Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB120 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	89R17299 KJE-F
1	2		By: Bell of Kaufman, Buckley, Ashby, Gates, H.B. No. 120
2	3		Button, et al.
	4	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 120:
	5	+	By: Buckley C.S.H.B. No. 120
3	6
4	7
5	8
6	9
7	10		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	11		AN ACT
9	12		relating to career and technology education programs in public
10	13		schools, the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program, the
11	14		Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program, and a high
12	15		school advising program, including funding for those programs under
13	16		the Foundation School Program, and to the new instructional
14	17		facility allotment and the permissible uses of funding under the
15	18		Foundation School Program.
16	19		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
17	20		SECTION 1. Section 28.0095, Education Code, is amended by
18	21		adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
19	22		(c-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(1)(A), a student
20	23		otherwise described by Subsection (c) is eligible to enroll at no
21	24		cost in a dual credit course under the program if the student has
22	25		graduated from high school but is:
23	26		(1) enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment
24	27		charter school at a campus designated as a P-TECH school under
25	28		Section 29.556 or in a school district participating in a
26	29		partnership under Section 29.912; and
27	30		(2) completing a course of study offered through an
28	31		articulation agreement or memorandum of understanding with an
29	32		institution of higher education and the district or school
30	33		described by Subdivision (1), as applicable, under the Pathways in
31	34		Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program under
32	35		Subchapter N, Chapter 29, or the Rural Pathway Excellence
33	36		Partnership (R-PEP) program under Section 29.912.
34	37		SECTION 2. Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended to
35	38		read as follows:
36	39		(b) The state plan must include procedures designed to
37	40		ensure that:
38	41		(1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the
39	42		opportunity to participate in career and technology education
40	43		programs;
41	44		(2) the state complies with requirements for
42	45		supplemental federal career and technology education funding;
43	46		(3) career and technology education is established as
44	47		a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes
45	48		an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of
46	49		study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002
47	50		and under which a student may receive specific education in a career
48	51		and technology program that:
49	52		(A) incorporates competencies leading to
50	53		academic and technical skill attainment;
51	54		(B) leads to:
52	55		(i) an industry-recognized license,
53	56		credential, or certificate; or
54	57		(ii) at the postsecondary level, an
55	58		associate or baccalaureate degree;
56	59		(C) includes opportunities for students to earn
57	60		college credit for coursework; and
58	61		(D) includes, as an integral part of the program,
59	62		participation by students and teachers in activities of career and
60	63		technical student organizations supported by the agency and the
61	64		State Board of Education; [and]
62	65		(4) a school district provides, to the greatest extent
63	66		possible, to a student participating in a career and technology
64	67		education program opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses
65	68		designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification as part of
66	69		the program; and
67	70		(5) a course of study offered under a Junior Reserve
68	71		Officers' Training Corps program established under 10 U.S.C.
69	72		Section 2031 is considered a career and technology education
70	73		program.
71	74		SECTION 3. Sections 29.190(a-1) and (b), Education Code,
72	75		are amended to read as follows:
73	76		(a-1) A student may not receive more than two subsidies [one
74	77		subsidy] under this section.
75	78		(b) A teacher is entitled to a subsidy under this section if
76	79		the teacher passes a certification examination related to career
77	80		and technology education [cybersecurity].
78	81		SECTION 4. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
79	82		amended by adding Section 29.9016 to read as follows:
80	83		Sec. 29.9016. MILITARY PATHWAY GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The
81	84		agency shall establish a grant program to provide money to school
82	85		districts to implement a program under which the district:
83	86		(1) establishes a Junior Reserve Officers' Training
84	87		Corps program under 10 U.S.C. Section 2031 for students enrolled in
85	88		high school in the district;
86	89		(2) annually administers the Armed Services
87	90		Vocational Aptitude Battery test to each student participating in
88	91		the program described by Subdivision (1); and
89	92		(3) provides career counseling at least once per year
90	93		to each student administered the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
91	94		Battery test under Subdivision (2) based on the results of the test.
