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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a framework for including certain credentials |
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of value offered by general academic teaching institutions as part |
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of a baccalaureate degree program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.003. DEFINITIONS. |
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(17) "Credential of value" means an industry |
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recognized work-based learning credential in a high growth, high |
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demand industry. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.05124 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.05124. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN |
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GENERAL ACADEMIC UNIVERSITIES, PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES, |
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RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING AGENCIES, AND PUBLIC TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS |
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THAT OFFER CREDENTIALS OF VALUE. a) The board shall encourage: |
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1) Credentials of value as part of a general academic |
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university degree plan. |
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2) Memorandums of understanding between general |
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academic universities and, public technical institutions that |
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offer credentials of value. |
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3) Transferability of credits, particularly of course |
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yielding credentials of value. |
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4) Development of multi-institutional degree plans. |
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5) Creation of a frictionless financial aid process |
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that would allow for grants, scholarships, and all other forms of |
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financial aid to be applicable to the earning of credentials of |
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value. |
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b) the board shall award the designation of a Successful |
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Outcomes distinction for general academic universities that have at |
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least 8% of the graduating class of each academic year graduate with |
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at least one credential of value. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.05125 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.05125. CREATION AND OBLIGATIONS OF A |
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MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL TASKFORCE. a) The Board shall create a |
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taskforce consisting of at least one representative from A K-12 |
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school district, a recognized accrediting entity, one |
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representative from a general academic university, one |
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representative from the Texas Workforce Commission, one |
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representative from a public community college, and one |
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representative from a public technical college. |
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b) The taskforce shall work together to develop a framework |
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for: |
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1) Integrated multi institutional degree plans which |
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are fully accredited. |
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2) The initiation of said degree plans at the k-12 |
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level. |
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3) Each student earning at least 2 credentials of |
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value in their four year degree plan. |
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4) Graduation with at least 2 credentials of value and |
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a four year degree in four years or less after high school |
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graduation. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2023. |