BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 799

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the Windham School District is required to develop vocational training programs that lead to the employment of the incarcerated individuals participating in the program.  The district is also required to prioritize certain vocational programs that result in certification or licensure, considering the impact that a felony conviction has on an individual's ability to secure certification, licensure, and employment. However, interested parties have expressed concerns that a large number of the district's vocational courses fail to require an individual to achieve certification or licensure and, for the vocations for which the district does require licensure or certification, the applicable licensing agency for those vocations imposes severe restrictions against people with criminal convictions. The parties maintain that the district should continually evaluate the job market for employment trends, ensure those occupations require licenses or certificates for employment, and update its vocational courses to reflect these findings. The goal of H.B. 799 is to ensure that the district complies with existing law regarding the district's vocational training.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 799 amends the Education Code to require the Windham School District to continually assess job markets in Texas and update, augment, and expand the vocational training programs developed by the district as necessary to provide relevant and marketable skills to students.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.