Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Texas House Bill HB3662 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Clardy, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Seliger) H.B. No. 3662
2	2	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
3	3	May 8, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
4	4	Education; May 17, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:
5	5	Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 17, 2013, sent to printer.)
6	6
7	7
8	8	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
9	9	AN ACT
10	10	relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program;
11	11	authorizing a fee.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
14	14	amended by adding Section 29.922 to read as follows:
15	15	Sec. 29.922. TEXAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION NEEDS PROGRAM. (a)
16	16	In this section:
17	17	(1) "Private or independent institution of higher
18	18	education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
19	19	(2) "Program" means the Texas Workforce Innovation
20	20	Needs Program.
21	21	(b) The Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program is
22	22	established to:
23	23	(1) provide selected school districts, public
24	24	institutions of higher education, and private or independent
25	25	institutions of higher education with the opportunity to establish
26	26	innovative programs designed to prepare students for careers for
27	27	which there is demand in this state; and
28	28	(2) use the results of those programs to inform the
29	29	governor, legislature, and commissioner concerning methods for
30	30	transforming public education and higher education in this state by
31	31	improving student learning and career preparedness.
32	32	(c) To apply to participate in the program, a school
33	33	district, public institution of higher education, or private or
34	34	independent institution of higher education must use the form and
35	35	apply in the time and manner established by commissioner rule. The
36	36	application process must require each applicant district or
37	37	institution of higher education to submit a detailed plan as
38	38	required by Subsections (d) and (e) of the instruction and
39	39	accountability the applicant would provide under the program.
40	40	(d) A plan submitted under Subsection (c):
41	41	(1) must:
42	42	(A) be designed to support improved instruction
43	43	of and learning by students and provide evidence of the accurate
44	44	assessment of the quality of learning on campus;
45	45	(B) describe any waiver of an applicable
46	46	prohibition, requirement, or restriction for which the district or
47	47	institution of higher education intends to apply; and
48	48	(C) include any other information required by
49	49	commissioner rule; and
50	50	(2) may, if submitted by a school district, designate
51	51	one or more campuses rather than the entire district to participate
52	52	in the program.
53	53	(e) In addition to satisfying the requirements under
54	54	Subsection (d)(1), a plan submitted under Subsection (c) must, to
55	55	the greatest extent appropriate for the grade or higher education
56	56	levels served under the program, either:
57	57	(1) focus on engagement of students in
58	58	competency-based learning as necessary to earn postsecondary
59	59	credentials, including:
60	60	(A) career and technical certificates;
61	61	(B) associate's degrees;
62	62	(C) bachelor's degrees; and
63	63	(D) graduate degrees; or
64	64	(2) incorporate career and technical courses into dual
65	65	enrollment courses or into the early college education program
66	66	under Section 29.908 to provide students the opportunity to earn a
67	67	career or technical certificate or associate's degree.
68	68	(f) From among the school districts and institutions of
69	69	higher education that apply as required under this section, the
70	70	commissioner shall select those school districts and institutions
71	71	of higher education that present the plans that are most likely to
72	72	be effective in producing the next generation of higher performing
73	73	public schools and institutions of higher education that provide
74	74	education and training in an innovative form and manner to prepare
75	75	students for careers for which there is demand in this state.
76	76	(g) The commissioner shall convene program leaders
77	77	periodically to discuss methods to transform learning
78	78	opportunities for all students, build cross-institution support
79	79	systems and training, and share best practices tools and processes.
80	80	(h) A school district or institution of higher education
81	81	participating in the program or the commissioner may, for purposes
82	82	of this section, accept gifts, grants, or donations from any
83	83	source, including a private or governmental entity.
84	84	(i) To cover the costs of administering the program, the
85	85	commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or institution of
86	86	higher education participating in the program.
87	87	(j) In consultation with interested school districts,
88	88	institutions of higher education, and other appropriate interested
89	89	persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for
90	90	purposes of this section.
91	91	(k) Not later than December 1, 2014, and not later than
92	92	December 1, 2016, with the assistance of school districts and
93	93	institutions of higher education participating in the program, the
94	94	commissioner shall submit to the governor and the legislature
95	95	reports concerning the performance and progress of the program
96	96	participants. The report submitted not later than December 1,
97	97	2014, must include any recommendation by the commissioner
98	98	concerning legislative authorization necessary for the
99	99	commissioner to waive a prohibition, requirement, or restriction
100	100	that applies to a program participant and other school district or
101	101	institution of higher education interested in beginning a similar
102	102	program. To prepare for implementation of a commissioner waiver,
103	103	the commissioner shall seek any necessary federal waiver. This
104	104	subsection expires January 1, 2020.
105	105	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
106	106	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
107	107	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
108	108	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
109	109	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
110	110	* * * * *