| 1 | 1 | | 85R11956 KJE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lucio III H.B. No. 2730 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the authority of the commissioner of education to |
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| 8 | 8 | | create career and technical credentials and certificates that may |
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| 9 | 9 | | be earned through a career and technology education program and to a |
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| 10 | 10 | | study to identify unmet needs in career and technology education |
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| 11 | 11 | | programs. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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| 14 | 14 | | amended by adding Sections 29.1821 and 29.193 to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 29.1821. COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY TO CREATE CREDENTIALS |
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| 16 | 16 | | AND CERTIFICATES. (a) To address unmet workforce needs and enhance |
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| 17 | 17 | | student competitiveness in the labor market, the commissioner may |
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| 18 | 18 | | create career and technical credentials or certificates that may be |
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| 19 | 19 | | earned by a public high school student through a career and |
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| 20 | 20 | | technology education program. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (a-1) Not later than September 1, 2020, the commissioner |
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| 22 | 22 | | shall create at least one credential or certificate in information |
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| 23 | 23 | | technology in accordance with the results of the study conducted |
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| 24 | 24 | | under Section 29.193. This subsection expires September 1, 2021. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (b) A credential or certificate created under this section |
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| 26 | 26 | | must: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) be aligned with state and regional workforce needs |
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| 28 | 28 | | in the applicable field; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (2) serve as an entry point for employment or a bridge |
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| 30 | 30 | | to postsecondary education in the applicable field. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) The commissioner may consult with relevant stakeholders |
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| 32 | 32 | | in creating credentials or certificates under this section. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (d) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website |
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| 34 | 34 | | information regarding any credentials or certificates created by |
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| 35 | 35 | | the commissioner under this section. |
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| 36 | 36 | | Sec. 29.193. STUDY AND REPORT TO IDENTIFY UNMET NEEDS. (a) |
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| 37 | 37 | | The agency shall conduct a study to identify unmet needs in career |
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| 38 | 38 | | and technology education programs offered to public high school |
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| 39 | 39 | | students. The agency shall include in the study programs in the |
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| 40 | 40 | | information technology career cluster and in any other career |
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| 41 | 41 | | cluster selected by the agency. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (b) The study must, for each career cluster included in the |
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| 43 | 43 | | study: |
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| 44 | 44 | | (1) evaluate: |
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| 45 | 45 | | (A) the industry-recognized credentials or |
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| 46 | 46 | | certificates in the career cluster currently being offered to |
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| 47 | 47 | | public high school students through career and technology education |
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| 48 | 48 | | programs; and |
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| 49 | 49 | | (B) the knowledge and skills in the career |
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| 50 | 50 | | cluster necessary to meet state and regional workforce needs; and |
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| 51 | 51 | | (2) identify: |
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| 52 | 52 | | (A) any gaps between the industry-recognized |
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| 53 | 53 | | credentials or certificates identified under Subdivision (1)(A) |
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| 54 | 54 | | and the knowledge and skills identified under Subdivision (1)(B); |
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| 55 | 55 | | and |
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| 56 | 56 | | (B) any knowledge or skills that could be |
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| 57 | 57 | | incorporated into career and technology education programs in the |
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| 58 | 58 | | career cluster to increase students' marketability in that field |
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| 59 | 59 | | after graduation from high school. |
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| 60 | 60 | | (c) Not later than September 1, 2019, the agency shall |
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| 61 | 61 | | submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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| 62 | 62 | | house of representatives a report on the study and any |
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| 63 | 63 | | recommendations for legislative or other action. The report must |
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| 64 | 64 | | identify each credential or certificate, including at least one |
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| 65 | 65 | | credential or certificate in information technology, to be created |
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| 66 | 66 | | by the commissioner under Section 29.1821 as a result of the study. |
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| 67 | 67 | | (d) This section expires September 1, 2020. |
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| 68 | 68 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 69 | 69 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 70 | 70 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 71 | 71 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 72 | 72 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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