88R13683 KJE-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 4454
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of the Texas Innovative Adult Career
Education (ACE) Grant Program by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 136.001, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as
follows:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(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 2. Section 136.005(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The coordinating board [grant administrator] shall
establish and administer the Texas Innovative Adult Career
Education (ACE) Grant Program to provide grants to:
(1) eligible nonprofit workforce intermediary and job
training organizations; and
(2) eligible nonprofit organizations providing job
training to veterans.
SECTION 3. Section 136.006, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 136.006. ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS. (a) To be eligible
for a grant under the program, a nonprofit workforce intermediary
and job training organization must:
(1) apply to the coordinating board [grant
administrator] in the manner prescribed by the coordinating board
[grant administrator];
(2) provide to eligible low-income students, in
partnership with public junior colleges, public state colleges, or
public technical institutes:
(A) job training; and
(B) a continuum of services designed to move a
program participant from application to employment, including
outreach, assessment, case management, support services, and
career placement;
(3) be governed by a board or other governing
structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
community organizations and executive-level or managerial-level
members of the local business community;
(4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
coordinating board [program advisory board] that the
organization's program has achieved or will achieve the following
measures of success among program participants:
(A) above-average completion of developmental
education among participating public junior college, public state
college, or public technical institute students;
(B) above-average persistence rates among
participating public junior college, public state 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, public state college, and public technical institute
students; and
(D) entry into careers with significantly higher
earnings for program participants than previously achieved; and
(5) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
adopted under this chapter.
(a-1) To be eligible for a grant under the program, a
nonprofit organization providing job training services to veterans
must:
(1) apply to the coordinating board [grant
administrator] in the manner prescribed by the coordinating board
[grant administrator];
(2) provide to veterans, in partnership with public
junior colleges, public state colleges, or public technical
institutes:
(A) job training; and
(B) a continuum of services designed to move a
program participant from application to employment, including
outreach, assessment, case management, support services, and
career placement;
(3) be governed by a board or other governing
structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
community organizations and executive-level or managerial-level
members of the local business community;
(4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
coordinating board [program advisory board] that the
organization's program has achieved or will achieve the following
measures of success among program participants:
(A) the measures prescribed by Subsections
(a)(4)(A)-(C);
(B) rapid attainment of civilian workforce
credentials; and
(C) entry into careers with significantly higher
earnings for program participants than previously achieved; and
(5) provide matching funds in accordance with rules
adopted under this chapter.
(b) The matching funds required under Subsection (a)(5) or
(a-1)(5) may be obtained from any source available to the
organization, including in-kind contributions, community or
foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
governmental agency operating funds. The coordinating board [grant
administrator] may adopt rules requiring an organization to
demonstrate compliance with the matching funds requirement before
the payment of the next installment under an awarded grant.
SECTION 4. Section 136.007, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 136.007. RULES. [(a)] The coordinating board [grant
administrator] shall adopt rules as necessary for the
administration of this chapter, including [in the manner provided
by Chapter 2001, Government Code, for a state agency.
[(b) The grant administrator, with recommendations of the
program advisory board, shall adopt] rules regarding eligibility,
program tuition and fees, administrative costs, matching funds, and
case management and other supports for the program. The rules may
include provisions for the payment in periodic installments of
grant awards.
SECTION 5. The following provisions of Chapter 136,
Education Code, are repealed:
(1) Sections 136.002 and 136.004; and
(2) Section 136.005(a-1).
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.