H.B. No. 1935
 
 
 
  AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of certain programs to support adult
  and postsecondary education and workforce development in
  high-demand occupations and green jobs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapters O and P to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER O. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 403.351.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "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.
               (2)  "Public junior college," "public state college,"
  and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 61.003, Education Code.
         Sec. 403.352.  JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) FUND. (a)
  The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs and
  Education for Texans (JET) fund as a dedicated account in the
  general revenue fund.
         (b)  The following amounts shall be deposited in the fund:
               (1)  any amounts appropriated by the legislature for
  the fund for purposes of this subchapter;
               (2)  interest earned on the investment of money in the
  fund; and
               (3)  gifts, grants, and other donations received for
  the fund.
         Sec. 403.353.  ADVISORY BOARD. (a) An advisory board of
  education and workforce stakeholders is created to assist the
  comptroller in administering this subchapter.
         (b)  The advisory board is composed of seven members who
  serve two-year terms and are appointed as follows:
               (1)  one member appointed by the governor;
               (2)  one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (3)  one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
  representatives;
               (4)  one member appointed by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board;
               (5)  one member appointed by the Texas Workforce
  Commission;
               (6)  one member of the public appointed by the
  comptroller; and
               (7)  the comptroller, who serves as the presiding
  officer.
         (c)  The advisory board shall meet at least once each quarter
  to review received applications and recommend awarding grants under
  this subchapter.
         Sec. 403.354.  JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT
  PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish and administer the Jobs
  and Education for Texans (JET) grant program to provide grants to
  public junior colleges, public technical institutes, and eligible
  nonprofit organizations that apply to the advisory board in the
  manner prescribed by the advisory board. The comptroller shall
  award the grants on the advice and recommendations of the advisory
  board. Grants may be awarded under this subchapter from the JET
  fund for the following purposes:
               (1)  to develop, support, or expand programs of
  nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements of Section
  403.355 and that prepare low-income students for careers in
  high-demand occupations;
               (2)  to defray the startup costs associated with the
  development of new career and technical education programs at
  public junior colleges and public technical institutes that meet
  the requirements of Section 403.356; and
               (3)  to provide scholarships for students in career and
  technical education programs who meet the requirements of Section
  403.357.
         Sec. 403.355.  GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR
  INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award
  a grant to a nonprofit organization eligible under Subsection (b)
  for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare
  low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.
         (b)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
  nonprofit organization must:
               (1)  provide a program to offer assistance to
  low-income students in preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in
  a public junior college or public technical institute;
               (2)  be governed by a board or other governing
  structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based
  community organizations and members of the local business
  community;
               (3)  demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory
  board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve
  the following measures of success among program participants, to
  the extent applicable to the type of program the organization
  provides:
                     (A)  above average completion of developmental
  education among participating public junior college or public
  technical institute students;
                     (B)  above average persistence rates among
  participating public junior college or public technical institute
  students; and
                     (C)  above average certificate or degree
  completion rates by participating students within a three-year
  period compared to demographically comparable public junior
  college and public technical institute students; and
               (4)  provide matching funds in accordance with rules
  adopted under Section 403.358.
         (c)  The matching funds required under Subsection (b)(4) may
  be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit
  organization, including in-kind contributions, community or
  foundation grants, individual contributions, and local
  governmental agency operating funds.
         (c-1)  In determining which eligible nonprofit organizations
  should be awarded a grant under this section among two or more
  eligible nonprofit organizations offering similar programs, the
  comptroller shall give priority to any of those organizations that:
               (1)  has an existing program in place to assist
  veterans; or
               (2)  demonstrates employment of participating students
  at an average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater
  than the prevailing wage for the occupation entered.
         (d)  Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a
  manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into
  consideration.
         (e)  This section does not authorize the comptroller to award
  a grant to:
               (1)  a nonprofit organization to provide a
  comprehensive educational program to students that serves as a
  substitute for a regular educational program provided by a school
  district or open-enrollment charter school; or
               (2)  a private elementary or secondary school.
         Sec. 403.356.  GRANTS TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR CAREER
  AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The comptroller may award a
  grant for the development of new career and technical education
  courses or programs at public junior colleges and public technical
  institutes.
         (b)  A grant received under this section may be used only:
               (1)  to support courses or programs that prepare
  students for career employment in occupations that are identified
  by local businesses as being in high demand;
               (2)  to finance initial costs of career and technical
  education course or program development, including the costs of
  constructing or renovating facilities, purchasing equipment, and
  other expenses associated with the development of a new course; and
               (3)  to finance a career and technical education course
  or program that leads to a license, certificate, or postsecondary
  degree.
