SECTION 1.01. Subtitle B,
Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by adding Chapter 315 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 315. ADULT
EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAMS
Sec. 315.001. DEFINITIONS.
Sec. 315.002. COMMISSION
DUTIES. (a) The commission shall:
(1) provide adequate
staffing to develop, administer, and support a comprehensive statewide
adult education program and coordinate related federal and state programs
for the education and training of adults;
(2) develop the mechanism
and guidelines for the coordination of comprehensive adult education and
related skill training services for adults with other entities, including
public agencies and private organizations, in planning, developing, and
implementing related programs;
(3) administer all state
and federal funds for adult education and related skill training services
in this state, other than funds that another entity is specifically
authorized to administer under other law;
(4) prescribe and
administer standards and accrediting policies for adult education;
(5) prescribe and
administer rules for teacher certification for adult education;
(6) accept and administer
grants, gifts, services, and funds from available sources for use in adult
education;
(7) adopt or develop and
administer a standardized assessment mechanism for assessing all adult
education program participants who need literacy instruction, adult basic
education, or secondary education leading to an adult high school diploma
or the equivalent; and
(8) monitor and evaluate
educational and employment outcomes of students who participate in the
commission's adult education and literacy programs.
(b) The assessment
mechanism prescribed by Subsection (a)(7) must include an initial basic
skills screening instrument and must provide comprehensive information
concerning baseline student skills before and student progress after
participation in an adult education program.
(c) Not later than
December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall report to the
legislature regarding the educational and employment outcomes of students
who participate in the commission's adult education and literacy programs.
(d) The commission may
adopt rules for the administration of this chapter.
Sec. 315.003. PROVISION OF
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Sec. 315.004. ADULT
EDUCATION ASSESSMENT.
Sec. 315.005. ADULT
EDUCATION AND LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section,
"advisory committee" means the adult education and literacy
advisory committee created under this section.
(b) The commission shall
establish an adult education and literacy advisory committee composed of
not more than nine members appointed by the commission. Members of the
advisory committee must have expertise in the field of adult education and
literacy and may include adult educators, providers, advocates, current or
former adult education and literacy program students, and leaders in the
nonprofit community engaged in literacy promotion efforts. The advisory
committee's membership must include at least one representative of the
business community and at least one representative of a local workforce
development board.
(c) The advisory committee
shall:
(1) meet at least
quarterly;
(2) report to the
commission at least annually; and
(3) advise the commission
on:
(A) the development of
policies and program priorities that support the development of an educated
and skilled workforce in this state;
(B) the development of
statewide curriculum guidelines and standards for adult education and
literacy services that ensure a balance of education and workplace skill
development;
(C) the exploration of
potential partnerships with entities in the nonprofit community engaged in
literacy promotion efforts, entities in the business community, and other
appropriate entities to improve statewide literacy programs; and
(D) any other issue the
commission considers appropriate.
(d) Chapter 2110,
Government Code, does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of
the advisory committee.
Sec. 315.006. STATE
FUNDING.
Sec. 315.007. PERFORMANCE
INCENTIVE FUNDING.
Sec. 315.008. SERVICE
PROVIDER CONTRACTS: COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT.
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SECTION 1.01. Subtitle B,
Title 4, Labor Code, is amended by adding Chapter 315 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 315. ADULT
EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAMS
Sec. 315.001. DEFINITIONS.
Sec. 315.002. COMMISSION
DUTIES. (a) The commission shall:
(1) provide adequate
staffing, including by hiring a director,
to develop, administer, and support a comprehensive statewide adult
education program and coordinate related federal and state programs for the
education and training of adults;
(2) develop the mechanism
and guidelines for the coordination of comprehensive adult education and
related skill training services for adults with other entities, including
public agencies and private organizations, in planning, developing, and
implementing related programs;
(3) administer all state
and federal funds for adult education and related skill training services
in this state, other than funds that another entity is specifically
authorized to administer under other law;
(4) prescribe and
administer standards and accrediting policies for adult education;
(5) prescribe and
administer rules for teacher certification for adult education;
(6) accept and administer
grants, gifts, services, and funds from available sources for use in adult
education;
(7) adopt or develop and
administer a standardized assessment mechanism for assessing all adult
education program participants who need literacy instruction, adult basic
education, or secondary education leading to an adult high school diploma
or the equivalent; and
(8) monitor and evaluate
educational and employment outcomes of students who participate in the
commission's adult education and literacy programs.
(b) The assessment
mechanism prescribed by Subsection (a)(7) must include an initial basic
skills screening instrument and must provide comprehensive information
concerning baseline student skills before and student progress after
participation in an adult education program.
