HBA-LCA H.B. 2991 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2991
By: Davis, John
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 2991 establishes two Texas Space Grant Consortium Cooperative
Programs.  Each program will allow a high school or college student to work
at the Lyndon B.  Johnson Space Center of the National Air and Space
Administration.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding
Section 29.187, as follows: 

Sec. 29.187.  TEXAS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM COOPERATIVE PROGRAM.  (a)
Provides that the Texas Space Grant Consortium (consortium) may establish
and coordinate a cooperative program (program) with one or more school
districts under which high school students may be employed by the
consortium on a part-time basis, during or after the school day, to work at
the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (center). 

(b)  Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate participating
students. 

(c)  Requires the school district in which a student who participating in
the program is enrolled to ensure that the student performs work related to
certain areas of study. Requires the school district, in consultation with
the State Board of Education, to determine the amount and type of academic
credit a participating student is given, based on the amount and type of
work the student performs. 

(d)  Authorizes the consortium to use appropriated state funds, along with
donations, gifts, or grants, for establishing and coordinating the program.
Requires the consortium to use money it receives in accordance with this
subsection to pay the wages of students participating in the program. 

(e)  Provides that participation in the program is considered school
attendance for purposes of Section 25.085, Education Code (Compulsory
School Attendance).   

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding
Section 51.9305, as follows: 

Sec. 51.9305.  TEXAS SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM COOPERATIVE PROGRAM. (a)
Provides that the consortium may establish and coordinate a cooperative
program with one or more institutions of higher education (institution)
under which students enrolled in the institution may be employed by the
consortium to work at the center. 

(b)  Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate participating
students. 
 
(c)  Requires the institution and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board to establish guidelines for the program, including guidelines
concerning academic credit for participation. 


(d) Authorizes the consortium to use appropriated state funds, along with
donations, gifts, or grants, for establishing and coordinating the program.
Requires the consortium to use money it receives in accordance with this
subsection to pay the wages of students participating in the program. 

(e)  Provides that "institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code (Definitions). 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.