HB 334 — The establishment of an intensive workforce readiness ad

90R44 AMF-D By: Guillen H.B. No. 334 relating to the establishment of an intensive workforce readiness adult education pilot program.

SECTION 1. Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (c) Subject to Subsections [ Subsection ] (d) and (e) , the commissioner may not grant more than 10 charters under this subchapter. (e) Notwithstanding Subsection (c) or any other law and in addition to the number of charters allowed under this section and Subchapter D, the commissioner shall, on the basis of an application submitted, grant a charter to an eligible entity to provide an intensive workforce readiness adult education program under the pilot program established under Section 12.266. The commissioner may not grant more than four charters under this subsection.

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 12.266 to read as follows: Sec. 12.266. INTENSIVE WORKFORCE READINESS PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The agency shall establish a pilot program under which one or more eligible entities provide an intensive workforce readiness adult education program to enable an individual described by Section 12.258 to successfully complete: (1) a program that leads to a high school diploma; and (2) career and technology courses that result in the conferral of: (A) at least one industry certification or license; and (B) at least one certification or license in an occupation identified by the local workforce development board serving the area in which the pilot program operates as a high demand occupation in the area. (b) The agency shall establish application criteria under which eligible entities may apply to provide an adult education program under the pilot program. The agency shall require each applicant to identify: (1) the local workforce development board serving the area in which the applicant intends to operate an adult education program under the pilot program and the high demand occupations in that area as identified by the board; and (2) each industry certification or license an individual who successfully completes the adult education program is eligible to receive. (c) An entity granted a charter to provide an intensive workforce readiness adult education program under the pilot program established under this section is subject to: (1) this subchapter, including the requirements under Section 12.259; and (2) rules adopted under Section 12.265, including rules related to the maximum number of students who may be enrolled in a program under Section 12.265(c).

SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2028, the Texas Education Agency shall establish and implement the pilot program required by Section 12.266, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2027.