H.B. No. 2431
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the participation of public state colleges in the Jobs
  and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 134.001(2), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (2)  "Public junior college," [and] "public technical
  institute," and "public state college" have the meanings assigned
  by Section 61.003.
         SECTION 2.  Section 134.004, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 134.004.  JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT
  PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the
  Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants
  to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public
  state colleges, and independent school districts described under
  Section 134.007 that apply to the advisory board in the manner
  prescribed by the advisory board. The commission shall award the
  grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory board.
         (b)  Grants may be awarded under this chapter from the Jobs
  and Education for Texans (JET) fund  to defray the start-up costs
  associated with the development of new career and technical
  education programs at public junior colleges, public technical
  institutes, public state colleges, and independent school
  districts described under Section 134.007 that meet the
  requirements of Section 134.006.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 134.006(a), (c), and (d), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commission may award a grant for the development of
  new career and technical education courses or programs at public
  junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state
  colleges, and independent school districts.
         (c)  In awarding a grant under this section, the commission
  shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the
  state from the development of the career and technical education
  course or program.  The commission may also consider whether the
  course or program:
               (1)  is part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand
  occupation;
               (2)  offers new or expanded dual credit career and
  technical educational opportunities in public high schools; or
               (3)  is provided in cooperation with other public
  junior colleges, [or] public technical institutes, or public state
  colleges across existing service areas.
         (d)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
  public junior college, public technical institute, public state
  college, or independent school district described under Section
  134.007 must provide matching funds in accordance with rules
  adopted under Section 134.008. The matching funds may be obtained
  from any source available to the public junior college, public
  technical institute, public state college, or independent school
  district, including industry consortia, community or foundation
  grants, individual contributions, and local governmental agency
  operating funds.
         SECTION 4.  Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 134.007.  GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
  DISTRICT. The commission may award a grant to an independent school
  district under this chapter if the district has entered into a
  partnership with a public junior college, [or] public technical
  institute, or public state college for the purpose of:
               (1)  promoting career and technical education to the
  district's students; or
               (2)  offering dual credit courses to the district's
  students.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2431 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 4, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2431 was passed by the Senate on May
  19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor