By: Fallon S.B. No. 2042
(Ashby)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency of career and
technology education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.193 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.193. STUDY AND REPORT ON CREDENTIALS AND
CERTIFICATES. (a) The agency shall conduct a study to:
(1) evaluate the industry-recognized credentials and
certificates that are currently being offered to public high school
students through career and technology education programs in each
region of the state; and
(2) identify any unmet needs in career and technology
education programs currently being offered to public high school
students in each region of the state.
(b) The study must:
(1) for each region of the state:
(A) evaluate:
(i) the industry-recognized credentials or
certificates currently being offered to public high school students
through career and technology education programs in the region; and
(ii) the knowledge and skills necessary to
meet workforce needs in the region; and
(B) identify:
(i) any gaps between the
industry-recognized credentials or certificates identified under
Paragraph (A)(i) and the knowledge and skills identified under
Paragraph (A)(ii); and
(ii) any knowledge or skills that could be
incorporated into career and technology education programs in the
region to increase students' marketability in that region after
graduation from high school; and
(2) for each currently offered industry-recognized
credential or certificate, assess the economic impact of earning
the credential or certificate in each region of the state,
including:
(A) the average industry wage for a student who
has earned the credential or certificate in each region; and
(B) the demand to employ a student in each region
for the credential or certificate.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2021, the agency shall
submit to the commissioner a report that:
(1) identifies any currently offered
industry-recognized credential or certificate that does not
provide a sufficient positive economic impact in any region of the
state based on the assessment conducted under Subsection (b)(2);
(2) recommends the creation of industry-recognized
credentials or certificates for each region of the state to be
offered in a career and technology education program in that region
that will address unmet workforce needs and enhance student
competitiveness in the labor market; and
(3) provides recommendations for issuing guidance to
public schools on how to use labor market information generated by
state agencies in designing career and technology education
programs and courses.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2022.
SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency is required to
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to,
implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
available for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.