AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 806 allows Texas colleges to directly translate military training and experience into college credit hours by re-establishing the College Credit for Heroes program. Established in 2011 as a “demonstration” operated by the Texas Workforce Commission, the program helps expedite a path to a college degree and/or civilian professional certifications for veterans.
College Credit for Heroes provides transferable college credit hours based on military training and experience. It also provides grants to colleges to establish expedited licensing programs that recognize the training and experience veterans have. S.B. 806 makes the statutory authority permanent.
S.B. 806 amends current law relating to the College Credit for Heroes program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 302.0031, Labor Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g), as follows:
(b) Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to establish and administer the College Credit for Heroes program, rather than the College Credit for Heroes demonstration program, to identify, develop, and support methods to maximize academic or workforce education credit awarded by institutions of higher education to veterans and military servicemembers for military experience, education, and training obtained during military service in order to expedite the entry of veterans and military servicemembers into the workforce.
(g) Requires TWC, after consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to report to the legislature and the governor, not later than November 1 of each year on:
(1) the results of any grants awarded under this section;
(2) the best practices for veterans and military servicemembers to achieve maximum academic or workforce education credit at institutions of higher education for military experience, education, and training obtained during military service;
(3) measures needed to facilitate the award of academic or workforce education credit by institutions of higher education for military experience, education, and training obtained during military service; and
(4) other related measures needed to facilitate the entry of trained, qualified veterans and military servicemembers into the workforce.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.