Bill Text: TX HB4450 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an adult high school pilot program for certain inmates and defendants in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-21 - Referred to Corrections [HB4450 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4450-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: A. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 4450
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of an adult high school pilot program
  for certain inmates and defendants in the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle G, Chapter 493, Government Code is
  amended by adding Section 493.035 to read as follows:
         Sec. 493.035.  ADULT HIGH SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
  department shall establish a pilot program under which one or more
  nonprofit entities provide an adult education program under
  Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, to enable inmates
  described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete a high school
  program that can lead to a diploma.
         (b)  An inmate who is at least 26 years of age and not more
  than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in an adult high school
  program operated under the pilot program if:
               (1)  the inmate:
                     (A)  has failed to complete the curriculum
  requirements for high school graduation; or
                     (B)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
  assessment instrument required for high school graduation; and
               (2)  the department approves the inmate's enrollment in
  the program after:
                     (A)  assessing the inmate's suitability for
  participation in the program using the results of the risk and needs
  assessment instrument adopted under Section 501.0921; and
                     (B)  evaluating the inmate's conduct while in the
  custody of the department.
         (c)  In admitting inmates to an adult high school education
  program operated under the pilot program, the nonprofit entity
  shall give priority to an inmate who has not earned a high school
  equivalency certificate.
         (d)  The department shall issue a request for proposals from
  nonprofit entities described by Section 12.256, Education Code, to
  provide an adult high school education program under the pilot
  program. The department shall require that each applicant identify
  each region of this state in which the applicant is able to operate
  an adult high school education program under this pilot program.
         (e)  The department shall contract with at least one
  qualified applicant to operate an adult high school education
  program under the pilot program.
         (f)  The department, in consultation with each nonprofit
  entity that the department contracts with under this section, shall
  identify at least three and not more than five facilities operated
  by the department that are suitable to serve as sites for the pilot
  program.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 31, 2023, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall issue the request for
  proposals required by Section 493.035(d), Government Code, as added
  by this Act. Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas Department
  of Criminal Justice shall ensure that at least one adult high school
  education program required by Section 493.035, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, be in operation in a facility operated by the
  department.
         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, 2023.
feedback