BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4525

By: Gates

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls for the State Board of Education to consider relevant economic and market conditions affecting the Texas workforce when reviewing career and technology courses required as part of the essential knowledge and skills curriculum in public schools. C.S.H.B. 4525 seeks to provide for this consideration.

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

C.S.H.B. 4525 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education (SBOE), in approving career and technology courses, to consider relevant economic and market conditions affecting the Texas workforce in scheduling or initiating a course review to provide updated and relevant course offerings. The bill applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4525 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute requires the SBOE in approving career and technology courses, to consider certain economic and market conditions in scheduling or initiating a course review, whereas the original required the SBOE to do the following in approving those courses:

· approve courses that are offered online or through an Internet portal maintained by the school district or the Texas Education Agency; and

· update the list of approved courses at least annually and as needed to provide current and relevant courses.