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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency of career and |
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technology education programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.193 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.193. STUDY AND REPORT ON CREDENTIALS AND |
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CERTIFICATES. (a) The agency shall conduct a study to: |
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(1) evaluate the industry-recognized credentials and |
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certificates that are currently being offered to public high school |
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students through career and technology education programs; and |
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(2) identify any unmet needs in career and technology |
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education programs currently being offered to public high school |
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students. |
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(b) The study must: |
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(1) for each career cluster included in the study: |
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(A) evaluate: |
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(i) the industry-recognized credentials or |
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certificates in the career cluster currently being offered to |
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public high school students through career and technology education |
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programs; and |
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(ii) the knowledge and skills in the career |
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cluster necessary to meet state and regional workforce needs; and |
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(B) identify: |
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(i) any gaps between the |
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industry-recognized credentials or certificates identified under |
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Paragraph (A)(i) and the knowledge and skills identified under |
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Paragraph (A)(ii); and |
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(ii) any knowledge or skills that could be |
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incorporated into career and technology education programs in the |
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career cluster to increase students' marketability in that field |
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after graduation from high school; and |
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(2) for each currently offered industry-recognized |
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credential or certificate, assess the economic impact of earning |
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the credential or certificate, including: |
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(A) the average industry wage for a student who |
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has earned the credential or certificate; and |
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(B) the demand to employ a student in the area for |
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which the student has earned the credential or certificate. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2021, the agency shall |
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submit to the commissioner a report that: |
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(1) identifies any currently offered |
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industry-recognized credential or certificate that does not |
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provide a sufficient positive economic impact based on the |
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assessment conducted under Subsection (b)(2); and |
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(2) recommends the creation of industry-recognized |
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credentials or certificates to be offered in a career and |
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technology education program that will address unmet workforce |
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needs and enhance student competitiveness in the labor market. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |