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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to expand joint credit programs to |
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include certain courses offered by career schools and colleges in |
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certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 132, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 132.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 132.026. JOINT CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to |
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available funding, the commission, in coordination with the Texas |
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Education Agency, shall develop and administer a pilot program |
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under which the commission awards grants to career schools and |
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colleges that partner with participating public high schools to |
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offer joint high school and career school or college credit for |
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courses in nursing and applied sciences and technology. |
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(b) A public high school is eligible to participate in the |
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pilot program only if the school is located in an economically |
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disadvantaged and underserved region of the state, as determined by |
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the commission for purposes of this section. |
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(c) To partner with an eligible high school under the pilot |
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program, a career school or college must be located in the same |
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county as the high school. |
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(d) The commission shall award grants under the pilot |
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program from funds appropriated for that purpose and any other |
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available funds. The commission may seek and accept gifts, grants, |
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and donations to fund the pilot program. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2016, the commission shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the standing legislative committees |
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with primary jurisdiction over education a written report on the |
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effectiveness of the pilot program and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action. |
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(f) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules |
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for the administration of Section 132.026, Education Code, as added |
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by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For |
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that purpose, the commission may adopt the initial rules in the |
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manner provided by law for emergency rules. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2015. |