By: Wilson H.B. No. 5476
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the coordination and alignment of career and technical
education grant programs across the tri-agency partners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2308A, Section 2308A.011, Government
Code, is amended by adding new subsections (c)-(g) to read as
follows:
(c) The agency, coordinating board, and commission shall
coordinate competitive secondary and postsecondary career and
technical education grant programs for the expansion of career and
technical education programs and the creation and implementation of
new career and technical education programs that are aligned with
the state workforce development goals.
(d) The agency, coordinating board, and commission shall
jointly:
(1) coordinate grant funding to address career and
technical education program start-up and delivery costs through
aligning two or more grant funding streams.
(2) identify and work to reduce duplication in grant
programs across the agency, coordinating board, and commission.
(3) identify opportunities to structure grant funding
for career and technical education projects that support
secondary-to-postsecondary career pathways, including career and
technical education dual credit or the attainment of postsecondary
credentials for secondary students.
(4) identify opportunities to structure grant funding
for career and technical education projects that are aligned with
the attainment of career and technical education credentials of
value funded under Texas Education Code, Chapter 130A, and designed
to meet the state workforce needs in high-demand fields.
(f) To the extent possible, the coordination of competitive
grant programs shall prioritize comprehensive funding of
facilities, equipment, instructional materials, and faculty and
staff for program development and delivery to best meet state
workforce development goals.
(g) Grant programs that shall be coordinated include, but
are not limited to, Jobs and Education for Texans, P-TECH, Texas
Reskilling and Upskilling through Education, and federal career and
technical education programs including the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 2301 et seq.).
SECTION 3. 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, 2025.