By: Fallon S.B. No. 2202

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 21, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; April 24, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 24, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration of the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 134.004, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) In awarding grants under this chapter, the commission, to the extent feasible, shall distribute grants equally across geographic areas of this state.

SECTION 2. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. (a) 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, 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.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an independent school district located in a rural area of this state in which no public junior college, public technical institute, or public state college is located in close geographic proximity to the district may be awarded a grant under this chapter to provide career and technical education courses or programs to students in the district in partnership with a local manufacturing facility in the area. The commission shall adopt rules for the administration of this subsection.

SECTION 3. Chapter 134, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 134.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 134.009. BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall prepare and submit to each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over workforce development or higher education a report regarding the grant activities and grant recipients under this chapter, including the results and outcomes of grants awarded under this chapter.

(b) The report must:

(1) identify high-demand occupations in this state and evaluate how grants awarded under this chapter have been used to support courses or programs that prepare students for employment in those occupations; and

(2) include the following data for the most recent two-year period for which the information is available, disaggregated by appropriate region as determined by the commission:

(A) the number of students receiving career and technical education funded by grants awarded under this chapter;

(B) the number of students attaining a certificate, a degree, or an industry certification or other workforce credential as a result of receiving career and technical education funded by grants awarded under this chapter;

(C) the number of students entering the workforce who received career and technical education funded by grants awarded under this chapter; and

(D) any losses or gains in manufacturing jobs and the effect of those losses or gains on workforce education needs.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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