88R14449 BDP-D
 
  By: King S.B. No. 2158
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of an adult education pilot program
  for certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in
  addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and
  Subchapter D, the commissioner, on the basis of submitted
  proposals, shall grant a charter to a nonprofit entity described by
  Section 12.256 to provide an adult education program to inmates
  under the pilot program established under Section 493.035,
  Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 493.035 to read as follows:
         Sec. 493.035.  ADULT EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  The
  department shall establish a pilot program under which one or more
  nonprofit entities provide an adult education program under
  Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, to enable inmates
  described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete:
               (1)  a high school program that can lead to a diploma;
  and
               (2)  career and technology education courses that can
  lead to industry certification.
         (b)  An inmate who is at least 26 years of age and not more
  than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in an adult education
  program operated under the pilot program if:
               (1)  the inmate:
                     (A)  has failed to complete the curriculum
  requirements for high school graduation; or
                     (B)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
  assessment instrument required for high school graduation; and
               (2)  the department approves the inmate's enrollment in
  the program after:
                     (A)  assessing the inmate's suitability for
  participation in the program using the results of the risk and needs
  assessment instrument adopted under Section 501.0921; and
                     (B)  evaluating the inmate's conduct while in the
  custody of the department.
         (c)  In admitting inmates to an adult education program
  operated under the pilot program, the nonprofit entity shall give
  priority to an inmate who has not earned a high school equivalency
  certificate. 
         (d)  The department shall issue a request for proposals from
  nonprofit entities described by Section 12.256, Education Code, to
  provide an adult education program under the pilot program. The
  department shall require that each applicant identify in the
  applicant's proposal each region of this state in which the
  applicant is able to operate an adult education program under the
  pilot program. 
         (e)  The department shall contract with at least one
  qualified applicant to operate an adult education program under the
  pilot program. 
         (f)  The department, in consultation with each nonprofit
  entity that the department contracts with under this section, shall
  identify at least three and not more than five facilities operated
  by the department that are suitable to serve as sites for the pilot
  program. 
         SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall establish and implement the
  pilot program required by Section 493.035, Government Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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.