89R13669 BCH-F
By: West S.B. No. 1852
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the accreditation of automotive technology courses
offered by public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.195 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.195. ACCREDITATION OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY COURSE
REQUIRED. (a) In this section, "institute" means the National
Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
that offers to students a course related to automotive technology
shall ensure that the course is accredited by the institute.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall:
(1) submit through the agency an application for
institute accreditation; and
(2) comply with all applicable procedural guidelines
established by the agency or the institute.
(d) From funds appropriated or otherwise available, the
agency shall support school districts and open-enrollment charter
schools to attain institute accreditation by paying the costs of
required training, equipment upgrades, and application fees.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
not spend money appropriated to the district or school for a course
related to automotive technology for a state fiscal year until the
district or school submits to the agency a report certifying the
district's or school's compliance with this section during the
preceding state fiscal year.
(e-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), a school district or
open-enrollment charter school that has not received institution
accreditation for a course related to automotive technology may
request an extension not to exceed one year from the agency. The
agency may grant one additional extension not to exceed one year to
a school district or open-enrollment charter school that
demonstrates a good faith effort to attain institute accreditation.
This subsection expires September 1, 2028.
(f) The agency shall prepare and submit an annual written
report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house
of representatives, and standing committees with primary
jurisdiction over education that includes information on the
progress of implementing this section.
(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the
commissioner of education, in consultation with the State Board of
Education, shall adopt rules to implement Section 29.195, Education
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027
school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.