92	95		(b) The amount of each grant awarded under the grant program
93	96		is $50,000.
94	97		(c) The total amount of grants awarded under the grant
95	98		program for a school year may not exceed $2 million.
96	99		SECTION 5. Section 29.912, Education Code, is amended by
97	100		adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsections (e) and (j) to
98	101		read as follows:
99	102		(c-1) A school district that has participated in the program
100	103		may continue to participate in the program regardless of the number
101	104		of students in average daily attendance in the district for the
102	105		current school year.
103	106		(e) An employee of a coordinating entity that manages a
104	107		partnership under the program is eligible for membership in and
105	108		benefits from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas if the
106	109		employee would be eligible for membership and benefits by holding a
107	110		similar position at a partnering school district. [An employee is
108	111		eligible for membership under this subsection if a partnership
109	112		would be authorized to participate in the program, as determined by
110	113		the commissioner, but for the maximum expenditure established in
111	114		Section 48.118(f).]
112	115		(j) The commissioner shall make grants available for use by
113	116		a coordinating entity for a two-year period to assist with costs
114	117		associated with the planning, development, establishment, or
115	118		expansion, as applicable, of partnerships under the program using
116	119		[a portion of state funds allocated under Section 48.118 as well as]
117	120		money appropriated for that purpose, federal funds, and any other
118	121		funds available. The commissioner may award a grant only to a
119	122		coordinating entity that has entered into a performance agreement
120	123		approved under Subsection (i) or, if in the planning stage, has
121	124		entered into a memorandum of understanding to enter into a
122	125		performance agreement, unless the source of funds does not permit a
123	126		grant to the coordinating entity, in which case the grant shall be
124	127		made to a participating school district acting as fiscal agent.
125	128		Eligible use of grant funds shall include planning, development,
126	129		establishment, or expansion of partnerships under the program. The
127	130		commissioner may use not more than 15 percent of the money allocated
128	131		for the grants to cover the cost of administering grants awarded
129	132		under the program and to provide technical assistance and support
130	133		to partnerships under the program.
131	134		SECTION 6. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
132	135		amended by adding Section 29.939 to read as follows:
133		-	Sec. 29.939. HIGH SCHOOL ADVISING PROGRAM. (a) In this
134		-	section, "institution of higher education" and "private or
135		-	independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
136		-	assigned by Section 61.003.
137		-	(b) The agency shall establish a high school advising
138		-	program through which participating school districts and
139		-	open-enrollment charter schools provide college, career, and
140		-	military advising supports to students, either by hiring employees
141		-	or contracting with service providers.
142		-	(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	136	+	Sec. 29.939. HIGH SCHOOL ADVISING PROGRAM. (a) The agency
	137	+	shall establish a high school advising program through which
	138	+	participating school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
	139	+	provide college or career advising supports to students, either by
	140	+	hiring employees or contracting with service providers.
	141	+	(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
143	142		participating in the program must have at least one partnership
144		-	agreement:
145		-	(1) with an institution of higher education or private
146		-	or independent institution of higher education to support students
147		-	to transition successfully from high school graduation to
148		-	postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion; and
149		-	(2) to support students to transition successfully
150		-	from high school graduation to workforce entry, with:
151		-	(A) a career and technical education program at
152		-	an institution of higher education or private or independent
153		-	institution of higher education;
154		-	(B) an employer;
155		-	(C) a branch of the armed services of the United
156		-	States or the Texas National Guard; or
157		-	(D) a local workforce board.
158		-	(d) Each advisor under the program must be:
159		-	(1) trained in practices relating to college, career,
160		-	and military advising; and
161		-	(2) supported by additional guidance provided by the
162		-	agency.
163		-	(e) A full-time equivalent advisor under the program:
164		-	(1) may not have a caseload of more than 200 students;
165		-	and
166		-	(2) must:
167		-	(A) prioritize students in grade levels 11 and
168		-	12; and
169		-	(B) spend at least 80 percent of the advisor's
170		-	time on college, career, and military advising.
