_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the Education Interim Committee

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO SECONDARY K-12 CAREER AND VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS; ESTABLISHING THAT 25% OF THE APPROPRIATION FOR SECONDARY K-12 CAREER AND VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT THE STATE-LEVEL STRENGTHENING CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-7-305 AND 20-7-320, MCA; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE and AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”

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

Section 1. Section 20-7-305, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-7-305. Funding for secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs -- application -- rules. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall annually distribute money from the biennial appropriation for secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education. The money must be allocated to:

(a) high school districts providing approved secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs in accordance with 20-7-306 and this section; and

(b) career and technical student organizations for grants in accordance with 20-7-320 in the amount of 25% of the biennial appropriation for secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education.

(2) A high school district providing secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs shall apply to the superintendent of public instruction for funds available under 20-7-306 and this section. The superintendent of public instruction shall by rule prescribe the method for distribution, the form of the application, budget procedures, and accounting rules for the funds. The superintendent of public instruction may prescribe other requirements for the receipt of funding consistent with Title 20, chapter 7, part 3.

(3) A secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education program in a high school district may not be funded until that program has been offered by the school district for 1 school year.

(4) As used in 20-7-306 and this section, the term "school district" means a district organized for the purpose of providing educational services for grades 9 through 12, but the term does not include postsecondary vocational education centers."

Section 2. Section 20-7-320, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-7-320. State-level strengthening career and technology student organizations. (1) There is a state-level strengthening career and technology student organizations program.

(2) The purposes of the program are to:

(a) strengthen Montana's career and technology student organizations by increasing graduation rates, enhancing student leadership opportunities, developing workforce skills, and facilitating transitions to postsecondary education and employment for all participating students;

(b) ensure alignment of activities of local career and technology student organizations with nationally affiliated programs and activities; and

(c) provide a base of funding for the statewide coordination of state-approved career and technology student organizations.

(3) To be eligible for funding under this section, each state-approved career and technology student organization must be affiliated with a respective national career and technology student organization and be appropriately incorporated as a Montana nonprofit organization in compliance with state law and regulations regarding operations and financial reporting by May 1, 2013.

(4) The superintendent of public instruction shall distribute funds appropriated allocated pursuant to 20-7-305(1)(b) for grants to state-approved career and technology student organizations by November 1. Each grant recipient must receive a base amount of funding to support the position of state director for the organization.

(5) The superintendent of public instruction shall supervise and coordinate the program by establishing procedures and criteria for review and approval of grants to state-approved career and technology student organizations.

(6) Proposals submitted to the superintendent of public instruction by career and technology student organizations must contain:

(a) a program description, including measurable objectives;

(b) evidence of hiring a state director and a plan for expanding student leadership skills;

(d) a method to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

(7) Career and technology student organizations may request assistance from the staff of the superintendent of public instruction in formulating program proposals.

(8) Additional or remaining funds appropriated allocated for the purposes of this section may be allocated distributed to state-approved career and technology student organizations pursuant to policies adopted under 20-7-301.

(9) As used in this section, "career and technology student organization" means an organization for students enrolled in a state-approved career and technology program that engages in career and technology education activities as an integral part of the instructional program."

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Applicability. [This act] applies to school fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2021.