By: Perry, Alvarado S.B. No. 1728
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the participation of certain juvenile justice entities
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] school districts and open-enrollment charter
schools, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile
boards, and juvenile probation departments described under Section
134.007. To receive the grants, those entities must [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] school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools, and the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department, juvenile boards, and juvenile probation departments
described under Section 134.007 if those entities [that] meet the
requirements of Section 134.006.
SECTION 2. Sections 134.006(a) and (c), 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] school districts and open-enrollment charter
schools, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile
boards, and juvenile probation departments 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;
(3) offers new career and technical educational
opportunities not previously available:
(A) to students enrolled at any campus in the
Windham School District; or
(B) as part of any existing educational programs
that are offered in facilities operated wholly or partly by the
Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a juvenile board, or a juvenile
probation department, including a facility operated by a private
vendor under a contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
a juvenile board, or a juvenile probation department; or
(4) is provided in cooperation with other public
junior colleges, public technical institutes, or public state
colleges across existing service areas.
SECTION 3. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, [DISTRICT
OR] OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOLS, OR CERTAIN JUVENILE JUSTICE
ENTITIES [SCHOOL]. The commission may award a grant under this
chapter to:
(1) an independent school district or open-enrollment
charter school 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:
(A) promoting career and technical education to
the district's or school's students; or
(B) offering dual credit courses to the
district's or school's students; [or]
(2) the Windham School District; or
(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a juvenile
board, or a juvenile probation department.
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, 2025.