By: Deshotel (Senate Sponsor - Creighton) H.B. No. 2431

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017; May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 12, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2017, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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.

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