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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to facilitate the award of postsecondary |
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course credit leading to workforce credentialing based on military |
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experience, education, and training. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 51.3041(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) An institution of higher education shall consider, in |
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determining whether to award to a student course credit toward a |
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degree or certificate offered by the institution for the student's |
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completion of certain military training: |
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(1) any official military record presented to the |
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institution by the student that: |
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(A) describes the substance of the training |
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completed by the student; and |
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(B) verifies the student's successful completion |
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of that training; and |
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(2) whether the substance of that training satisfies |
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the purpose of the course for which the student seeks credit as |
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described in the institution's course catalog. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 132, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 132.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 132.026. MEASURES TO FACILITATE AWARD OF COURSE CREDIT |
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FOR MILITARY SERVICE. (a) The commission shall evaluate programs |
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of study or courses offered by career schools or colleges leading to |
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industry-based certifications or other workforce credentials to |
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identify programs or courses for which skills obtained through |
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military experience, education, and training frequently align. |
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(b) The board shall publish on its Internet website a list |
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of any programs of study or courses identified by the commission |
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under this section and the relevant military experience, education, |
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or training that may align with those programs or courses. |
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SECTION 3. Section 132.055, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) In determining whether to approve a career school or |
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college that offers a program of study or course listed on the |
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commission's Internet website under Section 132.026(b), in |
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addition to the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, the commission shall require that the career school or |
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college provide credit to a student toward any course time required |
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for the program of study or course for skills obtained by the |
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student through military experience, education, or training, |
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unless the school or college can demonstrate that those skills are |
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not appropriately aligned with the program of study or course. |
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SECTION 4. Section 302.0031, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (i) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Career school or college" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 132.001, Education Code. |
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(2) "Institution[, "institution] of higher education" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(i) Under the program, the commission shall identify, |
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develop, and support methods to facilitate the award of course time |
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credit by career schools or colleges or other private or nonprofit |
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entities providing programs of study or courses of instruction |
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leading to industry certifications or other workforce credentials |
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to veterans and military servicemembers for military experience, |
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education, or training obtained during military service for |
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programs of study or courses of instruction offered by those |
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schools, colleges, or other entities for which skills obtained |
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through military experience, education, and training align. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |