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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the accreditation of automotive technology courses |
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offered by public 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 29.195 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.195. ACCREDITATION OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY COURSE |
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REQUIRED. (a) In this section, "institute" means the National |
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Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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that offers to students a course related to automotive technology |
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shall ensure that the course is accredited by the institute. |
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(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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shall: |
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(1) submit through the agency an application for |
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institute accreditation; and |
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(2) comply with all applicable procedural guidelines |
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established by the agency or the institute. |
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(d) From funds appropriated or otherwise available, the |
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agency shall support school districts and open-enrollment charter |
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schools to attain institute accreditation by paying the costs of |
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required training, equipment upgrades, and application fees. |
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(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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not spend money appropriated to the district or school for a course |
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related to automotive technology for a state fiscal year until the |
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district or school submits to the agency a report certifying the |
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district's or school's compliance with this section during the |
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preceding state fiscal year. |
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(e-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school that has not received institution |
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accreditation for a course related to automotive technology may |
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request an extension not to exceed one year from the agency. The |
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agency may grant one additional extension not to exceed one year to |
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a school district or open-enrollment charter school that |
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demonstrates a good faith effort to attain institute accreditation. |
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This subsection expires September 1, 2028. |
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(f) The agency shall prepare and submit an annual written |
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report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and standing committees with primary |
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jurisdiction over education that includes information on the |
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progress of implementing this section. |
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(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the |
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commissioner of education, in consultation with the State Board of |
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Education, shall adopt rules to implement Section 29.195, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |