By: Villarreal, Guillen, Rodriguez, Chavez, H.B. No. 1935
Flores, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Jobs and Education for Texans
(JET) Grant Program to support adult and postsecondary education
and workforce development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter O to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER O. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 403.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization
exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section
501(c)(3) of that code.
(2) "Public junior college," "public state college,"
and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by
Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 403.352. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) FUND. (a)
The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs and
Education for Texans (JET) fund as a dedicated account in the
general revenue fund.
(b) The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:
(1) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for
the fund for purposes of this subchapter;
(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the
fund; and
(3) gifts, grants, and other donations received for
the fund.
Sec. 403.353. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of
education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the
comptroller in administering this subchapter.
(b) The advisory board is composed of seven members who
serve two-year terms and are appointed as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the governor;
(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(4) one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board;
(5) one member appointed by the Texas Workforce
Commission;
(6) one member of the public appointed by the
comptroller; and
(7) the comptroller, who serves as the presiding
officer.
(c) The advisory board shall meet at least once each quarter
to review received applications and recommend awarding grants under
this subchapter.
Sec. 403.354. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT
PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs
and Education for Texans (JET) grant program to provide grants to
public junior colleges, public technical institutes, and eligible
nonprofit organizations that apply to the advisory board in the
manner prescribed by the advisory board. The comptroller shall
award the grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory
board. Grants may be awarded under this subchapter from the JET
fund for the following purposes:
(1) to develop, support, or expand programs of
nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements of Section
403.355 and that prepare low-income students for careers in
high-demand occupations;
(2) to defray the startup costs associated with the
development of new career and technical education programs at
public junior colleges and public technical institutes that meet
the requirements of Section 403.356; and
(3) to provide scholarships for students in career and
technical education programs who meet the requirements of Section
403.357.
Sec. 403.355. GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR
INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award
a grant to a nonprofit organization eligible under Subsection (b)
for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare
low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
nonprofit organization must:
(1) 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;
(2) 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;
(3) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory
board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve
the following measures of success among program participants, to
the extent applicable to the type of program the organization
provides:
(A) above average completion of developmental
education among participating public junior college or public
technical institute students;
(B) above average persistence rates among
participating public junior college or public technical institute
students;
(C) above average certificate or degree
completion rates by participating students within a three-year
period compared to demographically comparable public junior
college and public technical institute students; and
(D) employment of participating students at an
average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater than the
prevailing wage for the occupation entered; and
(4) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
adopted under Section 403.358.
(c) The matching funds required under Subsection (b)(4) may
be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit
organization, including in-kind contributions, community or
foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
governmental agency operating funds.
(c-1) In determining which eligible nonprofit organizations
should be awarded a grant under this section among two or more
eligible nonprofit organizations offering similar programs, the
comptroller shall give priority to any of those organizations that
has an existing program in place to assist veterans.
(d) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a
manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into
consideration.
Sec. 403.356. GRANTS TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR CAREER
AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a
grant for the development of new career and technical education
courses or programs at public junior colleges and public technical
institutes.
(b) A grant received under this section may be used only:
(1) to support courses or programs that prepare
students for career employment in occupations that are identified
by local businesses as being in high demand;
(2) to finance initial costs of career and technical
education course or program development, including the costs of
constructing or renovating facilities, purchasing equipment, and
other expenses associated with the development of a new course; and
(3) to finance a career and technical education course
or program that leads to a license, certificate, or postsecondary
degree.
(c) In awarding a grant under this section, the comptroller
shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the
state from the development of the career and technical education
course or program. The comptroller may also consider whether the
course or program:
(1) is part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand
occupation;
(2) offers new or expanded dual credit career and
technical educational opportunities in public high schools; or
(3) is provided in cooperation with other public
junior colleges or public technical institutes across existing
service areas.
(d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
public junior college or public technical institute must provide
matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under Section
403.358. The matching funds may be obtained from any source
available to the college, including in-kind contributions,
industry consortia, community or foundation grants, individual
contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds.
Sec. 403.357. SCHOLARSHIPS. (a) The comptroller may award
a scholarship to a public junior college or public technical
institute student.
(b) To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this
section, a student must:
(1) demonstrate financial need; and
(2) be enrolled in a training program for a
high-demand occupation, as determined by the comptroller on the
recommendation of the advisory board.
Sec. 403.358. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules as
necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
Sec. 403.359. STUDY. (a) The comptroller shall conduct a
study of the feasibility of:
(1) basing a portion of all public postsecondary
technical training program funding on the economic benefit of the
program to the state; and
(2) for purposes of Subdivision (1), estimating the
amount of any additional tax revenue generated by employers that
results from the ability of public junior colleges, public state
colleges, or public technical institutes to prepare students for
employment fields for which there is employer demand.
(b) The comptroller shall begin the study not later than
January 1, 2010. Not later than January 1, 2011, the comptroller
shall make recommendations to the lieutenant governor and the
speaker of the house of representatives for legislative action
based on the results of the study.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. Grants provided through the Texas Adult Career
Education Grant Program established under Section 403.351,
Government Code, as added by this Act may only benefit a permanent
legal resident or citizen of the United States.
SECTION 3. 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, 2009.