BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4589

By: Anchia

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that Texas' economic well-being is intrinsically tied to the public education system due to the fact that it serves millions of students who will eventually enter the workforce and contribute to the economy. Given Texas' roles in both the national and global economy, there have been calls to ensure that the public education system prepares students to compete both on a national and global level. H.B. 4589 seeks to ensure the provision of a quality and globally competitive education as a mission of public education system and the establishment of quantifiable educational standards for the system to remain globally competitive.

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

H.B. 4589 amends the Education Code to specify that the quality education to which it is the mission of the Texas public education system to ensure that all Texas children have access must be globally competitive. The bill includes among the objectives of public education that students, after obtaining a high school diploma, will earn certificates from institutions of higher education in order to compete globally and participate in the dynamic economy of Texas and the nation.

H.B. 4589 requires the legislature, during each regular legislative session, to establish quantifiable educational standards recommended by the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that public schools must satisfy during each year of the applicable biennium for the system of public free schools to remain globally competitive. The standards expressly take effect for the school year beginning in the fall of the fifth year following the legislative session in which the standards were established. The bill prohibits the amendment, revision, or repeal of the standards established by the legislature, except by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of each house of the legislature.

H.B. 4589 establishes that the system of public free schools is not required to be globally competitive until the 2025‑2026 school year. The bill requires the standards established by the legislature to include quantifiable requirements that, when achieved, result in at least 60 percent of all Texas residents who are older than 24 years of age and younger than 35 years of age holding a certificate or degree from an institution of higher education not later than 2030. The bill provides for a certain provision to expire January 1, 2031.

H.B. 4589 applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.