SB 1961

relating to the reporting of data relating to postsecondary
education and workforce trends by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission, to
performance tier funding under the public junior college finance
program, and to a biennial regional labor demand assessment by the
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 61.09023 and 61.09096 to read as
Sec. 61.09023.  REPORTING ON POSTSECONDARY OUTCOMES.  (a)
The board shall post on the board's Internet website the following
de-identified data, disaggregated by institution of higher
education and matriculating cohort:
(1)  for students who graduate from a degree,
certificate, or other credential program:
(B)  the employment status of graduates from each
program, including, if known, the number of those graduates who
enrolled in additional postsecondary education; and
(C)  the counties of employment and residence,
industries of employment, occupations, and wages of graduates from
(2)  for students who have not graduated from a degree,
certificate, or other credential program and are no longer enrolled
(A)  the program in which the student was most
(B)  the number of credits remaining before the
student would complete the program;
(C)  the student's employment status, including,
if known, whether the student is enrolled in another degree,
certificate, or other credential program at an institution of
(D)  the counties and industries of employment,
occupations, and wages of those students.
(b)  The board shall ensure the data posted under Subsection
(a) complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g).
Sec. 61.09096.  BIENNIAL REGIONAL LABOR DEMAND ASSESSMENT.
(a)  The board, in consultation with the Texas Workforce
Commission, shall conduct a biennial assessment of regional labor
demands across the state to allow institutions of higher education
to better align educational programs with workforce needs.  In
conducting the assessment, the board shall:
(1)  analyze current and projected workforce needs in
each region of the state over a 10-year period, disaggregated by
wage, industry, occupational field, full-time and part-time
status, county of primary employment, county of residence, and
(2)  identify for each region and county the industries
and occupations that lead to a self-sufficient wage, as determined
under Section 2308A.012, Government Code, based on local labor
(3)  provide a list of degrees, certificates, or other
credentials included in the library of credentials established
under Section 2308A.007, Government Code, that lead to jobs in the
industries or occupations identified under Subdivision (2); and
(4)  provide information on outcomes relating to each
degree, certificate, or other credential listed under Subdivision
(A)  the median wage earned by students who
graduated with the degree, certificate, or other credential in 1
year, 5 years, and 10 years after completion of the program; and
(B)  job placement rates in six months of
completion of the degree, certificate, or other credential.
(b)  To assist the board in conducting the assessment under
this section, the board, in coordination with other state agencies,
including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Education
Agency, and other relevant entities, shall:
(1)  access labor market information, employment data,
(2)  ensure that educational and training programs,
credentialing pathways, and career preparation efforts are
informed by comprehensive and accurate labor market data.
(c)  The board shall provide the labor market information and
workforce projections obtained from the assessment conducted under
this section to institutions of higher education, school districts,
and open-enrollment charter schools to support program development
aligned with regional workforce needs.
(d)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the board shall report the results of the assessment conducted
under this section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher
SECTION 2.  Section 130A.101(c), Education Code, is amended
(c)  The measurable outcomes considered for purposes of
(1)  the number of credentials of value awarded, as
determined by the coordinating board under Section 130A.102 [based
on analyses of wages and costs associated with the credential],
including degrees, certificates, and other credentials from credit
and non-credit programs that equip students for continued learning
and greater earnings in the state economy, with an additional
weight for placement of students who earn that credential in a
high-demand occupation, as defined by coordinating board rule, or
an appropriate proxy determined by the coordinating board based on
(2)  the number of students who earn at least 15
semester credit hours or the equivalent at the junior college
(A)  subsequently transfer to a general academic
teaching institution, as that term is defined by Section 61.003; or
(B)  are enrolled in a structured co-enrollment
program, as authorized by coordinating board rule; and
(3)  the number of students who complete a sequence of
at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit
or dual enrollment courses, as defined by coordinating board rule,
that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the
SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 130A, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 130A.102 to read as follows:
Sec. 130A.102.  CREDENTIALS OF VALUE.  (a)  For purposes of
Section 130A.101(c)(1), the coordinating board shall designate a
postsecondary credential as a credential of value if the
(1)  is aligned with regional or state workforce
(2)  provides a positive return on investment within a
time frame relatively proportional, as determined by the
coordinating board, to the duration of the certificate or degree
program at a public junior college through which a person may earn
(3)  ensures a person who graduates from a public
junior college with the credential achieves a minimum earnings
threshold as determined under Subsection (b).
(b)  The coordinating board by rule shall establish a minimum
earnings threshold for a credential of value.  In establishing the
threshold, the coordinating board must consider:
(1)  the time frame in which earnings from the
credential exceed the total cost of attendance at a public junior
college, including foregone wages; and
(2)  whether the earnings meet or exceed the amount of
the self-sufficient wage determined under Section 2308A.012,
Government Code, within a time frame relatively proportional, as
determined by the coordinating board, to the duration of the
certificate or degree program at a public junior college through
which a person may earn the credential.
(c)  The coordinating board by rule may designate a
postsecondary credential as a credential of value regardless of
whether the credential meets the requirements under Subsection (a)
if the coordinating board determines the designation necessary.  A
designation under this subsection expires on the second anniversary
of the date on which the designation was made unless renewed by the
coordinating board.  In determining whether a designation is
necessary, the coordinating board shall consider:
(1)  workforce demand in critical industries;
(2)  alignment with state economic priorities;
(3)  public service or essential workforce roles; and
(4)  other considerations the coordinating board deems
SECTION 4.  Section 204.0025, Labor Code, is amended to read
Sec. 204.0025.  ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE DATA REPORTING.  The
commission shall [It is the intent of the legislature that the
commission, subject to the availability of federal funding or other
resources for the purpose,] work with employers to enhance the
reporting of employment and earnings data by employers to the
commission as part of an employer's routine wage filings under this
subtitle or commission rule and consistent with federal law and
regulations.  The enhanced wage filings must include information
related to wage, industry, occupational field, full-time and
part-time status, county of primary employment, county of
residence, remote work status, [occupation] and other important
employment information necessary to conduct the assessment
required under Section 61.09096, Education Code [that would improve
the state's labor market information].
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.