pilot program: adult diplomas plus job certifications

The text as introduced · 503 words

90R44 AMF-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 334

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an intensive workforce readiness

adult education pilot program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as

follows:

(c) Subject to Subsections [ Subsection ] (d) and (e) , the

commissioner may not grant more than 10 charters under this

subchapter.

(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in

addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and

Subchapter D, the commissioner shall, on the basis of an

application submitted, grant a charter to an eligible entity to

provide an intensive workforce readiness adult education program

under the pilot program established under Section 12.266. The

commissioner may not grant more than four charters under this

subsection.

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 12.266 to read as follows:

Sec. 12.266. INTENSIVE WORKFORCE READINESS PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) The agency shall establish a pilot program under which one or

more eligible entities provide an intensive workforce readiness

adult education program to enable an individual described by

Section 12.258 to successfully complete:

(1) a program that leads to a high school diploma; and

(2) career and technology courses that result in the

conferral of:

(A) at least one industry certification or

license; and

(B) at least one certification or license in an

occupation identified by the local workforce development board

serving the area in which the pilot program operates as a high

demand occupation in the area.

(b) The agency shall establish application criteria under

which eligible entities may apply to provide an adult education

program under the pilot program. The agency shall require each

applicant to identify:

(1) the local workforce development board serving the

area in which the applicant intends to operate an adult education

program under the pilot program and the high demand occupations in

that area as identified by the board; and

(2) each industry certification or license an

individual who successfully completes the adult education program

is eligible to receive.

(c) An entity granted a charter to provide an intensive

workforce readiness adult education program under the pilot program

established under this section is subject to:

(1) this subchapter, including the requirements under

Section 12.259; and

(2) rules adopted under Section 12.265, including

rules related to the maximum number of students who may be enrolled

in a program under Section 12.265(c).

SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2028, the Texas

Education Agency shall establish and implement the pilot program

required by Section 12.266, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. 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, 2027.