(c) Not later than
December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall report to the
legislature regarding the educational and employment outcomes of students
who participate in the commission's adult education and literacy programs.
(d) The commission may
adopt rules for the administration of this chapter.
Sec. 315.003. PROVISION OF
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Sec. 315.004. ADULT
EDUCATION ASSESSMENT.
Sec. 315.005. ADULT
EDUCATION AND LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section,
"advisory committee" means the adult education and literacy
advisory committee created under this section.
(b) The commission shall
establish an adult education and literacy advisory committee composed of
not more than nine members appointed by the commission. Members of the
advisory committee must have expertise in the field of adult education and
literacy and may include adult educators, providers, advocates, current or
former adult education and literacy program students, and leaders in the
nonprofit community engaged in literacy promotion efforts. The advisory
committee's membership must include at least one representative of the
business community and at least one representative of a local workforce
development board.
(c) The advisory committee
shall:
(1) meet at least
quarterly;
(2) report to the commission
at least annually; and
(3) advise the commission
on:
(A) the development of:
(i) policies and program
priorities that support the development of an educated and skilled
workforce in this state;
(ii) statewide curriculum
guidelines and standards for adult education and literacy services that
ensure a balance of education and workplace skill development;
(iii) a statewide strategy for improving student
transitions to postsecondary education and career and technical education
training; and
(iv) a centralized system for collecting and tracking comprehensive
data on adult basic education and literacy program performance outcomes;
(B) the exploration of
potential partnerships with entities in the nonprofit community engaged in
literacy promotion efforts, entities in the business community, and other
appropriate entities to improve statewide literacy programs; and
(C) any other issue the
commission considers appropriate.
(d) Chapter 2110,
Government Code, does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of
the advisory committee.
Sec. 315.006. STATE
FUNDING.
Sec. 315.007. PERFORMANCE
INCENTIVE FUNDING.
Sec. 315.008. SERVICE
PROVIDER CONTRACTS: COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT.
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SECTION 3.01. (a) Not later
than January 1, 2014:
(1) the administration of
adult education and literacy programs shall be transferred from the Texas
Education Agency to the Texas Workforce Commission;
(2) all rules, policies,
procedures, and decisions of the Texas Education Agency relating to the
administration of adult education and literacy programs are continued in
effect as rules, policies, procedures, and decisions of the Texas Workforce
Commission until superseded by a rule or other appropriate action by the
Texas Workforce Commission; and
(3) a reference in law or
administrative rule to the Texas Education Agency relating to the
administration of adult education and literacy programs means the Texas
Workforce Commission.
(b) Not later than the 60th
day before the date of the transfer of the administration of adult
education and literacy programs from the Texas Education Agency to the
Texas Workforce Commission under Subsection (a) of this section, the Texas
Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding relating to that transfer. The memorandum must
include:
(1) a timetable and specific
steps and methods for the transfer of all powers, duties, obligations,
rights, contracts, leases, records, real or personal property, and unspent
and unobligated appropriations and other funds relating to the administration
of adult education and literacy programs from the Texas Education Agency to
the Texas Workforce Commission on the date of the transfer; and
(2) measures to ensure
against any unnecessary disruption to adult education and literacy services
provided at the local level.
(c)
The Texas Workforce Commission shall complete the initial competitive
procurement process required under Section 315.008, Labor Code, as added by
this Act, to award contracts to service providers of adult education
programs that are effective not later than October 1, 2014.
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SECTION 3.01. (a) Not later
than January 1, 2014:
(1) the administration of
adult education and literacy programs shall be transferred from the Texas
Education Agency to the Texas Workforce Commission;
(2) all rules, policies,
procedures, and decisions of the Texas Education Agency relating to the
administration of adult education and literacy programs are continued in
effect as rules, policies, procedures, and decisions of the Texas Workforce
Commission until superseded by a rule or other appropriate action by the
Texas Workforce Commission; and
(3) a reference in law or
administrative rule to the Texas Education Agency relating to the
administration of adult education and literacy programs means the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(b) Not later than the 60th
day before the date of the transfer of the administration of adult
education and literacy programs from the Texas Education Agency to the
Texas Workforce Commission under Subsection (a) of this section, the Texas
Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding relating to that transfer. The memorandum must
include:
(1) a timetable and specific
steps and methods for the transfer of all powers, duties, obligations,
rights, contracts, leases, records, real or personal property, and unspent
and unobligated appropriations and other funds relating to the
administration of adult education and literacy programs from the Texas
Education Agency to the Texas Workforce Commission on the date of the
transfer; and
(2) measures to ensure
against any unnecessary disruption to adult education and literacy services
provided at the local level.
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