171		-	(f) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
	143	+	agreement with:
	144	+	(1) if the district or school provides college
	145	+	advisors, a public institution of higher education to support
	146	+	students to transition successfully from high school graduation to
	147	+	college enrollment, persistence, and completion; and
	148	+	(2) if the district or school provides career
	149	+	advisors:
	150	+	(A) a vocational program at a public institution
	151	+	of higher education;
	152	+	(B) an employer; or
	153	+	(C) a local workforce board.
	154	+	(c) An advisor under the program must be trained in:
	155	+	(1) practices relating to college advising to serve as
	156	+	a college advisor; and
	157	+	(2) practices relating to career advising to serve as
	158	+	a career advisor.
	159	+	(d) A full-time equivalent advisor under the program may not
	160	+	have a caseload of more than 200 students in grade levels 9 through
	161	+	12 and must prioritize students in grade levels 11 and 12.
	162	+	(e) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
172	163		implement this section. In adopting rules, the commissioner shall
173	164		consult with the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher
174	165		Education Coordinating Board.
175	166		SECTION 7. The heading to Section 39.0261, Education Code,
176	167		is amended to read as follows:
177	168		Sec. 39.0261. COLLEGE PREPARATION AND CAREER READINESS
178	169		ASSESSMENTS.
179	170		SECTION 8. Section 39.0261(a), Education Code, is amended
180	171		to read as follows:
181	172		(a) In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise
182	173		authorized or required by this subchapter:
183	174		(1) each school year and at state cost, a school
184	175		district may administer to students in the spring of the eighth
185	176		grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally
186	177		norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment
187	178		instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and
188	179		deficiencies of students before entrance into high school;
189	180		(2) each school year and at state cost, a school
190	181		district may administer to students in the 10th grade an
191	182		established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced
192	183		preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the
193	184		purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for
194	185		college and the workplace; and
195	186		(3) high school students in the spring of the 11th
196	187		grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state
197	188		cost:
198	189		(A) one of the valid, reliable, and nationally
199	190		norm-referenced assessment instruments used by colleges and
200	191		universities as part of their undergraduate admissions processes;
201	192		[or]
202	193		(B) the assessment instrument designated by the
203	194		Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; or
204	195		(C) a nationally recognized career readiness
205	196		assessment instrument that measures foundational workforce skills
206	197		approved by commissioner rule.
207	198		SECTION 9. Section 45.105(c), Education Code, is amended to
208	199		read as follows:
209	200		(c) Local school funds from district taxes, tuition fees of
210	201		students not entitled to a free education, other local sources, and
211	202		state funds not designated for a specific purpose may be used for
212	203		the purposes listed for state and county available funds and for
213	204		purchasing appliances and supplies, paying insurance premiums,
214	205		paying janitors and other employees, buying school sites, buying,
215	206		building, repairing, and renting school buildings, including
216	207		acquiring school buildings and sites by leasing through annual
217	208		payments with an ultimate option to purchase, providing advising
218	209		support as described by Section 48.0035(1), and educating students
219	210		as described by Section 48.0035(2), and, except as provided by
220	211		Subsection (c-1), for other purposes necessary in the conduct of
221	212		the public schools determined by the board of trustees. The
222	213		accounts and vouchers for county districts must be approved by the
223	214		county superintendent. If the state available school fund in any
224	215		municipality or district is sufficient to maintain the schools in
225	216		any year for at least eight months and leave a surplus, the surplus
226	217		may be spent for the purposes listed in this subsection.
