By: Paxton, et al. S.B. No. 346     (Dutton)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the participation of open-enrollment charter schools   and eligible nonprofit organizations 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, eligible nonprofit organizations, and independent   school districts and open-enrollment charter schools described   under Section 134.007 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 independent school   districts and open-enrollment charter schools described under   Section 134.007 that meet the requirements of Section 134.006.          SECTION 2.  Section 134.001, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:                (1-a)  "Nonprofit organization" means an organization   exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal   Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section   501(c)(3) of that code.          SECTION 3.  Chapter 134, Education Code, is amended by   adding Section 134.005 to read as follows:          Sec. 134.005.  GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR   INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS.  (a)  The commission may award   a grant to a nonprofit organization eligible under Subsection (b)   for the development, support, or expansion of programs to prepare   low-income students for careers in high-demand occupations.          (b)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a   nonprofit organization must:                (1)  provide a program to offer assistance to   low-income students in preparing for, applying to and enrolling in   a public junior college or public technical institute;                (2)  be governed by a board or other governing   structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based   community organizations and members of the local business   community;                (3)  demonstrate to the satisfaction of the advisory   board that the organization's program has achieved or will achieve   the following measures of success among program participants to the   extent applicable to the type of program the organization provides:                      (A)  above-average completion of developmental   education among participating public junior college or public   technical institute students;                      (B)  above-average persistence rates among   participating public junior college or public technical institute   students;                      (C)  above-average certificate or degree   completion rates by participating students within a three-year   period compared to demographically comparable public junior   college and public technical institute students; and                      (D)  employment of participating students at an   average full-time starting wage that is equal to or greater than the   prevailing wage for the occupation entered; and                (4)  provide matching funds in accordance with rules   adopted under Section 134.008.          (c)  The matching funds required under Subsection (b)(4) may   be obtained from any source available to the nonprofit   organization, including in-kind contributions, community or   foundation grants, individual contributions, and local   governmental agency operating funds.          (d)  Grants awarded under this section must be awarded in a   manner that takes a balanced geographical distribution into   consideration.          SECTION 4.  Sections 134.006(a) and (d), 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] independent school districts, and open-enrollment   charter schools.          (d)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a   public junior college, public technical institute, public state   college, or independent school district or open-enrollment charter   school described under Section 134.007 must provide matching funds   in accordance with rules adopted under Section 134.008.  The   matching funds may be obtained from any source available to the   public junior college, public technical institute, public state   college, [or] independent school district, or open-enrollment   charter school, including industry consortia, community or   foundation grants, individual contributions, and local   governmental agency operating funds.          SECTION 5.  Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 134.007.  GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT   OR OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOL.  The commission may award a   grant to an independent school district or open-enrollment charter   school under this chapter 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:                (1)  promoting career and technical education to the   district's or school's students; or                (2)  offering dual credit courses to the district's or   school's students.          SECTION 6.  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, 2021.