HBA-MPM S.B. 1026 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1026 By: Brown Public Education 4/19/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) provides degree-related paid employment to about 150 college students annually. A student's work tours are alternated with periods of full time study at a the student's college or university. S.B. 1026 authorizes the state to expand the federal college and university level cooperative education programs at NASA-JSC, and allow the state to create a high school cooperative education program at the facility. 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 A, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Sections 130.010 and 130.011, as follows: Sec. 130.010. HIGH SCHOOL COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the junior college district in which the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (center) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is located to establish and coordinate a cooperative program with one or more school districts under which high school students enrolled in those districts may be employed by the junior college district to work at the space center on a part-time basis during the school year or on a part-time or full-time basis during school holidays or vacations. (b) Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate each student participating in the program and ensure that the student performs work related to the study of science, mathematics, or engineering. (c) Requires the school district in which a student participating in the program is enrolled to, in cooperation with the State Board of Education (board), determine the number, if any, and type of credits toward high school graduation the student may be given for participation. Provides that if it is determined that the student is to be given credit toward academic course requirements for graduation, the number and type of credits must be based on the student's type and number of hours of work. (d) Authorizes the junior college district to use state funds appropriated to establish and coordinate the program, as well as gifts, grants, and donations solicited for that purpose. Requires the junior college district to use money it receives in accordance with this subsection to pay the costs associated with the program, including the wages of students who participate in the program. (e) Provides that a student participating in the program during regular school hours is considered to be attending school for purposes of Section 25.085 (Compulsory School Attendance), Education Code, during the time the student is required under the program to be and is at work for the center. Sec. 130.011. JUNIOR COLLEGE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the junior college district in which the center is located to establish and coordinate a cooperative program with one or more junior college districts under which junior college students enrolled in those districts may be employed by the junior college district in which the center is located to work at the center on a part-time or full-time basis. (b) Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate each student who participates in the program and to ensure that the student performs work related to the study of science, mathematics, or engineering. (c) Requires the junior college in which a student participating in the program is enrolled, in cooperation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board), to determine the number, if any, and type of credits toward a certificate or an associate degree the student may be given for participation in the program. Provides that if it is determined that the student is to be given credit toward academic course requirements for a certificate or an associate degree, the number and type of credits must be based on the student's type and number of hours of work. (d) Authorizes the junior college district, in establishing and coordinating the program, to use state funds appropriated for that purpose and gifts, grants, and donations solicited for that purpose. Requires the junior college district to use money it receives in accordance with this subsection to pay the costs associated with the program, including the wages of students participating in the program. SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 109, Education Code, by adding Section 109.53, as follows: Sec. 109.53. PUBLIC SENIOR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes the coordinating board to establish and coordinate a program with one or more public senior colleges or universities under which undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in those colleges or universities may be employed by Texas Tech University to work at the center on a part-time or full-time basis. (b) Requires the center to place, supervise, and evaluate each student participating in the program and ensure that the student performs work related to the study of science, mathematics, or engineering. (c) Requires the public senior college or university in which a student participating in the program is enrolled, in cooperation with the coordinating board, to determine the number, if any, and type of credits toward graduation the student may be given for participation in the program. Provides that if the college or university determines that the student is to be given academic course credit toward graduation, the number and type of credits must be based on the type of work and number of hours of work in which the student participates. (d) Authorizes the coordinating board, in establishing and coordinating the program, to use state funds appropriated for that purpose, and gifts, grants, and donations solicited for that purpose. Requires the coordinating board to use money it receives in accordance with this subsection to pay costs associated with the program, including wages of students participating in the program. (e) Defines "public senior college or university" for purposes of this section. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.