bill letting juvenile justice agencies apply for JET grants

The text as introduced · 660 words

89R10378 CMO-D

By: Perry
S.B. No. 1728

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the participation of certain juvenile justice entities

in the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 134.004, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 134.004. JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS (JET) GRANT

PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer the

Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program to provide grants

to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public

state colleges, [ and ] school districts and open-enrollment charter

schools , and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile

boards, and juvenile probation departments described under Section

134.007 . To receive the grants, those entities must [ that ] apply to

the advisory board in the manner prescribed by the advisory board.

The commission shall award the grants on the advice and

recommendations of the advisory board.

(b) Grants may be awarded under this chapter from the Jobs

and Education for Texans (JET) fund to defray the start-up costs

associated with the development of new career and technical

education programs at public junior colleges, public technical

institutes, public state colleges, [ and ] school districts and

open-enrollment charter schools , and the Texas Juvenile Justice

Department, juvenile boards, and juvenile probation departments

described under Section 134.007 if those entities [ that ] meet the

requirements of Section 134.006.

SECTION 2. Sections 134.006(a) and (c), Education Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission may award a grant for the development of

new career and technical education courses or programs at public

junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state

colleges, [ and ] school districts and open-enrollment charter

schools , and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile

boards, and juvenile probation departments described under Section

134.007.

(c) In awarding a grant under this section, the commission

shall primarily consider the potential economic returns to the

state from the development of the career and technical education

course or program. The commission may also consider whether the

course or program:

(1) is part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand

occupation;

(2) offers new or expanded dual credit career and

technical educational opportunities in public high schools;

(3) offers new career and technical educational

opportunities not previously available :

(A) to students enrolled at any campus in the

Windham School District; or

(B) as part of any existing educational programs

that are offered in facilities operated wholly or partly by the

Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a juvenile board, or a juvenile

probation department, including a facility operated by a private

vendor under a contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,

a juvenile board, or a juvenile probation department; or

(4) is provided in cooperation with other public

junior colleges, public technical institutes, or public state

colleges across existing service areas.

SECTION 3. Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 134.007. GRANTS AWARDED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, [ DISTRICT

OR ] OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOLS, OR CERTAIN JUVENILE JUSTICE

ENTITIES [ SCHOOL ]. The commission may award a grant under this

chapter to:

(1) an independent school district or open-enrollment

charter school if the district or school has entered into a

partnership with a public junior college, public technical

institute, or public state college for the purpose of:

(A) promoting career and technical education to

the district's or school's students; or

(B) offering dual credit courses to the

district's or school's students; [ or ]

(2) the Windham School District ; or

(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a juvenile

board, or a juvenile probation department .

SECTION 4. 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, 2025.