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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Fast Start Program to |
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promote rapid delivery of workforce education and development. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 302.0032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.0032. TEXAS FAST START PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Fast start program" means a career and technical |
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educational program designed to help students earn career |
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certifications and enter into the workforce quickly. |
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(2) "Public junior college" and "public technical |
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institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education |
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Code. |
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(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Texas |
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Fast Start Program to identify, develop, and support methods to |
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maximize academic or workforce education credit from public junior |
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colleges and public technical institutes to expedite the entry of |
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postsecondary students into the workforce. |
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(c) The commission shall work collaboratively with the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public junior colleges, |
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and public technical institutes to accomplish the purposes of this |
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section. |
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(d) Through the collaboration, the commission shall develop |
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new competency-based, rapid-deployment education delivery models |
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for use by a public junior college or public technical institute in |
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developing or expanding a fast start program as described by this |
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section. |
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(e) A fast start program under this section must: |
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(1) focus on the current and future needs of employers |
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in this state; |
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(2) enable students to obtain certifications at an |
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accelerated pace in high-demand fields or occupations, as |
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identified by local employers; |
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(3) incorporate competency-based learning techniques; |
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(4) feature a variety of access channels that are |
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uniquely designed to maximize job preparedness for identified |
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groups such as veterans, high school graduates, and current |
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workforce members seeking retraining; and |
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(5) be designed for rapid deployment statewide. |
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(f) Through the collaboration, the commission: |
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(1) may award grants to public junior colleges and |
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public technical institutes for: |
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(A) the expansion of existing fast start |
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programs; |
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(B) the development of new fast start programs; |
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and |
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(C) any other activities related to the purposes |
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of this section; and |
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(2) shall create a variety of incentives that |
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encourage public junior colleges and public technical institutes to |
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expand any existing fast start programs. |
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(g) A grant received under this section may be used only to: |
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(1) support a course or program that prepares students |
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for career employment in fields or occupations that are identified |
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as high-demand by local employers; |
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(2) finance the initial costs of developing a fast |
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start program, including the costs of constructing or renovating |
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facilities, purchasing equipment, and other associated expenses; |
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(3) finance the development or expansion of a fast |
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start program leading to a license, certificate, or postsecondary |
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degree; and |
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(4) offer a new or expanded dual credit fast start |
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program jointly with a public high school. |
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(h) The commission shall administer the program using money |
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appropriated to the commission, money received from federal or |
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other sources, or money from holding accounts that may be used by |
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the commission for the purpose of skills development. |
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(i) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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administration of this section. |
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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. |