| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of the Texas Film Academy to |
|
|
facilitate workforce development in the state's film, television, |
|
|
and digital media industries. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "academy" means the Texas |
|
|
Film Academy. |
|
|
(b) The legislature finds that: |
|
|
(1) the establishment of the academy is essential to |
|
|
the support and growth of film, television, and digital media |
|
|
industries in this state; and |
|
|
(2) success of the academy will aid this state in |
|
|
becoming a destination for film, television, and digital media |
|
|
productions. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Chapter 485B to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 485B. TEXAS FILM ACADEMY |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
|
|
Sec. 485B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
|
(1) "Academy" means the Texas Film Academy established |
|
|
under this chapter. |
|
|
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce |
|
|
Commission. |
|
|
(3) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
|
|
Education Coordinating Board. |
|
|
(4) "Institution of higher education," "public junior |
|
|
college," and "public technical institute" have the meanings |
|
|
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to |
|
|
facilitate the development and delivery of higher education and |
|
|
workforce training in the film, television, and digital media |
|
|
industries in this state necessary to address the growing demand |
|
|
for skilled crew members in those industries, create jobs, foster |
|
|
economic growth, and strengthen the state's appeal as a destination |
|
|
for film, television, and digital media productions. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.003. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION. (a) The Texas |
|
|
Film Academy is established to facilitate the creation and offering |
|
|
of specialized higher education and workforce training programs in |
|
|
film production, post-production, and other related areas of the |
|
|
film, television, and digital media industries in this state. |
|
|
(b) In consultation with the coordinating board, the |
|
|
academy shall operate in partnership with institutions of higher |
|
|
education and industry leaders in this state's film, television, |
|
|
and digital media industries to facilitate the offering of higher |
|
|
education programs and workforce training in the areas described by |
|
|
Subsection (a). |
|
|
(c) The academy is administratively attached to the |
|
|
commission. The commission shall provide administrative support |
|
|
services, staffing, and facilities necessary to assist the academy |
|
|
in performing the academy's duties under this chapter. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.004. GOVERNANCE; BOARD MEMBERSHIP. (a) The |
|
|
academy is governed by a board composed of nine directors appointed |
|
|
by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. A member |
|
|
of the board serves at the pleasure of the governor. |
|
|
(b) The board's membership must include: |
|
|
(1) representatives of institutions of higher |
|
|
education; |
|
|
(2) a representative of the coordinating board; and |
|
|
(3) industry leaders in the film, television, or |
|
|
digital media industry. |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES |
|
|
Sec. 485B.051. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. (a) The academy, in |
|
|
consultation with industry leaders and representatives of the |
|
|
coordinating board, public junior colleges, public technical |
|
|
institutes, and general academic teaching institutions, shall |
|
|
develop customized curriculum requirements for associate degree |
|
|
and certificate programs and continuing education courses to |
|
|
prepare students for jobs in film, television, and digital media |
|
|
industries that, subject to coordinating board approval under |
|
|
Section 61.0512, Education Code, if applicable, may be offered by |
|
|
public junior colleges or public technical institutes. |
|
|
(b) In developing curriculum requirements under Subsection |
|
|
(a), the academy and other persons described by that subsection |
|
|
shall focus on developing curriculum for programs leading to |
|
|
high-wage jobs in the areas of: |
|
|
(1) on-set production training; |
|
|
(2) post-production techniques; |
|
|
(3) grip and electric training; |
|
|
(4) costume and set design; |
|
|
(5) sound engineering; |
|
|
(6) visual effects and animation; and |
|
|
(7) project management in film and television |
|
|
production. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.052. PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER |
|
|
EDUCATION. The academy shall seek to enter into partnerships with |
|
|
institutions of higher education located in regions throughout this |
|
|
state to offer, both in person and by distance education, degree, |
|
|
certificate, and continuing education programs and courses |
|
|
developed by the academy. The academy shall also encourage |
|
|
institutions of higher education to integrate courses developed by |
|
|
the academy into any existing degree, certificate, and continuing |
|
|
education programs offered by the institutions that are relevant to |
|
|
the purpose of this chapter. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.053. PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY. The academy |
|
|
shall seek to enter into partnerships with film studios, production |
|
|
companies, and industry associations in this state to: |
|
|
(1) offer internships and apprenticeships that |
|
|
provide higher education students in this state with hands-on |
|
|
experience in the film, television, or digital media industry; and |
|
|
(2) ensure that the customized higher education and |
|
|
training programs developed by the academy are aligned with |
|
|
industry workforce needs. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.054. ADDITIONAL DUTIES. The academy shall: |
|
|
(1) host job fairs, networking events, and industry |
|
|
workshops to connect graduates with potential employers; and |
|
|
(2) provide guidance to entities that partner with the |
|
|
academy to provide internships and apprenticeships, or that provide |
|
|
equipment donations to the academy, on the existence of any state or |
|
|
local tax preferences that may be available to the entities. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.055. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The academy |
|
|
may solicit gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private |
|
|
source for the purposes of this chapter. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.056. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1 |
|
|
of each year, the academy shall prepare and submit to the governor |
|
|
and each standing committee of the legislature with primary |
|
|
jurisdiction over higher education or workforce development a |
|
|
written report that includes: |
|
|
(1) a summary of the academy's progress and |
|
|
effectiveness that includes data on enrollment, degree or |
|
|
certificate program completion, and job placement for individuals |
|
|
participating in higher education programs or training developed by |
|
|
or offered in partnership with the academy; and |
|
|
(2) recommendations for improvements to or expansion |
|
|
of the academy, including any need for additional funding. |
|
|
(b) The commission shall include in its annual report |
|
|
submitted under Subsection (a) not later than December 1, 2030, a |
|
|
summary of the results and impact of the academy, including a |
|
|
recommendation on whether the academy should be continued, |
|
|
expanded, or terminated. |
|
|
Sec. 485B.057. EXPIRATION. The academy terminates and this |
|
|
chapter expires September 1, 2032. |
|
|
SECTION 3. A public institution of higher education that |
|
|
partners with the Texas Film Academy to offer a degree, |
|
|
certificate, or continuing education program under Chapter 485B, |
|
|
Government Code, as added by this Act, shall begin enrolling |
|
|
students in the program not later than the 2027 spring semester. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |