81R5487 JRJ-D
By: Shapiro S.B. No. 1312
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to programs and funding to support adult and postsecondary
education and workforce development at public junior colleges and
public technical institutes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 134 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 134. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
SUBCHAPTER A. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET)
GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 134.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "public
junior college" and "public technical institute" have the meanings
assigned by Section 61.003.
Sec. 134.002. 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. 134.003. ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of
education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the
comptroller in administering this chapter.
(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 chairperson.
(c) The advisory board shall meet at least once each quarter
to review received applications and recommend awarding grants under
this subchapter.
Sec. 134.004. 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 and public technical institutes 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 expand and support programs that meet the
requirements of Section 134.005 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 that
meet the requirements of Section 134.006; and
(3) to provide scholarships for students in career and
technical education programs who meet the requirements of Section
134.007.
Sec. 134.005. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a grant for the
development 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
program must:
(1) provide assistance to those students in preparing
for, applying to, and enrolling in a public junior college or public
technical institute; and
(2) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory
board:
(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.
(c) 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
134.008. The matching funds may be obtained from any source
available to the college or institute, including in-kind
contributions, community or foundation grants, individual
contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds.
(d) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a
manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into
consideration.
Sec. 134.006. FUNDING 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, and may consider whether the course or program is
part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand occupation.
(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
134.008. 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. 134.007. 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. 134.008. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules as
necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. Section 29.255, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The agency shall allocate funds under this section to
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in an amount
sufficient for the development, implementation, and administration
of the adult basic education pilot program established under
Section 61.0764.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0764 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0764. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In
this section, "pilot program" means the adult basic education pilot
program established under this section.
(b) Using funds received under Section 29.255(c), the board
by rule shall establish a pilot program under which participating
junior college districts receive funding to establish adult
education programs that focus on:
(1) the provision of developmental education to
support the transition from high school to college or a career; and
(2) dropout recovery.
(c) To participate in the pilot program, a junior college
district must apply to the board in the manner prescribed by the
board. The application must include a detailed plan developed by
the junior college district for the district's adult education
program. The board may select for participation in the pilot
program those junior college districts whose plans serve the
purposes of the pilot program as determined by the board.
(d) The board may adopt rules necessary to administer this
section.
SECTION 4. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.0764, Education Code,
as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes
effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the
initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
SECTION 5. 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.