         (c)  In awarding a grant under this section, the comptroller
  shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the
  state from the development of the career and technical education
  course or program. The comptroller 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; or
               (3)  is provided in cooperation with other public
  junior colleges or public technical institutes across existing
  service areas.
         (d)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
  public junior college or public technical institute must provide
  matching funds in accordance with rules adopted under Section
  403.358. The matching funds may be obtained from any source
  available to the college, including in-kind contributions,
  industry consortia, community or foundation grants, individual
  contributions, and local governmental agency operating funds.
         Sec. 403.357.  SCHOLARSHIPS. (a) The comptroller may award
  a scholarship to a public junior college or public technical
  institute student.
         (b)  To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this
  section, a student must:
               (1)  demonstrate financial need; and
               (2)  be enrolled in a training program for a
  high-demand occupation, as determined by the comptroller on the
  recommendation of the advisory board.
         Sec. 403.358.  RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules as
  necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
         Sec. 403.359.  STUDY. (a) The comptroller shall conduct a
  study of the feasibility of:
               (1)  basing a portion of all public postsecondary
  technical training program funding on the economic benefit of the
  program to the state; and
               (2)  for purposes of Subdivision (1), estimating the
  amount of any additional tax revenue generated by employers that
  results from the ability of public junior colleges, public state
  colleges, or public technical institutes to prepare students for
  employment fields for which there is employer demand.
         (b)  The comptroller shall begin the study not later than
  January 1, 2010. Not later than January 1, 2011, the comptroller
  shall make recommendations to the lieutenant governor and the
  speaker of the house of representatives for legislative action
  based on the results of the study.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2011.
  SUBCHAPTER P. GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND AND TRAINING
  PROGRAM
         Sec. 403.401.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is
  to:
               (1)  promote green industry employment opportunities,
  including through the establishment of training programs to enhance
  green job skills and create career opportunities that result in
  high-wage jobs;
               (2)  foster regional collaboration for the development
  of green industry employment opportunities;
               (3)  assist in the development of a highly skilled,
  high-wage, and productive workforce in the green industry; and
               (4)  assist workers with obtaining education, skills
  training, and labor market information to enhance their
  employability, earnings, and standard of living.
         Sec. 403.402.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Development fund" means the Texas green job
  skills development fund.
               (2)  "Green job" means a job in the field of renewable
  energy or energy efficiency, including a job relating to:
                     (A)  energy-efficient building, construction, and
  retrofitting;
                     (B)  renewable energy, including biomass,
  hydroelectric, geothermal, and ocean energy, and wind and solar
  power;
                     (C)  research and development or manufacturing of
  advanced battery or energy storage technologies;
                     (D)  biofuels from non-feed food stocks;
                     (E)  techniques to reduce, reuse, or recycle
  waste;
                     (F)  techniques to recycle products and convert
  used materials into new products;
                     (G)  energy efficiency assessments;
                     (H)  manufacturing of sustainable products using
  sustainable processes and materials; and
                     (I)  water conservation and water efficiency.
               (3)  "Recycle" means the process of extracting
  resources or value from waste by recovering or reusing the
  material, including the collection and reuse of everyday waste
  materials.
         Sec. 403.403.  TEXAS GREEN JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND.
  (a)  The Texas green job skills development fund is an account in
  the general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
               (1)  legislative appropriations;
               (2)  gifts, grants, donations, and matching funds
  received under Subsection (b); and
               (3)  other money required by law to be deposited in the
  account.
         (b)  The comptroller may solicit and accept gifts, grants,
  and donations of money from the federal government, local
  governments, private corporations, or other persons to be used for
  the purposes of this subchapter.
         (c)  Income from money in the account shall be credited to
  the account.
         (d)  Money in the development fund may be used only for the
  purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 403.404.  ESTABLISHMENT OF GREEN JOB SKILLS GRANT
  PROGRAM. The comptroller shall establish a green job skills grant
  program, funded by the development fund under Section 403.403,
  through which the comptroller may award grants in cooperation with
  the Texas Workforce Commission through the State Energy
  Conservation Office for the implementation, expansion, and
  operation of green job skills training programs.
