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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.922 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.922. TEXAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION NEEDS PROGRAM. (a) |
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In this section, "program" means the Texas Workforce Innovation |
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Needs Program. |
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(b) The Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program is |
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established to: |
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(1) provide selected school districts and public |
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institutions of higher education with the opportunity to establish |
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innovative programs designed to prepare students for careers for |
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which there is demand in this state; and |
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(2) use the results of those programs to inform the |
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governor, legislature, and commissioner concerning methods for |
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transforming public and higher education in this state by improving |
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student learning and career preparedness. |
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(c) To apply to participate in the program, a school |
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district or public institution of higher education must use the |
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form and apply in the time and manner established by commissioner |
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rule. The application process must require each applicant district |
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or institution of higher education to submit a detailed plan as |
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required by Subsection (d) of the instruction and accountability |
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the applicant would provide under the program. |
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(d) A plan submitted under Subsection (c): |
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(1) must, to the greatest extent appropriate for the |
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grade or higher education levels served under the program: |
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(A) be designed to support improved instruction |
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of and learning by students and provide evidence of the accurate |
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assessment of the quality of learning on campus; |
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(B) focus on engagement of students in |
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competency-based learning as necessary to earn postsecondary |
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credentials, including: |
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(i) career and technical certificates; |
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(ii) associate's degrees; |
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(iii) bachelor's degrees; and |
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(iv) graduate degrees; |
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(C) incorporate career and technical courses |
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into dual enrollment courses or into the early college education |
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program under Section 29.908 to provide students the opportunity to |
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earn a career or technical certificate or associate's degree; |
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(D) describe any waiver of an applicable |
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prohibition, requirement, or restriction for which the district or |
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institution of higher education intends to apply; and |
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(E) include any other information required by |
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commissioner rule; and |
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(2) may, if submitted by a school district, designate |
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one or more campuses rather than the entire district to participate |
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in the program. |
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(e) From among the school districts and institutions of |
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higher education that apply as required under this section, the |
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commissioner may select not more than 10 participants for the |
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program. The commissioner shall select those applicant school |
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districts and institutions of higher education that present the |
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plans that are most likely to be effective in producing the next |
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generation of higher performing public schools and institutions of |
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higher education that provide education and training in an |
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innovative form and manner to prepare students for careers for |
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which there is demand in this state. |
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(f) The commissioner shall convene program leaders |
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periodically to discuss methods to transform learning |
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opportunities for all students, build cross-institution support |
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systems and training, and share best practices tools and processes. |
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(g) A school district or institution of higher education |
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participating in the program or the commissioner may, for purposes |
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of this section, accept gifts, grants, or donations from any |
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source, including a private or governmental entity. |
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(h) To cover the costs of administering the program, the |
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commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or institution of |
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higher education participating in the program. |
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(i) In consultation with interested school districts, |
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institutions of higher education, and other appropriate interested |
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persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for |
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purposes of this section. |
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(j) Not later than December 1, 2014, and not later than |
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December 1, 2016, with the assistance of school districts and |
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institutions of higher education participating in the program, the |
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commissioner shall submit to the governor and the legislature |
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reports concerning the performance and progress of the program |
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participants. The report submitted not later than December 1, |
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2014, must include any recommendation by the commissioner |
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concerning legislative authorization necessary for the |
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commissioner to waive a prohibition, requirement, or restriction |
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that applies to a program participant and other school district or |
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institution of higher education interested in beginning a similar |
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program. To prepare for implementation of a commissioner waiver, |
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the commissioner shall seek any necessary federal waiver. This |
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subsection expires January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |