By: Deshotel (Senate Sponsor - Creighton) H.B. No. 2431
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 12, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the participation of public state colleges in the Jobs
and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 134.001(2), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(2) "Public junior college," [and] "public technical
institute," and "public state college" have the meanings assigned
by Section 61.003.
SECTION 2. Section 134.004, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.004. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the
Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants
to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public
state colleges, and independent school districts described under
Section 134.007 that apply to the advisory board in the manner
prescribed by the advisory board. The commission shall award the
grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory board.
(b) Grants may be awarded under this chapter from the Jobs
and Education for Texans (JET) fund to defray the start-up costs
associated with the development of new career and technical
education programs at public junior colleges, public technical
institutes, public state colleges, and independent school
districts described under Section 134.007 that meet the
requirements of Section 134.006.
SECTION 3. Sections 134.006(a), (c), and (d), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission may award a grant for the development of
new career and technical education courses or programs at public
junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state
colleges, and independent school districts.
(c) In awarding a grant under this section, the commission
shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the
state from the development of the career and technical education
course or program. The commission 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, or public state
colleges across existing service areas.
(d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
public junior college, public technical institute, public state
college, or independent school district described under Section
134.007 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 public junior college, public
technical institute, public state college, or independent school
district, including industry consortia, community or foundation
grants, individual contributions, and local governmental agency
operating funds.
SECTION 4. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT. The commission may award a grant to an independent school
district under this chapter if the district has entered into a
partnership with a public junior college, [or] public technical
institute, or public state college for the purpose of:
(1) promoting career and technical education to the
district's students; or
(2) offering dual credit courses to the district's
students.
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, 2017.
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