By: Taylor of Galveston S.B. No. 1635

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the career and technology education allotment and the essential knowledge and skills of the career and technology education and technology applications curriculums.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 42.154(a), (b), (c), and (e), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) For each full-time equivalent student in average daily attendance in an approved career and technology education program or an approved technology applications course in grades nine through 12 or in career and technology education programs for students with disabilities in grades seven through 12, a district is entitled to:

(1) an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and

(2) $50, if the student is enrolled in:

(A) two or more advanced career and technology education courses [classes] for a total of three or more credits;

(B) two or more advanced technology applications courses for a total of three or more credits; or

(C) [(B)] an advanced course as part of a tech-prep program under Subchapter T, Chapter 61.

(b) In this section, "full-time equivalent student" means 30 hours of contact a week between a student and career and technology education program or technology applications personnel.

(c) Funds allocated under this section, other than an indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education rule, must be used in providing career and technology education programs and technology applications courses in grades nine through 12 or career and technology education programs for students with disabilities in grades seven through 12 under Sections 29.182, 29.183, and 29.184.

(e) Out of the total statewide allotment [for career and technology education] under this section, the commissioner shall set aside an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act, which may not exceed an amount equal to one percent of the total amount appropriated, to support regional career and technology education planning. After deducting the amount set aside under this subsection from the total amount appropriated for career and technology education and technology applications under this section, the commissioner shall reduce each district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a reduction in allotments under Section 42.253.

SECTION 2. Section 42.101(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For each student in average daily attendance, not including the time students spend each day in special education programs in an instructional arrangement other than mainstream programs, [or] career and technology education programs, or technology applications courses, for which an additional allotment is made under Subchapter C, a district is entitled to an allotment equal to the lesser of $4,765 or the amount that results from the following formula:

A = $4,765 X (DCR/MCR)

where:

"A" is the allotment to which a district is entitled;

"DCR" is the district's compressed tax rate, which is the product of the state compression percentage, as determined under Section 42.2516, multiplied by the maintenance and operations tax rate adopted by the district for the 2005 tax year; and

"MCR" is the state maximum compressed tax rate, which is the product of the state compression percentage, as determined under Section 42.2516, multiplied by $1.50.

SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2018, the State Board of Education shall:

(1) conduct a review of the essential knowledge and skills of the career and technology and technology applications curriculums; and

(2) amend the board's rules in the Texas Administrative Code to consolidate the technology applications courses for grades nine through 12 in 19 T.A.C. Chapter 126, Subchapter C, with the career and technology education courses in 19 T.A.C. Chapter 130, and eliminate duplicative courses while ensuring certifications are aligned with the rigor of each individual course.

SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

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.