87R2866 MLH-D
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 346
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the participation of open-enrollment charter schools in
  the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 134.004, 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 and
  open-enrollment charter schools 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 and open-enrollment charter schools described under
  Section 134.007 that meet the requirements of Section 134.006.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 134.006(a) 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, and open-enrollment
  charter schools.
         (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 or open-enrollment charter
  school 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, or open-enrollment
  charter school, including industry consortia, community or
  foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
  governmental agency operating funds.
         SECTION 3.  Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 134.007.  GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
  OR OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOL.  The commission may award a
  grant to an independent school district or open-enrollment charter
  school under this chapter if the district or school 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 or school's students; or
               (2)  offering dual credit courses to the district's or
  school's students.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2021.