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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a Texas Commission on High School |
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Outcomes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the |
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Texas Commission on High School Outcomes. |
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SECTION 2. TEXAS COMMISSION ON HIGH SCHOOL OUTCOMES. (a) |
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The commission is established to develop and make recommendations |
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for improvements to the current public high school structure or |
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practices to improve the college, career, or military readiness of |
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students. |
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(b) The commission is composed of 16 members, consisting of: |
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(1) seven members appointed by the governor; |
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(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives; and |
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(4) a member of the State Board of Education, as |
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designated by the chair of that board. |
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(c) The members appointed by the governor must have an |
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interest in public education and include at least: |
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(1) one person who is a current or retired classroom |
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teacher with at least 10 years of teaching experience; |
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(2) one person who is a member of the business or civic |
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community in North Texas; |
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(3) one person who is a member of the business or civic |
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community in West Texas; and |
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(4) one person who is a member of the business or civic |
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community in South Texas. |
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(d) The appointments made by the lieutenant governor and the |
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speaker of the house of representatives must each consist of: |
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(1) three members of the applicable legislative |
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chamber; and |
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(2) an administrator for a public school or a member of |
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the board of trustees of a school district. |
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(e) In making appointments under Subsections (b)(1), (2), |
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and (3) of this section, the governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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speaker of the house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure |
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that the membership of the commission reflects, to the extent |
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possible, the ethnic and geographic diversity of this state. |
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(f) The governor shall designate the presiding officer of |
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the commission. |
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SECTION 3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the |
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commission is not entitled to compensation for service on the |
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commission but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and |
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necessary expenses incurred in performing commission duties. |
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SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a) The |
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Texas Education Agency shall provide administrative support for the |
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commission. |
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(b) Funding for the administrative and operational expenses |
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of the commission shall be provided by legislative appropriation |
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made to the Texas Education Agency for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission |
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shall study and develop recommendations under this Act to address |
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issues related to the college, career, and military readiness of |
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public high school students in this state, including: |
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(1) the purpose and role of public high schools in |
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preparing students for the modern economy; |
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(2) the postsecondary preferences of students and |
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young adults and the ways public high schools can be adapted to |
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support those preferences; |
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(3) changes that could be made to current high school |
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graduation requirements to improve student postsecondary outcomes |
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and better reflect the needs of the modern economy; |
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(4) changes that could be made to the current public |
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school finance system to: |
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(A) equip and encourage public schools to adopt |
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innovative educational models and career and technology programs; |
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and |
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(B) support the improvement of postsecondary |
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outcomes; |
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(5) barriers to implementing innovative programs of |
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study or courses, including career-focused or technical programs or |
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courses, that support students in achieving postsecondary success; |
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and |
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(6) the state's current approach to industry |
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certifications and whether students are being offered credentials |
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of value that will lead to high-wage, high-demand jobs. |
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(b) The commission may establish one or more working groups |
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composed of not more than six members of the commission to study, |
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discuss, and address specific policy issues and recommendations to |
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refer to the commission for consideration. |
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SECTION 6. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2024, the |
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commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that recommends statutory changes to improve |
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outcomes for public high school students and ensure every student |
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is prepared for college, a career, or military service immediately |
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upon graduation. |
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SECTION 7. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) The |
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commission may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its duties |
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under this Act. |
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(b) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 8. COMMISSION ABOLISHED. The commission is |
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abolished January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |