87R9344 MLH-D
 
  By: Guerra H.B. No. 3575
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to personal financial literacy and career skills courses
  for high school students in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 8.051(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  Each regional education service center shall maintain
  core services for purchase by school districts and campuses. The
  core services are:
               (1)  training and assistance in:
                     (A)  teaching each subject area assessed under
  Section 39.023; and
                     (B)  providing instruction in personal financial
  literacy and career skills as required under Section 28.0021;
               (2)  training and assistance in providing a gifted and
  talented program and each program that qualifies for a funding
  allotment under Section 48.102, 48.104, or 48.105;
               (3)  assistance specifically designed for a school
  district or campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating
  under Section 39.054;
               (4)  training and assistance to teachers,
  administrators, members of district boards of trustees, and members
  of site-based decision-making committees;
               (5)  assistance specifically designed for a school
  district that is considered out of compliance with state or federal
  special education requirements, based on the agency's most recent
  compliance review of the district's special education programs; and
               (6)  assistance in complying with state laws and rules.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 28.0021, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0021.  PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CAREER
  SKILLS.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.0021, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Each school district and each open-enrollment charter
  school that offers a high school program shall provide a [an
  elective] course in personal financial literacy and career skills 
  that meets the requirements for [a one-half elective] credit under
  Section 28.025, using materials approved by the State Board of
  Education.  The course may be offered as a distinct course in
  personal financial literacy and career skills or as an elective
  course or existing course that includes instruction in personal
  financial literacy and career skills sufficient to meet the
  requirements for one-half credit under Section 28.025(b-1)(9).  The
  instruction in personal financial literacy and career skills must
  include instruction on:
               (1)  completing the application for federal student aid
  provided by the United States Department of Education;
               (2)  the financial consequences of failing to make
  timely student loan payments;
               (3)  the effect of student loan debt on a person's
  finances;
               (4)  the circumstances in which student loans are
  dischargeable in bankruptcy;
               (5)  completing and filing an income tax return;
               (6)  managing a credit score;
               (7)  managing and paying down a mortgage;
               (8)  creating a resume; and
               (9)  preparing for a job interview.
         (c)  In fulfilling the requirement to provide financial
  literacy and career skills instruction under this section, a school
  district or open-enrollment charter school may use an existing
  state, federal, private, or nonprofit program that provides
  students without charge the instruction described under this
  section.
         SECTION 4.  Section 28.0024(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
  establish a school-based savings program to facilitate increased
  awareness of the importance of saving for higher education and
  facilitate personal financial literacy and career skills 
  instruction.  A district or school may offer the program in
  conjunction with a personal financial literacy and career skills
  course under Section 28.0021.
         SECTION 5.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
  program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
  successfully complete:
               (1)  four credits in English language arts under
  Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
  credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
  an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (2)  three credits in mathematics under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
  geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (3)  three credits in science under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
  credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (4)  three credits in social studies under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
  least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in 
  economics, and one credit in world geography or world history;
               (5)  except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
  (b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
  other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
               (6)  four and one-half [five] elective credits;
               (7)  one credit in fine arts under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(D); [and]
               (8)  except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
  credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C); and
               (9)  at least one-half credit in personal financial
  literacy and career skills under Section 28.0021.
         SECTION 6.  Section 29.917(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  From funds appropriated for the purpose, the
  commissioner may award grants to organizations that provide
  volunteers to teach classroom or after-school programs to enhance:
               (1)  college readiness;
               (2)  workforce readiness;
               (3)  dropout prevention; or
               (4)  personal financial literacy and career skills.
         SECTION 7.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended
  by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade
  during the 2021-2022 school year or a later school year. For
  students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2021-2022
  school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section
  existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.