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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Fast Start Program to |
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promote rapid delivery of workforce education and development. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 302.0032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.0032. TEXAS FAST START PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Fast start program" means a career and technical |
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education program designed to help students earn postsecondary |
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certificates and degrees and enter into the workforce quickly. |
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(2) "Public junior college," "public state college," |
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and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) The commission, in partnership with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board, shall establish and administer the |
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Texas Fast Start Program to identify and develop methods to |
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support, and shall provide support for, competency-based, |
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rapid-deployment education delivery models for use by public junior |
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colleges, public state colleges, and public technical institutes. |
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The models must be designed to assist students in maximizing |
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academic or workforce education program credit from public junior |
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colleges, public state colleges, and public technical institutes to |
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expedite the entry of those students into the workforce. |
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(c) The commission shall work collaboratively with the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public junior colleges, |
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public state colleges, and public technical institutes to |
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accomplish the purposes of this section. |
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(d) A public junior college, public state college, or public |
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technical institute may use the competency-based, rapid-deployment |
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education delivery models described by Subsection (b) in developing |
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or expanding a fast start program at the college or institute. |
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(e) A fast start program offered by a public junior college, |
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public state college, or public technical institute must: |
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(1) focus on the current and future needs of employers |
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in this state; |
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(2) enable students to obtain postsecondary |
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certificates and degrees at an accelerated pace in high-demand |
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fields or occupations, as identified by local employers; |
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(3) incorporate competency-based learning techniques; |
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(4) feature a variety of access channels that are |
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uniquely designed to maximize job preparedness for identified |
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groups such as veterans, high school graduates, and current |
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workforce members seeking retraining; and |
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(5) be designed for rapid deployment statewide. |
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(f) Through the collaboration, the commission may award |
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grants to public junior colleges, public state colleges, and public |
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technical institutes for: |
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(1) the expansion of existing fast start programs; |
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(2) the development of new fast start programs; and |
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(3) any other activities related to the purposes of |
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this section. |
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(g) A grant received under this section may be used only to: |
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(1) support a course or program that prepares students |
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for career employment in fields or occupations that are identified |
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as high-demand by local employers; |
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(2) finance the initial costs of developing a fast |
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start program, including the costs of constructing or renovating |
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facilities, purchasing equipment, and other associated expenses; |
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(3) finance the development or expansion of a fast |
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start program leading to a postsecondary certificate or degree; or |
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(4) offer a new or expanded dual credit fast start |
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program jointly with a public high school. |
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(h) The commission and the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board shall administer the program using money |
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appropriated to the commission or board, money received from |
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federal or other sources, or money from holding accounts that may be |
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used by the commission for the purpose of skills development. |
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(i) The commission and the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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administration of this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 441 passed the Senate on |
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March 26, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 441 passed the House on |
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May 15, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |