HBA-MPM H.B. 1418 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1418 By: Seaman Public Education 4/9/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During the past decade, school districts have prepared students for post-secondary education, but students seeking a post-secondary career and technology profession have not been adequately prepared for the high-skill and high-paying jobs that have developed in the Texas economy. Although student enrollment in trade and industrial courses has increased 39 percent over the past five years, many districts are decreasing or eliminating budgets for career and technology programs. Texas has made efforts to meet the demands of this growing job market by recognizing the important role of trade and industrial education in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) program, however, some districts want to establish programs that would emphasize career and technology professions and allow districts to establish partnerships with businesses and other agencies in the development of local programs. H.B. 1418 Allows a district to establish a career and technology certificate to recognize students who pass a career and technology program established by the district, for which a certificate would be issued in addition to a high school diploma. This bill provides that the program is voluntary, and established at the local level and approved by the Texas Education Agency. Furthermore, it allows for programs developed between several districts or in partnership with the district, other schools, businesses, and local workforce boards, and mandates a study by the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness to study the programs' effectiveness in improving the academic and professional success of students. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.187, as follows: Sec. 29.187. DISTRICT CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AND CERTIFICATE. (a) Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district (board), in addition to the authority granted under Section 29.183 (Career and Technology and Other Educational Programs), Education Code, to develop and offer a program under which a student may receive specific training in a career and technology profession and obtain a related certificate issued by the district in addition to a diploma or certificate of coursework completed under Section 28.025 (High School Diploma and Certificate; Academic Achievement Record), Education Code. Requires the board to consider the state plan for career and technology education required under Section 29.182 (State Plan for Career and Technology Education), Education Code, in developing the program. (b) Authorizes the board to contract with an entity listed under Section 29.184(a) (Contracts with Other Schools for Career and Technology Classes), Education Code, for assistance in developing the program or providing instruction to district students participating in the program. Provides that a student receiving this instruction at another school under a contract covered by this subsection is included in the average daily attendance of the district where the student is enrolled. (c) Authorizes the board to contract with a local business or local workforce development board for assistance in developing or operating a program. Specifies that a program developed with the assistance of these entities shall provide training in areas of technology unique to the local area. (d) Authorizes the board to annually grant to a business that pays property taxes in the district and that contracts with the district under Subsection (c) a tax credit not to exceed the total value of goods, services, equipment, and facilities provided by the business for the fiscal year. (e) Authorizes the board to provide insurance to a business that contracts with the district under Subsection (c) against liability for a bodily injury sustained by or the death of a student while working for the business as part of the program, the amount of which must be reasonable considering the financial condition of the district. Specifies that the insurance must be from a reliable insurance company authorized to do business in the state and on a form approved by the commissioner of insurance. (f) Requires the board to submit a proposed program to the State Board of Education for approval. SECTION 2. (a) Requires the Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness (council), in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency (agency) and the Texas Workforce Commission (commission), to conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of career and technology education programs in improving the academic and professional success of at-risk students and school dropouts. Sets forth the criteria and methodology of the study. (b) Requires the council, the agency, and the commission to submit a report of the results and findings of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives no later than September 1, 2000. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.