SENATE BILL NO. 393

INTRODUCED BY M. WATERMAN

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT DESIGNATING THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AS THE ELIGIBLE AGENCY FOR ADMINISTERING THE CARL D. PERKINS ACT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MONTANA; REQUIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO WORK COOPERATIVELY ON THE VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STATE PLAN; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Legislative intent. (1) It is the intent of the legislature that the administration of the programs authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act provide a seamless system of services to those people seeking to improve their vocational and technical skills.

(2) It is the intent of the legislature that the superintendent of public instruction and the commissioner work cooperatively in providing that system of vocational and technical services at both the secondary and postsecondary levels.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature that the development of the state plan for vocational and technical education be a cooperative effort of the superintendent of public instruction and the commissioner in consultation with teachers, students, and institutions or agencies that provide the services and activities.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Eligible agency for federal vocational education requirements. (1) The board of public education is the eligible agency for purposes of the 1984 federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, as amended, which requires a state participating in programs under that act to designate a state board as the eligible agency responsible for administration or supervision of those programs.

(2) The board of public education shall contract with the superintendent of public instruction for the administration and supervision of K-12 vocational education programs, services, and activities allowed by the 1984 federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, as amended, and in concert with the state plan for vocational and technical education required by the act. The board of public education shall contract with the commissioner for the administration and supervision of postsecondary vocational education programs, services, and activities that receive funding allowed by the 1984 federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, as amended.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Development of state plan. The superintendent of public instruction and the commissioner shall each appoint two people to serve on a committee to develop the 5-year state plan for vocational and technical education as required by 20 U.S.C. 2323. The four appointed members shall select a fifth member who must represent a community-based organization that provides vocational and technical education services.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 3] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 7, part 3, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 7, part 3, apply to [sections 1 through 3].

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Section 6. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2001.

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