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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 756

By: Hinojosa

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been noted that the jobs and education for Texans (JET) grant program, as originally established, included certain nonprofit organizations as entities eligible to receive program grants. There are suggestions that such organizations could fill a useful role in preparing students  who might otherwise be deterred by economic and educational barriers for enrollment in a public junior college or public technical institute. S.B. 756 seeks to reinstate the eligibility of nonprofit organizations for JET grants to develop, support, or expand programs that prepare low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 756 amends the Education Code to authorize the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to award a grant under the jobs and education for Texans (JET) grant program to an eligible nonprofit organization for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations. The bill defines "nonprofit organization" as a charitable organization exempted from federal income tax under the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and requires such an organization to meet the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:

·         provide a program to offer assistance to low-income students in preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in a public junior college or public technical institute;

·         be governed by a board or other governing structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based community organizations and members of the local business community;

·         demonstrate to the satisfaction of the JET program advisory board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve certain specified measures of success among program participants to the extent applicable to the type of program the organization provides; and

·         provide matching funds in accordance with rules adopted for the program.

The bill authorizes the matching funds to be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit organization. The bill requires grants awarded under these provisions to be awarded in a manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into consideration.

 

S.B. 756 expands the membership of the JET grant program advisory board from six to eight members to include one member appointed by the commissioner of education and to increase the number of members appointed by the TWC from one to two, one of whom must represent a nonprofit organization located in Texas that provides or has experience in providing training services that prepare low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations. The bill specifies an appointment process for the members appointed by the TWC.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.