HB 2689

relating to the establishment of an intensive workforce readiness
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 12.255, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
(c)  Subject to Subsections [Subsection] (d) and (e), the
commissioner may not grant more than 10 charters under this
(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.
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 provides 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 or a
high school equivalency certificate; and
(2)  career and technology courses leading to:
(A)  at least one industry certification or
(B)  at least one certification or license in an
occupation identified by the local workforce development board as a
high demand occupation in the area.
(b)  The agency shall request applications from eligible
entities 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 program is eligible to
SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2026, 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, 2025.