         Sec. 403.405.  GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (a)   A training
  program funded through a grant awarded under this subchapter must:
               (1)  be hosted by a regional partnership that presents
  a plan to implement training programs that lead trainees to
  economic self-sufficiency and career pathways and includes at
  least:
                     (A)  one university, college, technical school,
  or other nonprofit workforce training provider;
                     (B)  one chamber of commerce, local workforce
  agency, local employer, or other public or private participating
  entity;
                     (C)  one economic development authority; and
                     (D)  one community or faith-based nonprofit
  organization that works with one or more targeted populations;
               (2)  assist an eligible individual in obtaining
  education, skills training, and labor market information to enhance
  the individual's employability in green industries; and
               (3)  assist in the development of a highly skilled and
  productive workforce in green industries.
         (b)  A training program awarded a grant under this subchapter
  shall target a population of eligible individuals for training that
  includes:
               (1)  workers in high-demand green industries who are in
  or are preparing for high-wage occupations;
               (2)  workers in declining industries who may be
  retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
  industry;
               (3)  agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who
  may be retrained for high-wage occupations in a high-demand green
  industry;
               (4)  veterans or past or present members of the armed
  forces of the United States, including the state military forces,
  or a reserve component of the armed forces or the national guard;
               (5)  unemployed workers;
               (6)  low-income workers, unemployed youth and adults,
  individuals who did not complete high school, or other underserved
  sectors of the workforce in high poverty areas; or
               (7)  individuals otherwise determined by the
  comptroller in cooperation with the Texas Workforce Commission to
  be disadvantaged and in need of training to obtain employment.
         (c)  A training program may receive funding under this
  subchapter for a period not to exceed three years.
         (d)  A training program may use grant funds for support
  services, including basic skills, literacy, GED, English as a
  second language, and job readiness training, career guidance, and
  referral services.
         (e)  A percentage of the grant, to be determined by the
  comptroller, must be devoted to administrative costs, costs related
  to hiring instructors and purchasing equipment, and tuition
  assistance.
         Sec. 403.406.  APPLICATION. (a)  A regional partnership, as
  described by Section 403.405, may apply for a grant under this
  subchapter in the manner prescribed by the comptroller.
         (b)  The grant application must require the applicant to
  provide to the comptroller the applicant's plan to continue to
  operate the training program after the grant expires.
         Sec. 403.407.  ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING
  GRANTS. (a)  In addition to the factors described by Sections
  403.404 and 403.405, in determining whether to award a grant to an
  applicant under this subchapter, the comptroller shall give
  preference to a training program that:
               (1)  provides certification and a career advancement
  mechanism to a worker who receives green job skills training under
  the program; and
               (2)  leverages additional public and private resources
  to fund the program, including cash or in-kind matches.
         (b)  Grants shall be awarded in a manner that ensures
  geographic diversity.
         Sec. 403.408.  RESERVATION FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS. Twenty
  percent of the funds available for grant programs under this
  subchapter must be reserved for job skills training programs that
  serve the unemployed and individuals whose incomes are at or below
  200 percent of the federal poverty level.
         Sec. 403.409.  REPORT. (a)  Not later than the 30th day
  after the date funding for a grant under this subchapter ends, the
  grant recipient shall submit a report to the comptroller that
  contains the following information:
               (1)  the number of participants who entered the
  program;
               (2)  the demographics of the participants, including
  race, gender, age, and significant barriers to education such as
  limited English proficiency, a criminal record, or a physical or
  mental disability;
               (3)  services received by participants, including
  training, education, and support services;
               (4)  the amount of program spending per participant;
               (5)  program completion rates;
               (6)  factors determined to interfere significantly
  with program participation or completion;
               (7)  the average wage at placement, including benefits,
  and the rate of average wage increases after one year; and
               (8)  any post-employment support services provided.
         (b)  Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the
  comptroller shall submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives that
  includes a summary of all information submitted under Subsection
  (a).
         Sec. 403.410.  STANDARDS. The comptroller by rule shall
  adopt standards for a green job skills training program awarded a
  grant under this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  The comptroller shall adopt rules for the
  program under Subchapter P, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added
  by this Act, not later than March 1, 2010.
         SECTION 3.  Grants provided through the Texas Adult Career
  Education Grant Program established under Section 403.351,
  Government Code, as added by this Act may only benefit a permanent
  legal resident or citizen of the United States.
         SECTION 4.  This Act does not make an appropriation. This
  Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the
  implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations
  act of the 81st Legislature.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1935 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 92, Nays 51, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 1935 on May 29, 2009, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 1935 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 84,
  Nays 52, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1935 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  1935 on June 1, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor