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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of the skills development fund and other funds |
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available to the Texas Workforce Commission to support certain |
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joint credit courses offered by school districts under agreements |
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with public junior colleges. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 303.003, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2) In addition to the purposes described by Subsections |
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(b) and (b-1), in each state fiscal biennium, an amount of money |
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from the skills development fund not to exceed five percent of the |
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amount of general revenue appropriated to the skills development |
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fund for that biennium may be used as provided by this subsection. |
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Funds available to the commission from other sources may also be |
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used as provided by this subsection. Funds may be awarded under this |
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subsection to a public junior college to be used under an agreement |
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with a school district to support courses offered for joint high |
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school and public junior college credit or offered under a college |
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credit career or technical education program that leads to an |
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industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate. |
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Appropriate uses of funds awarded under this subsection include |
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purchasing or repairing necessary equipment for a course and |
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developing a course curriculum. A course or program supported |
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under this subsection must: |
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(1) have the endorsement of, or a letter of support |
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from, at least one employer in this state; and |
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(2) be targeted to address the needs of high-demand |
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fields or occupations, as identified by the applicable local |
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workforce development board. |
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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. |