The gist
At a Feb. 25 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners approved a resolution to support legislation requesting funding from the 89th Texas Legislature for a vocational training center at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center in Richmond.
The vocational program aims to ensure the county is meeting the growing number of juveniles entering the detention system, Merci Mohagheghi, director of administration and constituent services for Fort Bend County Precinct 4, said in an email.
Zooming in
The program will grow the detention center’s educational opportunities from the traditional high school diploma or general education development offerings, Mohagheghi said.
“A vocational training facility that is part of the detention facility will expose youth in detention to skills and training that will make them hirable at living wages,” she said. “For students who don't always thrive in a traditional classroom setting, hands-on, interactive lessons will help to stimulate their mental and physical development while in detention.”
Vocational center programs will include:
- Cosmetology
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- Electrical
- Welding
- Carpentry
The cost
Commissioners approved $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in December to support facility equipment, programming and infrastructure costs, Mohagheghi said. The county is asking the state to match its funding, although officials will still pursue the center even if state funding is not approved, though it may change the scale of the project.
Zooming out
Mohagheghi said county officials believe the state lawmakers will support funding for the project as it aligns with career training, one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the session.
“Many of the most in-demand careers are welders, plumbers and electricians, so exposing our youth to opportunities in careers that pay well can be appealing,” she said. “We know that individuals who have financial stability and long-term prospects are less likely to engage in illegal activities, so a facility like this will reduce recidivism and improve public safety.”
Remember this?
In December, the county also approved five other priorities for the session, which include:
- Prohibiting the open carrying of firearms in public libraries
- Emphasizing local government control including decision-making, expanding Medicaid coverage as well as opposing revenue or appraisal caps and unfunded mandates
- Issuing pension or other post-employment benefits bonds
- Creating a Texas Advanced Research Institute to promote technology, energy and medicine/biotech research
- Creating county industrial development districts to transform undeveloped land into shovel-ready sites
The county is in the beginning stages of design of the vocational center, Mohagheghi said. A better timeline will be available once an architect is under contract.
Meanwhile, the bill filing deadline for the legislative session is March 14, according to the Texas Legislative Council’s website. The session is slated to adjourn June 2, barring no special sessions are called.
