HBA-LCA H.B. 2991 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2991 By: Davis, John Public Education 4/20/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE H.B. 2991 establishes two Texas Space Grant Consortium Cooperative Programs. Each program will allow a high school or college student to work at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Air and Space Administration. 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. TEXAS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM COOPERATIVE PROGRAM. (a) Provides that the Texas Space Grant Consortium (consortium) may establish and coordinate a cooperative program (program) with one or more school districts under which high school students may be employed by the consortium on a part-time basis, during or after the school day, to work at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (center). (b) Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate participating students. (c) Requires the school district in which a student who participating in the program is enrolled to ensure that the student performs work related to certain areas of study. Requires the school district, in consultation with the State Board of Education, to determine the amount and type of academic credit a participating student is given, based on the amount and type of work the student performs. (d) Authorizes the consortium to use appropriated state funds, along with donations, gifts, or grants, for establishing and coordinating the program. Requires the consortium to use money it receives in accordance with this subsection to pay the wages of students participating in the program. (e) Provides that participation in the program is considered school attendance for purposes of Section 25.085, Education Code (Compulsory School Attendance). SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9305, as follows: Sec. 51.9305. TEXAS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM COOPERATIVE PROGRAM. (a) Provides that the consortium may establish and coordinate a cooperative program with one or more institutions of higher education (institution) under which students enrolled in the institution may be employed by the consortium to work at the center. (b) Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate participating students. (c) Requires the institution and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish guidelines for the program, including guidelines concerning academic credit for participation. (d) Authorizes the consortium to use appropriated state funds, along with donations, gifts, or grants, for establishing and coordinating the program. Requires the consortium to use money it receives in accordance with this subsection to pay the wages of students participating in the program. (e) Provides that "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code (Definitions). SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.