86R4924 MEW-F
 
  By: Bell of Montgomery H.B. No. 963
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the career and technology education and technology
  applications 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.  The heading to Section 42.154, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.154.  CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
  APPLICATIONS ALLOTMENT.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 42.154(a), (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; or
                     (B)  two or more advanced technology applications
  courses for a total of three or more credits.
         (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 3.  Section 42.154(b)(2), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (2)  "Full-time equivalent student" means 30 hours of
  contact a week between a student and career and technology
  education program or technology applications personnel.
         SECTION 4.  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 5.  Section 42.154(b)(1), Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 6.  Not later than March 1, 2020, 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 technical 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 7.  This Act applies beginning with the 2020-2021
  school year.
         SECTION 8.  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, 2019.