Texas House Bill HB797

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to certain written information the Windham School District must provide to a person before the person enrolls in a district vocational training program.

Impact

The legislation specifically requires the district to report statistics on the success rates of past students over the preceding decade, including the number of students who applied for and were granted or denied certificates or licenses. This data requirement is intended to give potential students an understanding of the program's effectiveness and the likelihood of successfully obtaining certification or licensure after completing a vocational program. The implications of this are significant, as it encourages accountability and may enhance the reputation of vocational training programs by demonstrating outcomes to future enrollees.

Summary

House Bill 797 mandates that the Windham School District provide prospective students of its vocational training programs with essential written information prior to enrollment. This bill aims to ensure that individuals are fully informed about the potential restrictions imposed by state agency policies that could affect their ability to obtain certificates or licenses associated with the programs they wish to pursue. By doing so, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and facilitate informed decision-making by individuals seeking vocational training in the district.

Contention

Although no major points of contention were identified in the discussion snippets available, the implementation of such data reporting requirements might raise concerns among some stakeholders about privacy and the stigmatization of individuals based on their criminal history evaluations. The provisions include guidelines for individuals on how to obtain necessary criminal history evaluation letters, and how to appeal denials for certification or licensing, which showcases an effort to protect the rights and interests of prospective students.