By: J. Davis of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Birdwell) H.B. No. 3028
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
May 8, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
Development; May 16, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0;
May 16, 2013, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3028 By: Birdwell
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of the skills development fund and other funds
available to the Texas Workforce Commission to support certain
joint credit courses offered by school districts under agreements
with lower-division institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 303.003, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (b-2) and (i) to read as follows:
(b-2) In addition to the purposes described by Subsections
(b) and (b-1), in each state fiscal biennium, an amount of money
from the skills development fund not to exceed five percent of the
amount of general revenue appropriated to the skills development
fund for that biennium may be used as provided by this subsection.
Funds available to the commission from other sources may also be
used as provided by this subsection. Funds may be awarded under
this subsection to a lower-division institution of higher education
to be used under an agreement with a school district to support
courses offered for joint high school and college-level credit or
offered under a college credit career or technical education
program that leads to an industry-recognized license, credential,
or certificate. Appropriate uses of funds awarded under this
subsection include purchasing or repairing necessary equipment for
a course and developing a course curriculum. A course or program
supported under this subsection must:
(1) have the endorsement of, or a letter of support
from, at least one employer in this state; and
(2) be targeted to address the needs of high-demand
fields or occupations, as identified by the applicable local
workforce development board.
(i) In this section, "lower-division institution of higher
education" means a public junior college, public state college, or
public technical institute.
SECTION 2. 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, 2013.
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