HB 433

relating to the establishment of the Higher Education and
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Education Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 64 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 64. HIGHER EDUCATION AND CORRECTIONS COUNCIL
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 64.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Career school or college" has the meaning
(2)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
(3)  "Council" means the Higher Education and
(4)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
(5)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
SUBCHAPTER B. ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL
Sec. 64.051.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The Higher Education and
Corrections Council is established to help coordinate and make
recommendations to the coordinating board and the department
regarding educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
Sec. 64.052.  COUNCIL MEMBERS.  (a)  The council consists of
(1)  a member of the house of representatives appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2)  a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant
(3)  the following members appointed by the
commissioner of higher education:
(A)  an employee of the coordinating board;
(B)  an employee of a career school or college;
(C)  an employee of an institution of higher
(D)  a researcher who studies higher education in
(E)  a formerly incarcerated individual who
participated in higher education programs while incarcerated in a
(F)  the executive director of a nonprofit
organization engaged in criminal justice work in this state or the
(4)  the executive director of the department or the
(5)  an employee of the department appointed by the
executive director of the department; and
(6)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce
Commission or the executive director's designee.
(b)  A council member serves at the will of the appointing
Sec. 64.053.  MEMBER TERMS.  Council members serve staggered
two-year terms, with six members' terms expiring February 1 of each
odd-numbered year and five members' terms expiring February 1 of
Sec. 64.054.  VACANCY.  A vacancy on the council is filled in
the same manner as the initial appointment.
Sec. 64.055.  CO-CHAIRS. The council members appointed by
the speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant
governor serve as co-chairs of the council.
Sec. 64.056.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.  A council member
is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of expenses
incurred in performing council duties.
SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES OF COUNCIL
Sec. 64.101.  GENERAL DUTIES.  The council shall:
(1)  coordinate, facilitate, and support the delivery
of higher education in correctional facilities in this state to
prepare incarcerated individuals for integration and productive
(2)  explore and make recommendations for the efficient
and effective delivery of higher education programs to incarcerated
(A)  evidence-based practices and technologies;
(B)  methods of maximizing and facilitating
access to educational programs;
(C)  methods of supporting and facilitating
timely completion of courses and certificate and degree programs;
(D)  methods of emphasizing educational programs
(i)  align with current and future workforce
(ii)  lead to occupations that are
accessible to formerly incarcerated individuals;
(iii)  provide sustainable wages after
(iv)  maximize accessibility and timely
completion during incarceration;
(E)  use of cross-institutional coursework
application toward certificate and degree programs;
(F)  use of coursework that encourages personal
(G)  methods of leveraging innovative course
delivery, including technology resources;
(3)  explore methods and make recommendations for the
collection and analysis of critical data regarding:
(A)  enrollment and completion of higher
education courses, credentials, and certificate and degree
(B)  federal and state student aid awarded to
(C)  costs of higher education in correctional
facilities, including any recommendations for continued
(D)  outcomes of formerly incarcerated
individuals who participated in higher education programming
during incarceration and are on parole, including recidivism,
employment, and post-release higher education engagement; and
(4)  make recommendations regarding legislative
appropriations requests to support the council's purposes and
Sec. 64.102.  REPORT.  Not later than November 1 of each
even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the legislature,
the coordinating board, and the department a report regarding the
council's duties under this chapter during the preceding two years
and any recommendations for legislative or other action.  The
(1)  the number of incarcerated individuals enrolled in
(2)  the number of incarcerated individuals who
received a certificate or degree.
SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the appointing authorities shall make the initial
appointments required under Section 64.052, Education Code, as
SECTION 3.  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.