Bill Text: TX HB3662 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program; authorizing a fee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-10 - Effective immediately [HB3662 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB3662-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 3662 |
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relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program; | ||
authorizing a fee. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 29.922 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 29.922. TEXAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION NEEDS PROGRAM. (a) | ||
In this section: | ||
(1) "Private or independent institution of higher | ||
education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(2) "Program" means the Texas Workforce Innovation | ||
Needs Program. | ||
(b) The Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program is | ||
established to: | ||
(1) provide selected school districts, public | ||
institutions of higher education, and private or independent | ||
institutions of higher education with the opportunity to establish | ||
innovative programs designed to prepare students for careers for | ||
which there is demand in this state; and | ||
(2) use the results of those programs to inform the | ||
governor, legislature, and commissioner concerning methods for | ||
transforming public education and higher education in this state by | ||
improving student learning and career preparedness. | ||
(c) To apply to participate in the program, a school | ||
district, public institution of higher education, or private or | ||
independent institution of higher education must use the form and | ||
apply in the time and manner established by commissioner rule. The | ||
application process must require each applicant district or | ||
institution of higher education to submit a detailed plan as | ||
required by Subsections (d) and (e) of the instruction and | ||
accountability the applicant would provide under the program. | ||
(d) A plan submitted under Subsection (c): | ||
(1) must: | ||
(A) be designed to support improved instruction | ||
of and learning by students and provide evidence of the accurate | ||
assessment of the quality of learning on campus; | ||
(B) describe any waiver of an applicable | ||
prohibition, requirement, or restriction for which the district or | ||
institution of higher education intends to apply; and | ||
(C) include any other information required by | ||
commissioner rule; and | ||
(2) may, if submitted by a school district, designate | ||
one or more campuses rather than the entire district to participate | ||
in the program. | ||
(e) In addition to satisfying the requirements under | ||
Subsection (d)(1), a plan submitted under Subsection (c) must, to | ||
the greatest extent appropriate for the grade or higher education | ||
levels served under the program, either: | ||
(1) focus on engagement of students in | ||
competency-based learning as necessary to earn postsecondary | ||
credentials, including: | ||
(A) career and technical certificates; | ||
(B) associate's degrees; | ||
(C) bachelor's degrees; and | ||
(D) graduate degrees; or | ||
(2) incorporate career and technical courses into dual | ||
enrollment courses or into the early college education program | ||
under Section 29.908 to provide students the opportunity to earn a | ||
career or technical certificate or associate's degree. | ||
(f) From among the school districts and institutions of | ||
higher education that apply as required under this section, the | ||
commissioner shall select those school districts and institutions | ||
of higher education that present the plans that are most likely to | ||
be effective in producing the next generation of higher performing | ||
public schools and institutions of higher education that provide | ||
education and training in an innovative form and manner to prepare | ||
students for careers for which there is demand in this state. | ||
(g) The commissioner shall convene program leaders | ||
periodically to discuss methods to transform learning | ||
opportunities for all students, build cross-institution support | ||
systems and training, and share best practices tools and processes. | ||
(h) A school district or institution of higher education | ||
participating in the program or the commissioner may, for purposes | ||
of this section, accept gifts, grants, or donations from any | ||
source, including a private or governmental entity. | ||
(i) To cover the costs of administering the program, the | ||
commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or institution of | ||
higher education participating in the program. | ||
(j) In consultation with interested school districts, | ||
institutions of higher education, and other appropriate interested | ||
persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for | ||
purposes of this section. | ||
(k) Not later than December 1, 2014, and not later than | ||
December 1, 2016, with the assistance of school districts and | ||
institutions of higher education participating in the program, the | ||
commissioner shall submit to the governor and the legislature | ||
reports concerning the performance and progress of the program | ||
participants. The report submitted not later than December 1, | ||
2014, must include any recommendation by the commissioner | ||
concerning legislative authorization necessary for the | ||
commissioner to waive a prohibition, requirement, or restriction | ||
that applies to a program participant and other school district or | ||
institution of higher education interested in beginning a similar | ||
program. To prepare for implementation of a commissioner waiver, | ||
the commissioner shall seek any necessary federal waiver. This | ||
subsection expires January 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, 2013. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 3662 was passed by the House on May 2, | ||
2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 3662 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |