| 1 | 1 | | 85R5877 MK-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Miles S.B. No. 482 |
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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 creation of a program to assist foster care youth |
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| 8 | 8 | | and former foster care youth in accessing higher education, career |
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| 9 | 9 | | information, and skills certifications. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 264.1211 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 264.1211. CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. |
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| 14 | 14 | | The department shall collaborate with local workforce development |
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| 15 | 15 | | boards, foster care transition centers, community and technical |
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| 16 | 16 | | colleges, schools, and any other appropriate workforce industry |
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| 17 | 17 | | resources to create a program that: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) assists foster care youth and former foster care |
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| 19 | 19 | | youth in obtaining: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (A) a high school diploma or a high school |
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| 21 | 21 | | equivalency certificate; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | (B) industry certifications that are necessary |
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| 23 | 23 | | for occupations that are in high demand; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2) provides career guidance to foster care youth and |
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| 25 | 25 | | former foster care youth; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (3) informs foster care youth and former foster care |
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| 27 | 27 | | youth about the tuition and fee waivers for institutions of higher |
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| 28 | 28 | | education that are available under Section 54.366, Education Code. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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