BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 493
85R17843 MM-F	By: Perez et al. (Campbell)
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	5/11/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The College Credit for Heroes program was created in 2011 to help veterans transition more quickly into the workforce. Participating colleges can award credit hours based on prior training, education, or military experience.

Each institution of higher education determines how many credit hours they will award, which varies from college to college. Lack of data on how much credit is awarded makes it difficult to track the success of the program.

H.B. 493 requires that the Texas Workforce Commission, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), report how many academic or workforce credit hours are awarded each academic year.

H.B. 493 also requires that the report disaggregate credit hours awarded by subject matter. Additionally, THECB would report the number of transfer credit hours awarded. These metrics could provide insight on how we can improve the program.

H.B. 493 amends current law relating to reporting requirements for 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(g), Labor Code, to require the Texas Workforce Commission, after consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not later than November 1 of each year, to report to the legislature and the governor on the number of academic or workforce education semester credit hours awarded under the program and applied toward a degree or certification program at an institution of higher education during the most recent academic year, disaggregated by the subject area for which the credit hours are awarded and the number of transfer credit hours awarded under the program and applied toward a degree or certification program at an institution of higher education during the most recent academic year.

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section 302.0031(g), Labor Code, applies beginning with the report due under that subsection not later than November 1, 2018.

SECTION 3. Effective date: January 1, 2018.