HBA-CBW H.B. 3300 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3300
By: Solis, Jim
Economic Development
4/3/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas economy has diversified significantly over the last two decades.
Marked growth in the high tech industry has created a need for employees
with advanced academic and technical skills.  These new skill demands
require higher proportions of individuals with improved academic
preparation in foundation subjects like mathematics and science at the
secondary and postsecondary levels as well as specialized training and
certification. House Bill 3300 creates the College and Careers Pilot
Program (program)  to enhance public-private partnerships  and
collaborative efforts to promote voluntary educational improvement and
workforce development opportunities for 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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3300 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) to establish the College and Careers Pilot Program
(program) to enhance public-private partnerships and collaborative efforts
to promote voluntary educational improvement and workforce development
opportunities for high school and college students.  The bill requires the
program to develop initiatives across the state to improve the transition
from educational institutions to the workforce and sets forth requirements
for such initiatives. The bill requires the program to emphasize
post-secondary education and technology careers.  The bill requires the
participants in the program to provide students with opportunities to apply
their academic work to authentic problems outside of the school environment
and requires that special emphasis be given to mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology. 

The bill sets forth provisions regarding specified funding sources for the
program and requires TWC to examine possible funding sources for the
operation of the program on a long-term basis. The bill requires TWC, not
later than February 1, 2003, to report to the governor, lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the
78th Legislature regarding the implementation of the program. The bill
provides that the report must make specific recommendations regarding the
long-term operation of the program and sources of funding for the program.
The bill provides that the Act expires September 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.