Bill Text: TX HB4921 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an adult education pilot program by the Windham School District.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-08 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB4921 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4921-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an adult education pilot program by the Windham School District.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-08 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB4921 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4921-Introduced.html
88R14449 BDP-D | ||
By: Murr | H.B. No. 4921 |
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relating to the establishment of an adult education pilot program | ||
for certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in | ||
addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and | ||
Subchapter D, the commissioner, on the basis of submitted | ||
proposals, shall grant a charter to a nonprofit entity described by | ||
Section 12.256 to provide an adult education program to inmates | ||
under the pilot program established under Section 493.035, | ||
Government Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 493.035 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 493.035. ADULT EDUCATION 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: | ||
(1) a high school program that can lead to a diploma; | ||
and | ||
(2) career and technology education courses that can | ||
lead to industry certification. | ||
(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 education | ||
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 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 education program under the pilot program. The | ||
department shall require that each applicant identify in the | ||
applicant's proposal each region of this state in which the | ||
applicant is able to operate an adult education program under the | ||
pilot program. | ||
(e) The department shall contract with at least one | ||
qualified applicant to operate an adult 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 3. Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas | ||
Department of Criminal Justice shall establish and implement the | ||
pilot program required by Section 493.035, Government 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, 2023. |