BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5264

By: Bowers

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, career schools and colleges have insufficient review and oversight of the quality and value of education they provide to students. Implementing performance indicators for career schools and colleges will protect students by making sure they are not wasting time, money, or other resources on substandard programs. Furthermore, these indicators will help employers recognize strong employees and keep the public safe by ensuring our truck drivers, nursing aides, and other professionals have received appropriate training. H.B. 5264 seeks to provide these standards by requiring the Texas Workforce Commission to set performance indicators for the purpose of measuring and evaluating the quality of learning and achievement of students enrolled in programs operated by career schools and colleges.

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. 5264 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to adopt a set of performance indicators for the purpose of measuring and evaluating the quality of learning and achievement of students enrolled in programs operated by career schools or colleges. The bill requires TWC to periodically review the indicators and make appropriate revisions based on that review. The bill requires the indicators to allow for the assessment of a career school or college program with respect to the following:

· industry recognition of the program and the corresponding value that industry attaches to the program and to any program-related certifications or licenses;

· the rate at which students are able to successfully complete the program;

· the availability of a program-related certification or license after a student completes the program;

· the likelihood that a program-related certification or license will lead to postsecondary work, an apprenticeship program, or established industry credentials or support employment in multiple regions of Texas;

· whether a program-related certification or license will be awarded by an independent third-party organization using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies; and

· the inclusion of accepted best practices for the program that align to best practices contained in widely accepted industry standards or standards established by an independent third-party organization with expertise in gathering information from employers related to the value attached to any program-related certifications or licenses.

H.B. 5264 requires TWC to develop a methodology for determining the minimum acceptable standards for a career school or college based on the performance indicators and annually evaluate 20 percent of career school and college programs in all regions of Texas for compliance with the standards. The bill makes a career school or college offering a program that fails to meet the minimum standards ineligible to enter into a contract with a local workforce development board with respect to that program. The bill requires TWC, not later than September 1 of each year, to publish a list of each career school and college program that has been reviewed by TWC and that meets the minimum acceptable standards. Rules adopted by TWC necessary for exercising jurisdiction and control of the system of career schools and colleges must include rules for the periodic review of performance indicators. The bill requires TWC to publish the initial list of reviewed career schools and college programs not later than September 1, 2024.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.