S.B. No. 346
AN ACT
relating to the participation of open-enrollment charter schools 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 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. 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 3. 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 4. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 346 passed the Senate on
April 12, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 11, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 346 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 4, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 123,
Nays 20, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor