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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to encourage the earning of credentials of |
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value at public institutions of higher education. |
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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 by adding Sections 61.09093 and 61.09094 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 61.09093. CREDENTIALS OF VALUE. (a) In this section, |
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"credential of value" means an industry-recognized work-based |
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learning credential in a high-demand, high-growth industry leading |
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to quality career opportunities, as determined by the Texas |
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Workforce Commission. |
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(b) The board shall encourage: |
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(1) completion of credentials of value in satisfaction |
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of certain required coursework under degree or certificate programs |
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offered by institutions of higher education; |
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(2) memoranda of understanding between institutions |
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of higher education that offer credentials of value; |
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(3) transferability of course credit, particularly |
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with regard to course credit leading to a credential of value; |
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(4) development of degree and certificate programs |
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that enable students to earn a degree or certificate by completing |
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parts of the program at different institutions of higher education; |
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and |
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(5) applicability of grant, scholarship, and other |
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financial aid money toward costs related to earning credentials of |
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value. |
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(c) The board shall award a successful outcomes distinction |
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designation to an institution of higher education if at least eight |
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percent of the institution's graduating class for the academic year |
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earns a credential of value. |
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(d) The board, in coordination with the Texas Workforce |
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Commission, shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section. |
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Sec. 61.09094. CREDENTIALS OF VALUE TASK FORCE. (a) In |
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this section, "credential of value" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.09093. |
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(b) The board shall establish a task force to: |
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(1) study and make recommendations related to |
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promoting students earning credentials of value; and |
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(2) develop a model framework to: |
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(A) establish accredited degree and certificate |
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programs that enable students to earn a degree or certificate by |
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completing parts of the program at different institutions of higher |
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education; and |
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(B) enable students to: |
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(i) earn credit toward the completion of |
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degree and certificate programs described by Paragraph (A) while in |
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high school; |
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(ii) earn at least two credentials of value |
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in a baccalaureate degree program described by Paragraph (A); and |
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(iii) graduate with at least two |
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credentials of value and a baccalaureate degree from a program |
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described by Paragraph (A) in four years or less after graduating |
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from high school. |
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(c) The task force must include representatives from: |
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(1) a school district; |
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(2) a recognized accrediting agency; |
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(3) a general academic teaching institution; |
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(4) a public junior college; |
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(5) a public technical institute; and |
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(6) the Texas Workforce Commission. |
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(d) Not later than March 1, 2026, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit to the coordinating board, the Texas Education |
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Agency, and the legislature a preliminary report on the model |
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framework and any recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the task force shall |
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submit to the coordinating board, the Texas Education Agency, and |
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the legislature a final report on the model framework and any |
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recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(f) The task force is abolished and this section expires |
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September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.09093, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2025. |