By: Deshotel (Senate Sponsor - Creighton) H.B. No. 2431          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;   May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher   Education; May 12, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the participation of public state colleges in the Jobs   and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 134.001(2), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (2)  "Public junior college," [and] "public technical   institute," and "public state college" have the meanings assigned   by Section 61.003.          SECTION 2.  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 independent school districts 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 described under Section 134.007 that meet the   requirements of Section 134.006.          SECTION 3.  Sections 134.006(a), (c), 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.          (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; or                (3)  is provided in cooperation with other public   junior colleges, [or] public technical institutes, or public state   colleges across existing service areas.          (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 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, including industry consortia, community or foundation   grants, individual contributions, and local governmental agency   operating funds.          SECTION 4.  Section 134.007, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 134.007.  GRANTS AWARDED TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL   DISTRICT. The commission may award a grant to an independent school   district under this chapter if the district has entered into a   partnership with a public junior college, [or] public technical   institute, or public state college for the purpose of:                (1)  promoting career and technical education to the   district's students; or                (2)  offering dual credit courses to the district's   students.          SECTION 5.  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, 2017.     * * * * *