Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5508 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R14654 DNC-F
2	2	By: Bumgarner H.B. No. 5508
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the establishment of the Texas Film Academy to
10	10	facilitate workforce development in the state's film, television,
11	11	and digital media industries.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "academy" means the Texas
14	14	Film Academy.
15	15	(b) The legislature finds that:
16	16	(1) the establishment of the academy is essential to
17	17	the support and growth of film, television, and digital media
18	18	industries in this state; and
19	19	(2) success of the academy will aid this state in
20	20	becoming a destination for film, television, and digital media
21	21	productions.
22	22	SECTION 2. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
23	23	by adding Chapter 485B to read as follows:
24	24	CHAPTER 485B. TEXAS FILM ACADEMY
25	25	SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
26	26	Sec. 485B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
27	27	(1) "Academy" means the Texas Film Academy established
28	28	under this chapter.
29	29	(2) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
30	30	Commission.
31	31	(3) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
32	32	Education Coordinating Board.
33	33	(4) "Institution of higher education," "public junior
34	34	college," and "public technical institute" have the meanings
35	35	assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
36	36	Sec. 485B.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to
37	37	facilitate the development and delivery of higher education and
38	38	workforce training in the film, television, and digital media
39	39	industries in this state necessary to address the growing demand
40	40	for skilled crew members in those industries, create jobs, foster
41	41	economic growth, and strengthen the state's appeal as a destination
42	42	for film, television, and digital media productions.
43	43	Sec. 485B.003. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION. (a) The Texas
44	44	Film Academy is established to facilitate the creation and offering
45	45	of specialized higher education and workforce training programs in
46	46	film production, post-production, and other related areas of the
47	47	film, television, and digital media industries in this state.
48	48	(b) In consultation with the coordinating board, the
49	49	academy shall operate in partnership with institutions of higher
50	50	education and industry leaders in this state's film, television,
51	51	and digital media industries to facilitate the offering of higher
52	52	education programs and workforce training in the areas described by
53	53	Subsection (a).
54	54	(c) The academy is administratively attached to the
55	55	commission. The commission shall provide administrative support
56	56	services, staffing, and facilities necessary to assist the academy
57	57	in performing the academy's duties under this chapter.
58	58	Sec. 485B.004. GOVERNANCE; BOARD MEMBERSHIP. (a) The
59	59	academy is governed by a board composed of nine directors appointed
60	60	by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. A member
61	61	of the board serves at the pleasure of the governor.
62	62	(b) The board's membership must include:
63	63	(1) representatives of institutions of higher
64	64	education;
65	65	(2) a representative of the coordinating board; and
66	66	(3) industry leaders in the film, television, or
67	67	digital media industry.
68	68	SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
69	69	Sec. 485B.051. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. (a) The academy, in
70	70	consultation with industry leaders and representatives of the
71	71	coordinating board, public junior colleges, public technical
72	72	institutes, and general academic teaching institutions, shall
73	73	develop customized curriculum requirements for associate degree
74	74	and certificate programs and continuing education courses to
75	75	prepare students for jobs in film, television, and digital media
76	76	industries that, subject to coordinating board approval under
77	77	Section 61.0512, Education Code, if applicable, may be offered by
78	78	public junior colleges or public technical institutes.
79	79	(b) In developing curriculum requirements under Subsection
80	80	(a), the academy and other persons described by that subsection
81	81	shall focus on developing curriculum for programs leading to
82	82	high-wage jobs in the areas of:
83	83	(1) on-set production training;
84	84	(2) post-production techniques;
85	85	(3) grip and electric training;
86	86	(4) costume and set design;
87	87	(5) sound engineering;
88	88	(6) visual effects and animation; and
89	89	(7) project management in film and television
90	90	production.
91	91	Sec. 485B.052. PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
92	92	EDUCATION. The academy shall seek to enter into partnerships with
93	93	institutions of higher education located in regions throughout this
94	94	state to offer, both in person and by distance education, degree,
95	95	certificate, and continuing education programs and courses
96	96	developed by the academy. The academy shall also encourage
97	97	institutions of higher education to integrate courses developed by
98	98	the academy into any existing degree, certificate, and continuing
99	99	education programs offered by the institutions that are relevant to
100	100	the purpose of this chapter.
101	101	Sec. 485B.053. PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY. The academy
102	102	shall seek to enter into partnerships with film studios, production
103	103	companies, and industry associations in this state to:
104	104	(1) offer internships and apprenticeships that
105	105	provide higher education students in this state with hands-on
106	106	experience in the film, television, or digital media industry; and
107	107	(2) ensure that the customized higher education and
108	108	training programs developed by the academy are aligned with
109	109	industry workforce needs.
110	110	Sec. 485B.054. ADDITIONAL DUTIES. The academy shall:
111	111	(1) host job fairs, networking events, and industry
112	112	workshops to connect graduates with potential employers; and
113	113	(2) provide guidance to entities that partner with the
114	114	academy to provide internships and apprenticeships, or that provide
115	115	equipment donations to the academy, on the existence of any state or
116	116	local tax preferences that may be available to the entities.
117	117	Sec. 485B.055. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The academy
118	118	may solicit gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private
119	119	source for the purposes of this chapter.
120	120	Sec. 485B.056. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1
121	121	of each year, the academy shall prepare and submit to the governor
122	122	and each standing committee of the legislature with primary
123	123	jurisdiction over higher education or workforce development a
124	124	written report that includes:
125	125	(1) a summary of the academy's progress and
126	126	effectiveness that includes data on enrollment, degree or
127	127	certificate program completion, and job placement for individuals
128	128	participating in higher education programs or training developed by
129	129	or offered in partnership with the academy; and
130	130	(2) recommendations for improvements to or expansion
131	131	of the academy, including any need for additional funding.
132	132	(b) The commission shall include in its annual report
133	133	submitted under Subsection (a) not later than December 1, 2030, a
134	134	summary of the results and impact of the academy, including a
135	135	recommendation on whether the academy should be continued,
136	136	expanded, or terminated.
137	137	Sec. 485B.057. EXPIRATION. The academy terminates and this
138	138	chapter expires September 1, 2032.
139	139	SECTION 3. A public institution of higher education that
140	140	partners with the Texas Film Academy to offer a degree,
141	141	certificate, or continuing education program under Chapter 485B,
142	142	Government Code, as added by this Act, shall begin enrolling
143	143	students in the program not later than the 2027 spring semester.
144	144	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.