Jobs and Education for Texans

1 HOUSE BILL 3062 2 JOBS AND EDUCATION FOR TEXANS 3 GRANT PROGRAM 4 DISCUSSION PAPER - DRAFT 5 6 Background 7 House Bill 3062, 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session (2015), transfers the administration of 8 the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant Program (JET) from the State Comptroller’s Office to 9 the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). TWC has been appropriated $5 million in each fiscal 10 year from the General Revenue Fund to implement the provisions of this legislation. The 11 legislation allows for all rules, forms, policies, procedures, or decisions of the comptroller that 12 are related to the JET program to continue in effect as rules, forms, policies, procedures, or 13 decision of the TWC until superseded by a rule or other appropriate act of TWC. The legislation 14 also changes the makeup of the JET Advisory Committee in addition to including Independent 15 School Districts as eligible grantees. 16 17 JET grants may be awarded to defray the start-up costs associated with the development of new 18 career and technical education programs that meet certain requirements, including whether the 19 course or program for which funds are requested: 20 1. Is part of a new, emerging industry or high-demand occupation; 21 2. Offers new or expanded dual credit career and technical educational opportunities in 22 public high schools; or 23 3. Is provided in cooperation with other public junior colleges or public technical institutes 24 across existing service areas. 25 26 Eligible grantees include: 27  Public Junior Colleges 28  Public Technical Institutes 29  Independent school districts that have entered into a partnership with a public junior 30 college or public technical institute for the purpose of: 31 o Promoting career and technical education to the district’s students; or 32 o Offering dual credit courses to the district’s students. 33 34 Recommendation 35 For the first year of the program under TWC, grants will be awarded utilizing the current rules in 36 place from the Comptroller’s office, while also incorporating legislative changes. TWC will 37 concurrently initiate the rulemaking and review process.

DP-Dual Credit