Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4279 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/12/2021

                    87R12758 KJE-F
 By: Dominguez H.B. No. 4279


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the eligibility of the Windham School District to
 participate in the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant
 Program.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 134.004, 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 2.  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 described under
 Section 134.007.
 (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)  offers new career and technical educational
 opportunities not previously available to students enrolled at any
 campus in the Windham School District; or
 (4)  is provided in cooperation with other public
 junior colleges, 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 3.  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 a [an independent]
 school district under this chapter if the district:
 (1)  is an independent school district and has entered
 into a partnership with a public junior college, public technical
 institute, or public state college for the purpose of:
 (A) [(1)]  promoting career and technical
 education to the district's students; or
 (B) [(2)]  offering dual credit courses to the
 district's students; or
 (2)  is the Windham School District.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.