HBA-MPM S.B. 1027 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1027 By: Lucio Higher Education 5/12/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A tech-prep consortium is composed of members from private industry, public secondary schools, and postsecondary educational institutions which cooperate to attempt to provide a highly-skilled, trained workforce in the field of technology. Tech-prep programs typically combine at least two years of secondary education with two years of post-secondary education in a sequential course of study approved by the Texas State Board of Education. This program must lead to an associate's degree or certification in a specific field. Each tech-prep consortium has a governing board composed of members from both the private and public sectors. S.B. 1027 codifies the tech-prep program. 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 Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter T, as follows: SUBCHAPTER T. TECH-PREP EDUCATION Sec. 61.851. DEFINITIONS. Defines "articulation agreement," "junior college," "tech-prep consortium," and "technical college." Sec. 61.852. TECH-PREP PROGRAM. (a) Sets forth aspects of a tech-prep program (program). Provides that a tech-prep consortium (consortium) is encouraged to include four years of secondary education in a program. Sec. 61.853. REGIONAL TECH-PREP CONSORTIA: GOVERNING BOARD; DIRECTOR; FISCAL AGENT. (a) Sets forth that each regional consortium is governed by a governing board (board) composed of private and public sector leaders in the ratio agreed to by the participants in the consortium. Authorizes the consortium, at the option of its participants, to consolidate board members and staff with an eligible local entity to achieve administrative efficiencies and operational coordination, but the combined entity must maintain proper segregation of funds and otherwise comply with all applicable legal requirements involving the use of the segregated funds. (b) Requires the board to determine the policies of the consortium according to its written bylaws, which should specify the major relationships, decision-making, and operational processes, and other significant policies of the consortium, including procedures for filling vacancies on the board. (c) Requires a consortium director to be selected according to the terms of a written agreement between the board and the fiscal agent. (d) Requires the board to select a community college, junior college, technical college, university, regional education service center, independent school district, or other eligible entity to act as the consortium's fiscal agent and to provide human resource and business office services for the consortium. Provides that the fiscal agent serves under the terms of a written agreement between the board and the agent. Sec. 61.854. TECH-PREP CONSORTIUM ALLOTMENT. (a) Requires the board, in each year and as the agent of the Texas Education Agency (agency), to allot the federal tech-prep implementation money this stat receives to the regional tech-prep consortia for regional administration according to regionally developed plans designed to meet federal, state, and regional goals. Requires the board to allot the money to consortia according to a formula adopted by the board after a public hearing and in consultation with interested state entities and consortia that addresses the differing needs of consortia due to urban or rural populations, special populations, number of tech-prep programs and students, and other factors determined by the board. (b) Provides that an eligible consortium that desires assistance under this section must submit an application to the board on a board-prescribed form. Provides that the form must address the formula adopted by the board under Subsection (a). (c) Requires the board to make a payment in the amount of the consortium's allotment under Subsection (a) to the consortium's fiscal agent, if it has a completed application on file under Subsection (b). Sec. 61.855. GRANTS FOR TECH-PREP EDUCATION. (a) Requires the board, in accordance with this subchapter and with a formula adopted by the board, to award grants from amounts made available under Section 61.854, Education Code, to consortia for programs described by Subsection (d). (b) Provides that in order to be eligible for a grant, a consortium must comprise a specific composition of educational institutions. (c) Authorizes a consortium to include an institution of higher education that awards a baccalaureate degree and employers or labor organizations in addition to those entities described in Subsection (b) of this section. (d) Provides that a tech-prep program must: _be implemented under an articulation agreement; _consist of two to four years of secondary school preceding graduation, as well as specified additional years of study; _have a common core of required proficiency based on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board of Education under Section 28.025(a) (High School Diploma and Certificate; Academic Achievement Record), Education Code, with proficiencies in certain areas, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; _include the development of program curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the consortium that meet certain standards and criteria; _include in-service training for teachers that include certain training methods; _include training programs for counselors designed to enable counselors to more effectively work with students regarding the program and employment; _provide equal access to the full range of programs for individuals who are members of special populations, including by the development of program services appropriate to the needs of special programs; and _provide for preparatory services that assist participants in programs. (e) Provides that a consortium that receives a grant under this section must use the money awarded to develop and operate a program described in Subsection (d). (f) Authorizes a program to make certain provisions with respect to equipment, technical assistance, and articulation agreements. Sec. 61.856. GRANT APPLICATION. (a) Provides that each regional consortium desiring to obtain a grant under this subchapter must submit an application to the board at the time and in the manner prescribed. (b) Provides that an application under this section must contain certain information. (c) Requires the board to approve the application if it meets the requirements of this section and Section 61.854(b), Education Code. (d) Requires the board to give special consideration to an application for a program that: makes certain provisions regarding employment placement activities for students; is developed in consultation with business, industry, institutions of higher education, and labor organizations; addresses issues related to retention; provides education or training in certain areas or skills, and demonstrates how programs may help students achieve academic and employability competencies. (e) Requires the board to ensure an equitable distribution of assistance between urban and regional consortium participants in awarding grants under this subchapter. Sec. 61.857. REPORT; REVIEW OF FIVE-YEAR PLAN. (a) Requires each consortium receiving a grant under this subchapter to annually prepare and submit to the board a written report on the effectiveness of the programs for which it received assistance. Provides that the report must include a description of the manner in which the consortium awarded any subgrants in the region it served. (b) Requires the consortium to review the plan and make any changes necessary after the second year of the five-year plan required under Section 61.856(b)(1), Education Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.