83R13711 KEL-F
By: J. Davis of Harris, Rodriguez of Travis, H.B. No. 834
Deshotel, Howard, Anderson, et al.
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 834:
By: Workman C.S.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
education program designed to help students earn postsecondary
certificates and degrees and enter into the workforce quickly.
(2) "Public junior college," "public state college,"
and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by
Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) The commission, in partnership with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, shall establish and administer the
Texas Fast Start Program to identify and develop methods to
support, and shall provide support for, competency-based,
rapid-deployment education delivery models for use by public junior
colleges, public state colleges, and public technical institutes.
The models must be designed to assist students in maximizing
academic or workforce education program credit from public junior
colleges, public state colleges, and public technical institutes to
expedite the entry of those students into the workforce.
(c) The commission shall work collaboratively with the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public junior colleges,
public state colleges, and public technical institutes to
accomplish the purposes of this section.
(d) A public junior college, public state college, or public
technical institute may use the competency-based, rapid-deployment
education delivery models described by Subsection (b) in developing
or expanding a fast start program at the college or institute.
(e) A fast start program offered by a public junior college,
public state college, or public technical institute must:
(1) focus on the current and future needs of employers
in this state;
(2) enable students to obtain postsecondary
certificates and degrees 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 may award
grants to public junior colleges, public state colleges, and public
technical institutes for:
(1) the expansion of existing fast start programs;
(2) the development of new fast start programs; and
(3) any other activities related to the purposes of
this section.
(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 postsecondary certificate or degree; or
(4) offer a new or expanded dual credit fast start
program jointly with a public high school.
(h) The commission and the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board shall administer the program using money
appropriated to the commission or board, 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 and the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board 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.