89R3329 KJE-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 433
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Higher Education and
Corrections Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 64 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 64. HIGHER EDUCATION AND CORRECTIONS COUNCIL
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 64.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning
assigned by Section 132.001.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) "Council" means the Higher Education and
Corrections Council.
(4) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
(5) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL
Sec. 64.051. ESTABLISHMENT. The Higher Education and
Corrections Council is established to help coordinate and make
recommendations to the coordinating board and the department
regarding educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
Sec. 64.052. COUNCIL MEMBERS. (a) The council consists of
the following 11 members:
(1) a member of the house of representatives appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(3) the following members appointed by the
commissioner of higher education:
(A) an employee of the coordinating board;
(B) an employee of a career school or college;
(C) an employee of an institution of higher
education;
(D) a researcher who studies higher education in
correctional facilities;
(E) a formerly incarcerated individual who
participated in higher education programs while incarcerated in a
prison in this state; and
(F) the executive director of a nonprofit
organization engaged in criminal justice work in this state or the
executive director's designee;
(4) the executive director of the department or the
executive director's designee;
(5) an employee of the department appointed by the
executive director of the department; and
(6) the executive director of the Texas Workforce
Commission or the executive director's designee.
(b) A council member serves at the will of the appointing
authority.
Sec. 64.053. MEMBER TERMS. Council members serve staggered
two-year terms, with six members' terms expiring February 1 of each
odd-numbered year and five members' terms expiring February 1 of
each even-numbered year.
Sec. 64.054. VACANCY. A vacancy on the council is filled in
the same manner as the initial appointment.
Sec. 64.055. CO-CHAIRS. The council members appointed by
the speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant
governor serve as co-chairs of the council.
Sec. 64.056. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. A council member
is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses
incurred in performing council duties.
SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES OF COUNCIL
Sec. 64.101. GENERAL DUTIES. The council shall:
(1) coordinate, facilitate, and support the delivery
of higher education in correctional facilities in this state to
prepare incarcerated individuals for integration and productive
employment on release;
(2) explore and make recommendations for the efficient
and effective delivery of higher education programs to incarcerated
individuals, including:
(A) evidence-based practices and technologies;
(B) methods of maximizing and facilitating
access to educational programs;
(C) methods of supporting and facilitating
timely completion of courses and certificate and degree programs;
(D) methods of emphasizing educational programs
that:
(i) align with current and future workforce
demands in this state;
(ii) lead to occupations that are
accessible to formerly incarcerated individuals;
(iii) provide sustainable wages after
release; and
(iv) maximize accessibility and timely
completion during incarceration;
(E) use of cross-institutional coursework
application toward certificate and degree programs;
(F) use of coursework that encourages personal
and civic development; and
(G) methods of leveraging innovative course
delivery, including technology resources;
(3) explore methods and make recommendations for the
collection and analysis of critical data regarding:
(A) enrollment and completion of higher
education courses, credentials, and certificate and degree
programs;
(B) federal and state student aid awarded to
incarcerated individuals;
(C) costs of higher education in correctional
facilities, including any recommendations for continued
improvement; and
(D) outcomes of formerly incarcerated
individuals who participated in higher education programming
during incarceration and are on parole, including recidivism,
employment, and post-release higher education engagement; and
(4) make recommendations regarding legislative
appropriations requests to support the council's purposes and
objectives.
Sec. 64.102. REPORT. Not later than November 1 of each
even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the legislature,
the coordinating board, and the department a report regarding the
council's duties under this chapter during the preceding two years
and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The
report must include:
(1) the number of incarcerated individuals enrolled in
higher education; and
(2) the number of incarcerated individuals who
received a certificate or degree.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the appointing authorities shall make the initial
appointments required under Section 64.052, Education Code, as
added by this Act.
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, 2025.