CHAPTER 152. HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAM FUND
EDUCATION CODE
TITLE 3. HIGHER EDUCATION
SUBTITLE H. RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
CHAPTER 152. HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAM FUND
Sec. 152.001. DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
(2) "High priority program" means a technical or vocational
program offered by a public junior college or public technical
institute that:
(A) is specifically intended to meet the workforce training
demands of business and industry as determined by the
coordinating board;
(B) is determined to be of particular importance in a specific
junior college district or to the state; and
(C) requires a significant investment to achieve or maintain its
purpose.
(3) "High priority program fund" means the fund established
under this chapter to assist in the design, development, upgrade,
revision, or expansion of high priority programs.
(4) "Public junior college" and "public technical institute"
have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.001 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 152.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. (a) It is essential to
this state's economic growth that this state provide a qualified
and trained workforce for maintaining and expanding the global
competitiveness of the state's business and industry, for
retaining existing business and industry, and for attracting new
business and industry to this state. The high priority program
fund is established as a means to accomplish this purpose.
(b) Providing appropriated funds to public junior colleges and
public technical institutes for high priority programs is
important to this state's welfare and, consequently, is an
important public purpose for the expenditure of state funds. The
high priority program fund is intended to enhance the state's
economic growth by:
(1) enhancing the competitiveness of business and industry in
this state by providing workforce training that is responsive to
the specific needs of business and industry; and
(2) encouraging the location, retention, and expansion of
business and industry in this state.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.002 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 152.003. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES. (a)
The coordinating board shall administer the high priority program
fund.
(b) The coordinating board shall determine whether a public
junior college or public technical institute is eligible to
receive an award from the fund. To be eligible to receive an
award, a public junior college or public technical institute must
demonstrate to the coordinating board that:
(1) the program proposed for funding meets an immediate business
or industry need of particular importance in the junior college
district or this state;
(2) the award will enhance the state's vocational and technical
education system;
(3) an award from the fund is necessary to assist the public
junior college or public technical institute in the successful
design, development, upgrade, revision, or expansion of the
program; and
(4) the development of the program will provide an economic
benefit to the residents of the public junior college district or
of this state.
(c) The coordinating board, in consultation with public junior
colleges and public technical institutes, shall adopt guidelines
and procedures for the administration of this chapter.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.003 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 152.004. FUNDING. (a) The high priority program fund is
funded by appropriations if made, or by available funds, and by
gifts, grants, and donations made for that purpose.
(b) From money appropriated from the fund, the comptroller shall
issue warrants to each eligible public junior college or public
technical institute in the amount certified by the coordinating
board to the comptroller.
(c) The money may be expended by the public junior college or
public technical institute only to support the development,
design, upgrade, renovation, or expansion of specific high
priority programs for which the award is made and may not be
expended for the general support of ongoing instruction at the
public junior college or public technical institute. The money
may be expended for facilities if necessary for the development,
upgrade, revision, or expansion of a program and approved by the
coordinating board.
(d) Money appropriated from the high priority program fund may
be used to match a grant provided by private industry for a
particular program at an eligible public junior college or public
technical institute.
(e) Supplies, materials, services, or equipment purchased by a
public junior college or public technical institute with money
received under this chapter are not subject to the purchasing
authority of the comptroller.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.004 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
937, Sec. 1.90, eff. September 1, 2007.
Sec. 152.005. PROGRESS REPORTS. A public junior college or
public technical institute receiving money under this chapter
shall report on the progress of the funded high priority program
to the coordinating board not later than September 1 of each year
of the program, until the coordinating board provides that
further progress reports are not required.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.005 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 152.006. MERIT REVIEW. The coordinating board shall
evaluate the effectiveness of this chapter and programs receiving
money under this chapter and report its findings to the
Legislative Budget Board not later than September 1 of the second
year of each state fiscal biennium.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1311, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1999. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 151.006 by Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 21.001(27), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.