet the educational and workforce development goals for |
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the region; |
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(2) provide that program offerings receive approval |
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from the coordinating board; |
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(3) provide for the distribution of responsibilities |
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regarding specific program offerings and resulting awards; |
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(4) provide for the distribution of tuition, fees, and |
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state funds associated with formula funding regarding program |
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offerings; and |
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(5) comply with applicable rules of the coordinating |
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board relating to contractual agreements. |
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(c) A partnership agreement between the system and a public |
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junior college under this subchapter is considered to be in |
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compliance with Sections 135.04(b) and (c). |
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Sec. 135.103. JOINT USE OF PERSONNEL. The governing boards |
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of the participating institutions may fill by joint appointment any |
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administrative, faculty, or support position necessary for the |
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operation of the institutions. |
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Sec. 135.104. SUPPORT SERVICES. The governing boards of |
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the participating institutions may assign the management and |
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operation of selected services, including maintenance of buildings |
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and grounds, operation of auxiliary enterprises, and operation of a |
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jointly supported library, to one of the institutions in order to |
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achieve cost-effectiveness. |
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Sec. 135.105. FACILITIES. (a) The participating |
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institutions may, under the terms of the partnership agreement, |
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make provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the |
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institutions. |
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(b) The participating institutions may individually or |
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collectively lease, purchase, finance, construct, or rehabilitate |
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physical facilities under this section appropriate to partnership |
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needs. The owning or financing of facilities under this section |
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promotes the public purpose of supporting higher education and |
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further promotes the public purpose of developing and diversifying |
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the economy of this state and eliminating unemployment and |
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underemployment in this state under the authority granted by |
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Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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(c) A participating institution of higher education may |
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lease facilities from or to another participating institution for |
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administrative and instructional purposes. |
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(d) Participating institutions may solicit, accept, and |
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administer, on terms and conditions acceptable to the participating |
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institutions, gifts, grants, or donations of any kind and from any |
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source for facilities and equipment. |
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(e) A facility used for the purposes of a partnership |
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agreement under this subchapter is not considered a facility used |
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to operate an extension program under Section 135.06. |
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Sec. 135.106. STATE FUNDING. The system is entitled to |
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receive state appropriations on the same formula basis as if the |
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system did not enter into a partnership agreement under this |
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subchapter, and any other participating institution of higher |
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education is entitled to state appropriations on the same formula |
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basis as other similar institutions of higher education. |
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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, 2013. |
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