83R22758 KSD-D
 
  By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 3028
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of the skills development fund and other funds
  available to the Texas Workforce Commission to support certain
  joint credit courses offered by school districts under agreements
  with public junior colleges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 303.003, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-2)  In addition to the purposes described by Subsections
  (b) and (b-1), in each state fiscal biennium, an amount of money
  from the skills development fund not to exceed five percent of the
  amount of general revenue appropriated to the skills development
  fund for that biennium may be used as provided by this subsection.
  Funds available to the commission from other sources may also be
  used as provided by this subsection. Funds may be awarded under this
  subsection to a public junior college to be used under an agreement
  with a school district to support courses offered for joint high
  school and public junior college credit or offered under a college
  credit career or technical education program that leads to an
  industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate.
  Appropriate uses of funds awarded under this subsection include
  purchasing or repairing necessary equipment for a course and
  developing a course curriculum. A course or program supported
  under this subsection must:
               (1)  have the endorsement of, or a letter of support
  from, at least one employer in this state; and
               (2)  be targeted to address the needs of high-demand
  fields or occupations, as identified by the applicable local
  workforce development board.
         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, 2013.