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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to methods to improve health profession-related career and |
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technology education and dual credit programs offered by public |
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schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.193 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.193. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR HEALTH |
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PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) The agency shall make available |
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at no cost to school districts high-quality instructional materials |
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for use in health profession-related career and technology |
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education programs provided under this subchapter. |
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(b) The instructional materials under Subsection (a) may |
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include: |
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(1) material designed to cover all essential knowledge |
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and skills for a course offered through a health profession-related |
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career and technology education program under this subchapter; or |
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(2) supplemental materials designed to complement, |
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enrich, or extend a particular subject area included in a health |
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profession-related career and technology education program under |
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this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0666 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0666. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF SHARING LABORATORY |
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RESOURCES FOR HEALTH PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) The board, |
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in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, shall study the |
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feasibility of creating partnerships between public schools and |
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institutions of higher education to share educational laboratory |
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resources for purposes of health profession-related career and |
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technology education programs under this subchapter. |
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(b) The study must: |
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(1) identify current educational laboratory resources |
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at public schools and institutions of higher education that may be |
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used for health profession-related career and technology education |
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programs; and |
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(2) examine methods of creating partnerships, |
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incentives, or funding mechanisms where appropriate and effective |
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to facilitate the sharing of educational laboratory resources for |
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health profession-related career and technology education |
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programs. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the board, in |
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collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, shall submit to the |
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legislature a report on the study required by this section and any |
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recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 2308A, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 2308A.0075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2308A.0075. REVIEW OF CERTAIN HEALTH |
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PROFESSION-RELATED DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS. (a) The agency, |
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coordinating board, and commission jointly shall review the |
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curriculum of courses in health profession-related career and |
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technology education programs that are offered for joint high |
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school and college credit at public schools in this state to ensure |
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that those programs: |
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(1) align with requirements for health |
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profession-related certificate and degree programs at institutions |
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of higher education; and |
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(2) allow for the stacking of credentials to reduce |
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duplication of effort. |
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(b) The agency, coordinating board, and commission shall |
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consult with both academic and practicing health care professionals |
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in conducting the review under Subsection (a). |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the agency, |
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coordinating board, and commission jointly shall submit to the |
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legislature a report on the review conducted under Subsection (a) |
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that includes a description of actions taken by those agencies to |
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accomplish the purposes described by that subsection and any |
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recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.193, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |