83R6716 KEL-F
By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 834
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Fast Start Program to
promote rapid delivery of workforce education and development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.0032 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.0032. TEXAS FAST START PROGRAM. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Fast start program" means a career and technical
educational program designed to help students earn career
certifications and enter into the workforce quickly.
(2) "Public junior college" and "public technical
institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
Code.
(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Texas
Fast Start Program to identify, develop, and support methods to
maximize academic or workforce education credit from public junior
colleges and public technical institutes to expedite the entry of
postsecondary students into the workforce.
(c) The commission shall work collaboratively with the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public junior colleges,
and public technical institutes to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
(d) Through the collaboration, the commission shall develop
new competency-based, rapid-deployment education delivery models
for use by a public junior college or public technical institute in
developing or expanding a fast start program as described by this
section.
(e) A fast start program under this section must:
(1) focus on the current and future needs of employers
in this state;
(2) enable students to obtain certifications at an
accelerated pace in high-demand fields or occupations, as
identified by local employers;
(3) incorporate competency-based learning techniques;
(4) feature a variety of access channels that are
uniquely designed to maximize job preparedness for identified
groups such as veterans, high school graduates, and current
workforce members seeking retraining; and
(5) be designed for rapid deployment statewide.
(f) Through the collaboration, the commission:
(1) may award grants to public junior colleges and
public technical institutes for:
(A) the expansion of existing fast start
programs;
(B) the development of new fast start programs;
and
(C) any other activities related to the purposes
of this section; and
(2) shall create a variety of incentives that
encourage public junior colleges and public technical institutes to
expand any existing fast start programs.
(g) A grant received under this section may be used only to:
(1) support a course or program that prepares students
for career employment in fields or occupations that are identified
as high-demand by local employers;
(2) finance the initial costs of developing a fast
start program, including the costs of constructing or renovating
facilities, purchasing equipment, and other associated expenses;
(3) finance the development or expansion of a fast
start program leading to a license, certificate, or postsecondary
degree; and
(4) offer a new or expanded dual credit fast start
program jointly with a public high school.
(h) The commission shall administer the program using money
appropriated to the commission, money received from federal or
other sources, or money from holding accounts that may be used by
the commission for the purpose of skills development.
(i) The commission may adopt rules as necessary for the
administration of this section.
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.