Bill Text: TX HB2730 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the commissioner of education to create career and technical credentials and certificates that may be earned through a career and technology education program and to a study to identify unmet needs in career and technology education programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-27 - Left pending in committee [HB2730 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB2730-Introduced.html
| 85R11956 KJE-D | ||
| By: Lucio III | H.B. No. 2730 | |
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| relating to the authority of the commissioner of education to | ||
| create career and technical credentials and certificates that may | ||
| be earned through a career and technology education program and to a | ||
| study to identify unmet needs in career and technology education | ||
| programs. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Sections 29.1821 and 29.193 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 29.1821. COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY TO CREATE CREDENTIALS | ||
| AND CERTIFICATES. (a) To address unmet workforce needs and enhance | ||
| student competitiveness in the labor market, the commissioner may | ||
| create career and technical credentials or certificates that may be | ||
| earned by a public high school student through a career and | ||
| technology education program. | ||
| (a-1) Not later than September 1, 2020, the commissioner | ||
| shall create at least one credential or certificate in information | ||
| technology in accordance with the results of the study conducted | ||
| under Section 29.193. This subsection expires September 1, 2021. | ||
| (b) A credential or certificate created under this section | ||
| must: | ||
| (1) be aligned with state and regional workforce needs | ||
| in the applicable field; and | ||
| (2) serve as an entry point for employment or a bridge | ||
| to postsecondary education in the applicable field. | ||
| (c) The commissioner may consult with relevant stakeholders | ||
| in creating credentials or certificates under this section. | ||
| (d) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website | ||
| information regarding any credentials or certificates created by | ||
| the commissioner under this section. | ||
| Sec. 29.193. STUDY AND REPORT TO IDENTIFY UNMET NEEDS. (a) | ||
| The agency shall conduct a study to identify unmet needs in career | ||
| and technology education programs offered to public high school | ||
| students. The agency shall include in the study programs in the | ||
| information technology career cluster and in any other career | ||
| cluster selected by the agency. | ||
| (b) The study must, for each career cluster included in the | ||
| study: | ||
| (1) evaluate: | ||
| (A) the industry-recognized credentials or | ||
| certificates in the career cluster currently being offered to | ||
| public high school students through career and technology education | ||
| programs; and | ||
| (B) the knowledge and skills in the career | ||
| cluster necessary to meet state and regional workforce needs; and | ||
| (2) identify: | ||
| (A) any gaps between the industry-recognized | ||
| credentials or certificates identified under Subdivision (1)(A) | ||
| and the knowledge and skills identified under Subdivision (1)(B); | ||
| and | ||
| (B) any knowledge or skills that could be | ||
| incorporated into career and technology education programs in the | ||
| career cluster to increase students' marketability in that field | ||
| after graduation from high school. | ||
| (c) Not later than September 1, 2019, the agency shall | ||
| submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the | ||
| house of representatives a report on the study and any | ||
| recommendations for legislative or other action. The report must | ||
| identify each credential or certificate, including at least one | ||
| credential or certificate in information technology, to be created | ||
| by the commissioner under Section 29.1821 as a result of the study. | ||
| (d) This section expires September 1, 2020. | ||
| SECTION 2. 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, 2017. | ||
