Bill Text: TX SB51 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a pilot program to expand access to career and technical education partnerships in rural areas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-31 - Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs [SB51 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SB51-Introduced.html
| 82R1519 VOO-D | ||
| By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 51 | |
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| relating to a pilot program to expand access to career and technical | ||
| education partnerships in rural areas. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Section 12.0272 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 12.0272. RURAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PILOT PROGRAM. | ||
| (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "General academic teaching institution," "public | ||
| junior college," and "public technical institute" have the meanings | ||
| assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | ||
| (2) "Rural area" means: | ||
| (A) a county with a population of less than | ||
| 100,000; or | ||
| (B) a municipality with a population of less than | ||
| 50,000. | ||
| (b) Subject to available funding, the commissioner by rule | ||
| shall develop a rural workforce investment pilot program to issue | ||
| grants for developing partnerships in rural areas among school | ||
| districts, public junior colleges, public technical institutes, | ||
| general academic teaching institutions, and business and industry | ||
| to provide greater access to career and technical education and | ||
| industry certification to high school students in those areas. | ||
| (c) The department may not issue more than four grants under | ||
| this section in each state fiscal biennium. | ||
| (d) The department shall coordinate with the Texas | ||
| Workforce Commission, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating | ||
| Board, and the Texas Education Agency in developing the pilot | ||
| program. | ||
| (e) Students participating in the pilot program may receive | ||
| not more than 60 hours of college credit before high school | ||
| graduation. | ||
| (f) A local workforce development board authorized by the | ||
| Texas Workforce Commission may apply to participate in the pilot | ||
| program if the workforce development board: | ||
| (1) serves a rural area of the state; and | ||
| (2) meets any other qualifications prescribed by the | ||
| commissioner. | ||
| (g) To receive a grant under this section, an applicant must | ||
| commit public or private funds matching the grant in a percentage | ||
| set by the commissioner. The commissioner shall set the required | ||
| percentage of matching funds based on the demonstrated economic | ||
| capacity of the community served by the program to raise funds for | ||
| the purpose of matching the grant, as determined by the | ||
| commissioner. | ||
| SECTION 2. 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, 2011. | ||
