BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2042

By: Fallon

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board jointly develop and post on their respective websites an inventory of industry-recognized credentials and certificates that may be earned by a public high school student through a career and technology education program. Concerns have been raised that the current credentials and certificates may not accurately reflect the workforce needs of certain regions of Texas. S.B. 2042 seeks to improve the employment market alignment and regional specificity of the currently offered credentials and certificates by requiring TEA to conduct a certain study and submit a related report.

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. 2042 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to conduct a study to evaluate the industry-recognized credentials and certificates that are currently being offered to public high school students through career and technology education programs in each region of Texas and to identify any unmet needs in such programs. The bill sets out the required contents of the study and requires TEA, not later than September 1, 2021, to submit to the commissioner of education a report that identifies any currently offered credential or certificate that does not provide a sufficient positive economic impact in any region of Texas based on the applicable results of the study and makes certain recommendations regarding the creation of credentials or certificates and the issuance of guidance to public schools on how to use labor market information generated by state agencies in designing career and technology education programs and courses. These provisions expire September 1, 2022.

S.B. 2042 makes the requirement for TEA to implement a provision of the bill contingent on the legislature appropriating money specifically for that purpose and otherwise authorizes, but does not require, TEA to implement such a provision using other available appropriations.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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