BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 806

By: Campbell

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The College Credit for Heroes program, interested parties note, helps to expedite paths to a college degree, professional certification, or both for veterans. The parties suggest that the legislature and the governor should be kept abreast of the program's results and certain related information. S.B. 806 seeks to provide for the reporting of that information.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 806 amends the Labor Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission, not later than November 1 of each year and after consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to report to the legislature and the governor on the results of any grants awarded under the College Credit for Heroes program; on 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; on 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 on other related measures needed to facilitate the entry of trained, qualified veterans and military servicemembers into the workforce.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.