Bucy Bill Creates An 11-Member Council That Can Only Recommend

The text as introduced · 850 words

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.