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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the participation of public state colleges in the Jobs |
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and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 134.001(2), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "Public junior college," [and] "public technical |
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institute," and "public state college" have the meanings assigned |
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by Section 61.003. |
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SECTION 2. Section 134.004, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 134.004. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the |
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Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants |
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to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public |
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state colleges, and independent school districts described under |
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Section 134.007 that apply to the advisory board in the manner |
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prescribed by the advisory board. The commission shall award the |
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grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory board. |
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(b) Grants may be awarded under this chapter from the Jobs |
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and Education for Texans (JET) fund to defray the start-up costs |
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associated with the development of new career and technical |
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education programs at public junior colleges, public technical |
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institutes, public state colleges, and independent school |
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districts described under Section 134.007 that meet the |
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requirements of Section 134.006. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 134.006(a), (c), and (d), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission may award a grant for the development of |
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new career and technical education courses or programs at public |
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junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state |
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colleges, and independent school districts. |
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(c) In awarding a grant under this section, the commission |
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shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the |
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state from the development of the career and technical education |
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course or program. The commission may also consider whether the |
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course or program: |
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(1) is part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand |
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occupation; |
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(2) offers new or expanded dual credit career and |
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technical educational opportunities in public high schools; or |
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(3) is provided in cooperation with other public |
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junior colleges, [or] public technical institutes, or public state |
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colleges across existing service areas. |
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(d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
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public junior college, public technical institute, public state |
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college, or independent school district described under Section |
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134.007 must provide matching funds in accordance with rules |
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adopted under Section 134.008. The matching funds may be obtained |
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from any source available to the public junior college, public |
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technical institute, public state college, or independent school |
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district, including industry consortia, community or foundation |
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grants, individual contributions, and local governmental agency |
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operating funds. |
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SECTION 4. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL |
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DISTRICT. The commission may award a grant to an independent school |
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district under this chapter if the district has entered into a |
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partnership with a public junior college, [or] public technical |
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institute, or public state college for the purpose of: |
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(1) promoting career and technical education to the |
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district's students; or |
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(2) offering dual credit courses to the district's |
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students. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2017. |
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