TO:	Honorable Brad Buckley, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB120 by Bell, Keith (relating to career and technology education programs in public schools, the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program, the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program, and a high school advising program, including funding for those programs under the Foundation School Program, and to the new instructional facility allotment and the permissible uses of funding under the Foundation School Program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

The bill would amend multiple sections of the Texas Education Code related to career and technology education programs for public schools. Among the changes, it would allow school districts that have participated in the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program to continue participating regardless of the number of students in average daily attendance in the district for the current school year. Employees of coordinating entities that manage a partnership under R-PEP may be eligible for membership and benefits with the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas. According to TRS, the bill would not have an actuarial effect on the system.
 
 
SOURCES:
TRS email correspondence on March 20, 2025.