By: A. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 4450
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an adult high school pilot program
for certain inmates and defendants in the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Chapter 493, Government Code is
amended by adding Section 493.035 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.035. ADULT HIGH SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
department shall establish a pilot program under which one or more
nonprofit entities provide an adult education program under
Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, to enable inmates
described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete a high school
program that can lead to a diploma.
(b) An inmate who is at least 26 years of age and not more
than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in an adult high school
program operated under the pilot program if:
(1) the inmate:
(A) has failed to complete the curriculum
requirements for high school graduation; or
(B) has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
assessment instrument required for high school graduation; and
(2) the department approves the inmate's enrollment in
the program after:
(A) assessing the inmate's suitability for
participation in the program using the results of the risk and needs
assessment instrument adopted under Section 501.0921; and
(B) evaluating the inmate's conduct while in the
custody of the department.
(c) In admitting inmates to an adult high school education
program operated under the pilot program, the nonprofit entity
shall give priority to an inmate who has not earned a high school
equivalency certificate.
(d) The department shall issue a request for proposals from
nonprofit entities described by Section 12.256, Education Code, to
provide an adult high school education program under the pilot
program. The department shall require that each applicant identify
each region of this state in which the applicant is able to operate
an adult high school education program under this pilot program.
(e) The department shall contract with at least one
qualified applicant to operate an adult high school education
program under the pilot program.
(f) The department, in consultation with each nonprofit
entity that the department contracts with under this section, shall
identify at least three and not more than five facilities operated
by the department that are suitable to serve as sites for the pilot
program.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2023, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall issue the request for
proposals required by Section 493.035(d), Government Code, as added
by this Act. Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice shall ensure that at least one adult high school
education program required by Section 493.035, Government Code, as
added by this Act, be in operation in a facility operated by the
department.
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, 2023.