1. (a) Subject to available funds, the department shall establish a grant program under which the department awards grants to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities located in a rural county for the development and operation of multi-institutional technology centers that provide:

   1. (1) community access to technology;
   2. (2) computer literacy programs;
   3. (3) educational programs designed to provide concurrent enrollment credit for high school students taking postsecondary courses in information and emerging technologies;
   4. (4) training for careers in technology-related fields and other highly skilled industries; and
   5. (5) technology-related continuing and adult education programs.

2. (b) The department by rule shall establish:

   1. (1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
   2. (2) grant application procedures;
   3. (3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
   4. (4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and

   5. (5) procedures for monitoring the use of grants awarded under the program and for ensuring compliance with the conditions of a grant.

      Relettered from Government Code, Subchapter P, Chapter 487 and amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 112 (H.B. 1918), Sec. 91, eff. September 1, 2009.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 712 (H.B. 2235), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Renumbered from Government Code, Section 487.702 by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 27.001(31), eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 148 (H.B. 1493), Sec. 43, eff. September 1, 2013.