88R1848 DIO-D
 
  By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1315
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a computer science strategic
  advisory committee and a grant program for the professional
  development and training of computer science classroom teachers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.466 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.466.  COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section,
  "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 61.003.
         (b)  The commissioner shall establish a competitive
  professional development grant program to encourage teachers to:
               (1)  obtain computer science certification; and
               (2)  continue professional development in coding,
  computational thinking, cybersecurity, and computer science
  education.
         (c)  From money appropriated for the purpose, the
  commissioner shall make grants to eligible providers that offer:
               (1)  professional development for classroom teachers
  to ensure teachers maintain a working knowledge of current computer
  industry standard tools and resources; and
               (2)  training for computer science certification for
  teachers in accordance with certification requirements adopted by
  the State Board for Educator Certification.
         (d)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
  provider must:
               (1)  be an institution of higher education, regional
  education service center, or school district or partnership of
  multiple school districts or a nonprofit entity approved by the
  commissioner that has demonstrated experience in providing
  professional development through a statewide network; and
               (2)  meet eligibility standards established by
  commissioner rule.
         (e)  An eligible provider receiving a grant under this
  section must:
               (1)  provide the training or professional development
  described by Subsection (c) and establish professional development
  hubs in each education service center region;
               (2)  serve high-need campuses;
               (3)  have established partnerships with institution of
  higher education faculty with expertise in cybersecurity,
  computing, and computer science education; and
               (4)  develop partnerships with computer industry
  professionals.
         (f)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.0181 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0181.  COMPUTER SCIENCE STRATEGIC ADVISORY
  COMMITTEE. (a)  In this section, "advisory committee" means the
  computer science strategic advisory committee established under
  this section.
         (b)  The agency shall establish the computer science
  strategic advisory committee as a permanent advisory committee to
  the agency to develop and provide recommendations for increasing
  computer science instruction and participation in public schools.
         (c)  The advisory committee is composed of at least 11
  members. The members must include:
               (1)  two members appointed by the governor;
               (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house
  of representatives;
               (4)  one member appointed by the chair of the senate
  committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary
  education;
               (5)  one member appointed by the chair of the senate
  committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education;
               (6)  one member appointed by the chair of the house of
  representatives committee with primary jurisdiction over primary
  and secondary education;
               (7)  one member appointed by the chair of the house of
  representatives committee with primary jurisdiction over higher
  education;
               (8)  one member appointed by the chair of the State
  Board of Education; and
               (9)  any other members added by the advisory committee
  in a manner determined by the committee in the committee's
  discretion.
         (d)  In appointing members to the advisory committee, the
  governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives shall coordinate appointments to ensure that the
  six individuals appointed to the advisory committee collectively by
  those officers include:
               (1)  three educators who teach in a public school and
  are certified in computer science;
               (2)  one parent or person standing in parental relation
  to a student enrolled in a public school;
               (3)  one person employed in the technology industry;
  and
               (4)  one faculty member of an institution of higher
  education.
         (e)  The governor shall designate a member of the advisory
  committee as the presiding officer of the advisory committee to
  serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
         (f)  The advisory committee may hold public meetings.
         (g)  Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to
  compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
  necessary expenses incurred in fulfilling committee duties.
         (h)  The agency shall appoint an agency employee to support
  the advisory committee.
         (i)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
  advisory committee shall submit to the governor and the legislature
  a report that includes recommended changes to state law, including
  funding proposals and timelines for the implementation of the
  recommended changes. The report shall include recommendations that
  are intended to:
               (1)  increase the number of certified computer science
  teachers;
               (2)  increase the number of public high schools
  offering computer science courses;
               (3)  increase the number of high school students
  enrolled in computer science courses;
               (4)  encourage the enrollment of diverse student
  populations in computer science courses; and
               (5)  expand computer science learning opportunities,
  including computer programming, computer coding, cybersecurity,
  and computational thinking, in public schools.
         SECTION 3.  Section 5, Chapter 1149 (H.B. 2984), Acts of the
  86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  Not later than December 31, 2023, the
  commissioner of education shall establish the grant program
  required under Section 21.466, Education Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 5.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the appropriate persons, as provided by Section
  28.0181(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, shall appoint
  members to the computer science strategic advisory committee.
         SECTION 6.  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, 2023.