227	218		SECTION 10. Section 48.003(a), Education Code, is amended
228	219		to read as follows:
229	220		(a) A student is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation
230	221		School Program if, on September 1 of the school year, the student:
231	222		(1) is 5 years of age or older and under 21 years of age
232	223		and:
233	224		(A) has not graduated from high school; or
234	225		(B) has graduated from high school but is:
235	226		(i) enrolled in a school district at a
236	227		campus designated as a P-TECH school under Section 29.556 or in a
237	228		school district participating in a partnership under Section
238	229		29.912; and
239	230		(ii) completing a course of study offered
240	231		through an articulation agreement or memorandum of understanding
241	232		with an institution of higher education, as defined by Section
242	233		61.003, and the district described by Subparagraph (i), as
243	234		applicable, under the Pathways in Technology Early College High
244	235		School (P-TECH) program under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, and the
245	236		Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program under Section
246	237		29.912, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in the
247	238		district providing the course of study;
248	239		(2) [, or] is at least 21 years of age and under 26
249	240		years of age and has been admitted by a school district to complete
250	241		the requirements for a high school diploma; or
251	242		(3) [(2)] is at least 18 years of age and under 50
252	243		years of age and is enrolled in an adult education program provided
253	244		under the adult high school charter school program under Subchapter
254	245		G, Chapter 12.
255	246		SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
256	247		amended by adding Sections 48.0035 and 48.0055 to read as follows:
257	248		Sec. 48.0035. USE OF FUNDING FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. A school
258	249		district may use funding to which the district is entitled under
259	250		this chapter to:
260	251		(1) provide district graduates, during the first two
261	252		years after high school graduation, advising support toward the
262	253		successful completion of a certificate or degree program at a
263	254		public institution of higher education or a postsecondary
264	255		vocational training program; and
265	256		(2) educate a student who has graduated from high
266	257		school but is enrolled in the district in a program through which
267	258		the student may earn dual credit, including the Pathways in
268	259		Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program under
269	260		Subchapter N, Chapter 29, and the Rural Pathway Excellence
270	261		Partnership (R-PEP) program under Section 29.912.
271	262		Sec. 48.0055. ENROLLMENT-BASED FUNDING. The commissioner
272	263		by rule shall establish the method for determining average
273	264		enrollment for purposes of funding provided based on average
274	265		enrollment under Chapter 46 and this chapter.
275	266		SECTION 12. Section 48.106(a-1), Education Code, is amended
276	267		to read as follows:
277	268		(a-1) In addition to the amounts under Subsection (a), for
278	269		each student in average enrollment [daily attendance], a district
279	270		is entitled to $150 [$50] for each of the following in which the
280	271		student is enrolled:
281	272		(1) a campus designated as a P-TECH school under
282	273		Section 29.556; or
283	274		(2) a campus that is a member of the New Tech Network
284	275		and that focuses on project-based learning and work-based
285	276		education.
286	277		SECTION 13. Sections 48.106(b)(1) and (1-a), Education
287	278		Code, are amended to read as follows:
288	279		(1) "Approved career and technology education
289	280		program":
290	281		(A) means:
291	282		(i) a sequence of career and technology
292	283		education courses, including technology applications courses,
293	284		authorized by the State Board of Education; and
294	285		(ii) courses offered under a Junior Reserve
295	286		Officers' Training Corps program established under 10 U.S.C.
296	287		Section 2031; and
297	288		(B) includes only courses that qualify for high
298	289		school credit.
299	290		(1-a) "Approved program of study" means a course
300	291		sequence that:
301	292		(A) provides students with the knowledge and
302	293		skills necessary for success in the students' chosen careers,
303	294		including the military; and
304	295		(B) is approved by the agency for purposes of the
305	296		Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century
306	297		Act (Pub. L. No. 115-224).
307	298		SECTION 14. Section 48.118, Education Code, is amended by
308	299		adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
309	300		(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a school district
310	301		described by Section 29.912(c-1) may receive funding under this
311	302		section for up to 110 percent of the number of students who
312	303		qualified under Subsection (a) for the school year immediately
313	304		preceding the school year in which the district's enrollment first
314	305		reached 1,600 or more.
315	306		SECTION 15. Section 48.152(a)(2), Education Code, is
316	307		amended to read as follows:
317	308		(2) "New instructional facility" includes:
318	309		(A) a newly constructed instructional facility;
319	310		(B) a repurposed instructional facility; [and]
320	311		(C) a leased facility operating for the first
321	312		time as an instructional facility with a minimum lease term of not
322	313		less than 10 years; and
323	314		(D) a renovated portion of an instructional
324	315		facility to be used for the first time to provide high-cost and
325	316		undersubscribed career and technology education programs, as
326	317		determined by the commissioner.
327	318		SECTION 16. Section 48.152(f), Education Code, is amended
328	319		to read as follows:
329	320		(f) The amount appropriated for allotments under this
330	321		section may not exceed $150 [$100] million in a school year. If the
331	322		total amount of allotments to which districts are entitled under
332	323		this section for a school year exceeds the amount appropriated
333	324		under this subsection, the commissioner:
334	325		(1) shall reduce each district's allotment under this
335	326		section in the manner provided by Section 48.266(f); and
336	327		(2) for new instructional facilities described by
337	328		Subsection (a)(2)(D), may remove a career and technology education
338	329		program from the list of programs that qualify under that
339	330		subsection.
340	331		SECTION 17. The heading to Section 48.155, Education Code,
341	332		is amended to read as follows:
342	333		Sec. 48.155. COLLEGE PREPARATION AND CAREER READINESS
343	334		ASSESSMENT REIMBURSEMENT.
344	335		SECTION 18. Section 48.156, Education Code, is amended to
345	336		read as follows:
346	337		Sec. 48.156. CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION REIMBURSEMENT. A
347	338		school district is entitled to reimbursement for the amount of a
348	339		subsidy paid by the district for not more than two [a student's]
349	340		certification examinations per student [examination] under Section
350	341		29.190(a) as provided by Section 29.190(c).
351	342		SECTION 19. Subchapter D, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
352	343		amended by adding Section 48.162 to read as follows:
353	344		Sec. 48.162. HIGH SCHOOL ADVISING ALLOTMENT. (a) Subject
354	345		to Subsections (b) and (c), for each full-time equivalent advisor
355	346		or contracted service provider under the high school advising
356	347		program established under Section 29.939, a school district is
357		-	entitled to $40,000.
	348	+	entitled to $30,000.
358	349		(b) The number of advisors for whom a school district may
359	350		receive an allotment under this section may not exceed the quotient
360	351		of, rounded up to the nearest whole number:
361	352		(1) the number of students enrolled in the district in
362		-	grade levels 11 through 12; and
	353	+	grade levels 9 through 12; and
363	354		(2) 200.
364		-	(c) Subject to Subsection (d), beginning with the fifth
365		-	school year for which a school district receives an allotment under
366		-	this section, the commissioner shall reduce the district's
367		-	allotment by 20 percent for each school year.
368		-	(d) Subsection (c) does not apply to a school district whose
369		-	performance under Section 48.110 for the preceding school year:
	355	+	(c) Beginning with the fifth school year for which a school
	356	+	district receives an allotment under this section, the commissioner
	357	+	shall reduce the district's allotment by 20 percent for each school
	358	+	year unless the district's performance under Section 48.110 for the
	359	+	preceding school year:
370	360		(1) exceeded the average of the district's performance
371	361		under that section for the two school years preceding that school
372	362		year;
373	363		(2) was in the top 25 percent of statewide performance
374	364		under that section; or
375	365		(3) established that at least 40 percent of the
376	366		district's educationally disadvantaged annual graduates
377	367		demonstrated college, career, or military readiness as described by
378	368		Section 48.110(f).
379	369		SECTION 20. Sections 29.912(h) and 48.118(f), Education
380	370		Code, are repealed.
381	371		SECTION 21. Sections 28.0095(c-1), 29.9016, and 29.939,
382	372		Education Code, as added by this Act, and Sections 29.190 and
383	373		29.912, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning
384	374		with the 2025-2026 school year.
385	375		SECTION 22. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
386	376		this section, this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
387	377		vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
388	378		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
389	379		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
390	380		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
391	381		(b) The amendments by this Act to Chapter 48, Education
392	382		Code, take effect September 1, 2025.