By: Paxton, et al. S.B. No. 346
(Dutton)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the participation of open-enrollment charter schools
and eligible nonprofit organizations 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, eligible nonprofit organizations, and independent
school districts and open-enrollment charter schools 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 and open-enrollment charter schools described under
Section 134.007 that meet the requirements of Section 134.006.
SECTION 2. Section 134.001, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
(1-a) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization
exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section
501(c)(3) of that code.
SECTION 3. Chapter 134, Education Code, is amended by
adding Section 134.005 to read as follows:
Sec. 134.005. GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR
INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. (a) The commission may award
a grant to a nonprofit organization eligible under Subsection (b)
for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare
low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
nonprofit organization must:
(1) provide a program to offer assistance to
low-income students in preparing for, applying to and enrolling in
a public junior college or public technical institute;
(2) be governed by a board or other governing
structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
community organizations and members of the local business
community;
(3) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory
board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve
the following measures of success among program participants to the
extent applicable to the type of program the organization provides:
(A) above-average completion of developmental
education among participating public junior college or public
technical institute students;
(B) above-average persistence rates among
participating public junior college or public technical institute
students;
(C) above-average certificate or degree
completion rates by participating students within a three-year
period compared to demographically comparable public junior
college and public technical institute students; and
(D) employment of participating students at an
average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater than the
prevailing wage for the occupation entered; and
(4) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
adopted under Section 134.008.
(c) The matching funds required under Subsection (b)(4) may
be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit
organization, including in-kind contributions, community or
foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
governmental agency operating funds.
(d) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a
manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into
consideration.
SECTION 4. Sections 134.006(a) 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, and open-enrollment
charter schools.
(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 or open-enrollment charter
school 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, or open-enrollment
charter school, including industry consortia, community or
foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
governmental agency operating funds.
SECTION 5. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
OR OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOL. The commission may award a
grant to an independent school district or open-enrollment charter
school under this chapter if the district or school has entered into
a partnership with a public junior college, public technical
institute, or public state college for the purpose of:
(1) promoting career and technical education to the
district's or school's students; or
(2) offering dual credit courses to the district's or
school's students.
SECTION 6. 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, 2021.