[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 439 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 439
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by
establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or
repair of career and technical education facilities, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 4, 2013
Mr. Reid (for Mr. Begich) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by
establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or
repair of career and technical education facilities, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Career and Technical Education
Facilities Modernization Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Career and technical education teaches academic subject
matter in ways that are relevant and consistent to the real
world.
(2) Vocational education can reflect developmental needs by
helping students recognize their interests, aptitudes, and
abilities in age- and stage-appropriate ways.
(3) In order for students to be high-performing, the
education facilities used by the students must also be high-
performing.
(4) Many school facilities that offer vocational or career
and technical education are inefficient and outdated.
SEC. 3. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES.
(a) Career and Technical Education Facilities.--Part D of title V
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subpart 22--Career and Technical Education Facilities
``SEC. 5621. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subpart:
``(1) Career and technical education.--The term `career and
technical education' has the meaning given the term in section
3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(2) Community college.--The term `community college'
means--
``(A) a junior or community college, as that term
is defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or
``(B) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1001))
that awards a significant number of degrees and
certificates, as determined by the Secretary, that are
not--
``(i) baccalaureate degrees (or an
equivalent); or
``(ii) master's, professional, or other
advanced degrees.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
local educational agency, community college, or other entity
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(4) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project'--
``(A) means the modernization, renovation, or
repair of a facility that will be used to improve the
quality and availability of science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, or career and technical
education instruction to public elementary school or
secondary school, or community college students, and
that may include--
``(i) improving the energy efficiency of
the facility;
``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of
the facility in delivering quality education;
``(iii) improving student, faculty, and
staff health and safety at the facility;
``(iv) improving, installing, or upgrading
educational technology infrastructure;
``(v) retrofitting an existing building for
career and technical education purposes; and
``(vi) a one-time repair of serviceable
equipment at the facility, or replacement of
equipment at the facility that is at the end of
its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to
further educational outcomes; and
``(B) does not include new construction or the
payment of routine maintenance costs.
``SEC. 5622. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under section
5401(b), the Secretary shall carry out a program to improve career and
technical education facilities by--
``(1) awarding grants to eligible entities to enable the
eligible entities to carry out qualified projects;
``(2) guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for
qualified projects; or
``(3) making payments of interest on bonds, loans, or other
financial instruments (other than a refinancing) that are
issued to eligible entities for qualified projects.
``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a
grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this subpart shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such a
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The application shall include--
``(1) a detailed description of the qualified project;
``(2) in the case of a qualified project described in
section 5621(4)(A)(vi), a description of the educational
outcomes to be furthered by the one-time repair of serviceable
equipment or replacement of equipment;
``(3) an indication as to whether the eligible entity
prefers to receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of
interest;
``(4) a description of the need for the qualified project;
``(5) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure
that the qualified project will be adequately maintained;
``(6) an identification of any public elementary school or
secondary school or community college that will benefit from
the qualified project;
``(7) a description of how the qualified project will
improve instruction and educational outcomes at the facility;
``(8) a description of how the facility supported by the
qualified project will be used for providing educational
services in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
career and technical education;
``(9) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure
that the modernization, renovation, or repair supported by the
qualified project meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) building rating standards, Energy Star standards,
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria,
Green Building Initiative environmental design and rating
standards (Green Globes), or equivalent standards adopted by
entities with jurisdiction over or related to the eligible
entity;
``(10) a description of the fiscal capacity of the eligible
entity;
``(11) the percentage of students enrolled in the public
elementary school or secondary school or community college to
be served by the qualified project who are from low-income
families;
``(12) in the case of a qualified project at a facility
that is used by students in a secondary school, the secondary
school graduation rates; and
``(13) such additional information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
``(c) Priority.--In making awards under this subpart, the Secretary
shall use not less than a total of 25 percent of the funds appropriated
under section 5401(b) to eligible entities for qualified projects to
benefit--
``(1) public elementary schools or secondary schools served
by local educational agencies that are eligible to receive
assistance under part B of title VI; or
``(2) community colleges serving a substantial number of
rural students, as determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this
subpart shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal
and State funds available to carry out the activities supported under
this subpart.
``(e) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated under section
5401(b) for the administrative costs of this subpart and to provide
technical assistance to community colleges and local educational
agencies concerning best practices in school facility renovation,
repair, and modernization.
``(f) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds
are appropriated to carry out this subpart, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects
supported under this subpart on improving academic achievement.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5401 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241) is
amended--
(1) by striking the matter preceding paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this part (except for subpart 22) the following amounts:''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Authorization for Subpart 22.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subpart 22 $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2014
and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents in section 2 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 5619 the following:
``subpart 22--career and technical education facilities
``Sec. 5621. Definitions.
``Sec. 5622. Career and technical facilities improvement.''.
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